US-Russia Innovation Corridor brings Russian edtech startups stateside.
A partnership between Russia and the United States is beginning to bear edtech-shaped fruit.
As part of the US-Russia Innovation Corridor (USRIC) programme, three Russian edtech startups have been on a two week tour of Washington DC and Baltimore regions. During the visit, the startups met US-based investors and companies focused on edtech, including edtech heavyweights Blackboard and Pearson. The Russian companies also got the chance to visit edtech centres at George Washington University and George Mason University.
The three visiting startups were:
– Azbuka – A platform for distributing content from publishers through learning management systems.
– Edutainme – An online media platform, research lab, and professional development centre which stretches from secondary education through to further education.
– Hybinar – A mobile app which allows online lecture and course audiences to interact with other students, take notes, and record videos.
The purpose of the partnership is to connect Russian startups to universities, academics, business development professionals, industry associations, and a potential US-based customer base with the view of promoting commercial activity between the two countries. The partnership also seeks to share best practice on intellectual property, market entry strategies, and edtech trends.
The partnership came about in 2013. Founded by American Councils for International Education and funded by the US-Russia Foundation, USRIC has grown from the founding partners of Maryland and Nizhny Novgorod universities to including five Russian universities and leading to the mentorship of 20 startups.
Dan Davidson, president of American Councils for International Education, said: “The number of Russian startups applying to participate in the USRIC program demonstrates a serious interest on the part of Russian entrepreneurs and innovators in making contacts and exploring market opportunities in the U.S. This represents a new and relatively untapped source of cooperation among researchers, as well as businesses, in both countries.”
