in russia's siberian silicon valley, business is good but risks can be high - air purifier manufacturer

Residents on the outskirts of Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia, like to say that the smartest street in the world runs through their leafy community.
The broad thoroughfare through TEGA or Siberian woodlands was named after mathematician Mikhail laventev, who built the Soviet version of Silicon Valley here during the Cold War.
To keep up with the pace of Americans, the Kremlin has built Akademgorodok-
The literal meaning is "academic Town"
2,000 miles east of Moscow, away from distractions and prying eyes.
Over the years, it has become home to thousands of Soviet scientists who have been attracted by faster promotions and better living conditions, studying everything from nuclear physics to fluid dynamics.
Now, Akademgorodok was founded for 60 years, and more than 20 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, although some of the most successful entrepreneurs face brain drain and legal challenges, it continues to innovate.
More than 20 research institutes
Most of them
Multi-storey concrete building blocks
Partially hidden behind the tree.
But there are also glittering shopping malls and a Siberian burger shop, which shows how far Akademgorodok has gone since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and rocket scientists are in trouble.
Irina Trapina, head of the local IT business association, recalls: "Scientists earn between $5 and $10 a month . ".
"We understand that in order to survive, we either have to leave the country and find a place where we can get more paid --
Or make a living in our country in other ways.
"Many people did leave and flock to research labs and technology companies in the United States and Western Europe.
Trapina, a programmer at the Institute of Automation and electrical testing, is one of the people who stayed.
She founded a software company that currently has customers in more than 30 countries.
But just as the free market opens up new opportunities, it also puts agodongrodoc in the face of global competition from other innovation centers.
In 2005, President Putin was encouraged when he visited the technology center in Bangalore, India. he came to Novosibirsk and promised to help develop the Russian Science Park.
Two years later, the college was established.
About $0. 25 billion
Half the government, half the private money.
The mission of the project is to accelerate the existing technology business and foster new business.
Now, more than ten years later, the science park has more than 200 companies with 5,000 employees.
Landmark building in academic Park-
Two leaning orange towers are connected to a flyover
Soar over the surrounding forest.
Successful cases include OCSiAl, a nanotechnology company, Tekhnoscan, a precision laser manufacturer, and CFT, a banking software company.
However, despite government investment and the achievements of individual companies, local commentator Alexei Mazur said Akademgorodok has largely become a premium bedroom community in Novosibirsk.
The community lost its original scientific grounds of existence, attracting residents with its sylvan environment and excellent schools.
"The Soviet Union needs science because it needs atomic bombs, space programs and international prestige," Mazur said . ".
"Science is not the same priority for the current government.
Despite this, Akademgorodok still retains his close identity
A community of very intelligent people.
That's why most residents were shocked when the air purifier maker, Tion, was raidedyear-
The old founder, Dmitry Trubitsyn, was under house arrest on June.
Investigators have accused Trubitsyn of selling fake air purifiers to hundreds of hospitals in Russia and have filed charges of imprisonment.
Trubitsyn's friends and colleagues, including Vladimir Nikonov, director of academic park, supported him.
If Trubitsyn is found guilty, then successful Russian businesses, after a vague legal process leading to hostile acquisitions, may not find themselves under new ownership for the first time.
The success of these companies will make them vulnerable.
"Such incidents do occur from time to time in Russia," Nikonov said . ".
"So I can't rule out the possibility that someone is interested in the company.
The head of the local business association, Trapina, is more outspoken.
"100% of people are sure that the case will have a terrible impact on local investment and innovation," Trapina warned . ".
Alexander leskovski, a native of akademgodok, founded the game company Alawar in 1999 and doesn't seem to worry much.
"No one stops us from doing our jobs and making money by selling to the world," he said . ".
"Beholder" is one of the most recently released versions of Alawar, which takes place in Orwellian dystopian where players have to monitor their neighbors and report to the authorities.
But lyuzsky insists he is not interested in politics.
He just wants to sell games.