Centre for Technology Transfer to Be Established at HSE

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The Russian government has approved a merger between German corporation, Bayer, and American producer of herbicides and genetically modified seeds, Monsanto. The main requirement for approval was that the advanced agricultural technologies be transferred by the corporation. A special centre established at HSE will coordinate the transfer.

‘A huge merger between Bayer and Monsanto has been completed in the Russian jurisdiction and the antimonopoly service has issued its approval,’ says Igor Artemyev, Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, at the briefing on April 20. The FAS, in cooperation with Bayer, will select the companies that will have the access to the technology. Every party will have veto power. The Centre for Technology Transfer established at HSE will work directly with the companies and monitor compliance with regulations. ‘We realized that we needed external experts to assist with the transfer. The Higher School of Economics provides this expertise,’ explains Igor Artemyev.

The merger will involve the transfer of a molecular selection of maize, canola and wheat seeds, as well as soybeans and various vegetable seeds (cucumbers, tomatoes and cabbage). In addition, the company will provide non-discriminatory access to digital farming technologies once the commercial launch takes place. Dozens of companies are expected to gain access to this research. These measures will not only help to maintain the competitiveness of Russian companies following the market launch of the global player, but will also assist in overcoming the technological underdevelopment that exists in the agricultural sector.

Bayer is committed to establishing a plant biotechnology research and training centre where Russian specialists will study advanced technologies in this field. General Representative of Bayer in Russia and CIS, Niels Hessman, noted that the company has been present in Russia for a long time and is ‘ready to share’. ‘We are interested in making our advanced technologies available in all areas,’ he added.

This agreement will be valid for five years, however, as Igor Artemyev noted, all mergers and acquisitions from now on will be approved according to the same conditions. This means that the Centre for Technology Transfer will have regular work. ‘We will ask and even demand that other corporations work in Russia on the same terms. We do not want Bayer to work in non-competitive conditions’, says Artemyev.