Brendan Smith and Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Skolkovo Institute of Science Technology: Standing beside one of Skolkovo futuristic buildings is American engineer Brendan Smith, according to The Moscow Times. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Smith heads Skoltech student research laboratory. A series of giant wooden pencils emerge, bearing the insignia "Skoltech." The curious art installation signals arrival at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, brainchild of former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Russia much-hyped entry into the 21st century innovation race. Smith decided to come to Russia five years ago, after a period working in the U.S. aerospace industry. In recent years, the Russian government has worked hard to attract foreign researchers to the country. He had offers for other work — one from Australia springs to mind — but a longstanding curiosity about Russia brought him east. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.