As addressing the first Russian-US technological symposium Friday at Stanford University, Mr Perry said that the leading companies of the US hi tech sector, IBM, Intel, Cisco, Boeing, have been active on the Russian market for some time now.
The fact that a "dream team" of the US venture capital leaders and young Russian entrepreneurs, who embody Russia's future are present at the symposium, demonstrates a keen interest in Russia's technology market, he said.
Russian-American cooperation in this area is the right question, which was raised at the right time, according to Mr Perry. He added that Russia was about to make a technological breakthrough.
When asked by RIA Novosti about possible stumbling blocks, Mr Perry said Russia had every chance of making a major breakthrough in that area, but that was not an accomplished fact yet. Russia has never conducted such an all-embracing reform of its technology industries, and its inexperience may hinder the process, said Mr Perry. Russia will have to resort to an utterly new manner of action.
Mr Perry then said that the young businessmen that took part in the symposium made an impression of people who learned quickly. He is, therefore, positive that Russia will adopt a new manner of action very quickly. He then added that it was not a matter of high technology, but rather of a free market economy. The Russians are quick learners, which inspires optimism, he said.
The ex-Pentagon chief, who is now a professor at Stanford University, said Russia boasted its scientific resources, which was a good prerequisite of success. Yet, it will not be easy to turn scientific inventions into competitive products and commercial success, he said. This is what Russia should learn to do, studying other countries' experience, while a lot of gifted students from Russia are already studying in Europe and the United States.
