According to Venture Business News, the Skolkovo Foundation intends to create a center of biomedical and pre-clinical research of medicines by international standards GLP.

Investment into the project is reportedly estimated at 1.5 billion rubles ($50m).

Under plans, the center will carry pre-clinical research in accordance with international standards GLP for resident=companies, as well as other Russian and foreign pharmaceutical companies. Specialists of the center will develop new models and methods of research, that allow to extrapolate results of laboratory animal testing on human organism. The center will also educate specialists in pre-clinical research.

RVC Biofund and a number of private investors have already agreed to participate in the Skolkovo project.

The project is currently at its structuring stage, including distribution of parties’ duties and forming construction steering group. The finance agreement is scheduled to be signed in April 2012.

The Skolkovo innovation center is to become the largest 'test bench' for a new economic policy in Russia. The specially allocated territory outside Moscow is to provide special conditions for R&D in energy and energy efficient technologies, nuclear, space, biomedical and computer sectors.