The Leningrad region has plans to pool efforts with Russia’s largest nanotech asset, Rusnano, in a $33-35m project to set up the regional North-West Nanotech Center (NWNC), Alliance-Media reports, citing a source in the regional administration.

The region is reportedly allocating $10m, with the rest expected from Rusnano’s Infrastructure and Training Program Fund to cover, among other things, the purchase of equipment.

According to the source, “the project… aims at commercializing nanotechnology and regional developments and providing infrastructure support for their transfer to industry.”

Under plans, to house the project a techno-park will be built in the town of Gatchina. The techno-park will comprise two technology development facilities and an office building with a total area of about 3,000 sq. m. The techno-park’s status will provide tax and other benefits for future start-ups that are expected to fine-tune projects to a level of commercialization there.

Prospective competence centers envisioned for the NWNC will reportedly include neutron technologies, nanoelectronics, and nanomaterials.

To minimize investment risks and increase liquidity for start-ups the NWNC is said to eye a partner network to include VC funds and investment consultancies.

In addition to the two main investors, the MWNC project is also being reportedly backed by the Skolkovo Foundation, Baltinvestbank Pre-IPO Fund, the Xmas Ventures pre-seed fund, and the IP Rights Development Foundation.