OUR CITY

City of Tomsk, one of the oldest cities of Siberia, was found in 1604 by cossack associates of Yermak on high bank of river Tom. Initially built as the military fortress, by 1648 Tomsk became a large administrative and trading centre.

Since the establishment of the first university in Siberia, Tomsk Emperor University (now Tomsk State University) in 1878, city has acquired one more way of its development, educational and scientific which by now remains a trademark of Tomsk. That fact consolidated Tomsk’s second name, “Siberian Athens” since the end of 19th century. The oldest higher education centre gave a start in life for five profiled universities separated from its Alma Mater in different times or created by active participation of scientific community of TSU.

By now, any of six city’s university (Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk State Pedagogic University, Tomsk University of Control Systems and Radio Technics, Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building) has its own scientific school recognized not only in Russia but far away from its borders.

Every third dweller of Tomsk which population is nearly a half of million people connected somehow with scientific and educational complex by being a student, a teacher or staff member of one of the university. Pursuit for education in Tomsk is normal since a long time ago, the share of higher educated population in Tomsk is considerably greater than in neighbor cities or even Moscow or Saint-Petersburg.

With the assistance of a number educational institutions including Tomsk Scientific Centre of Siberian Department of Russian Academy of Science and Tomsk Polytechnic University, innovative productions are starting to appear. Implementing science-intensive technologies is acknowledged as high priority direction of local economy development.

Tomsk became one of the sixth chosen cities where Technical Implementing Special Economy Zone started to operate. Russian president, Vladimir Putin and German Counselor, Angela Merkel, participants of Russian-German summit were present at its opening on 26th of April 2006. Russian government considered that Special Economy Zones should become a driving force for Russian economy development and the most efficient instrument for converting intellectual potential to real technologies.

The basis of modern Tomsk industrial complex was built during the Great Patriotic War when enterprises from Central Russia were moved into the deep of Siberia. Ball Bearing Plant, Electric Motor Plant, Electric Lamp Plant, Manometer Plant, Instrument Plant and Cable Plant appeared in Tomsk in that way. Industrial potential keeps developing dynamically nowadays.

In a same time with Machine Building and Instrument Engineering, Oil and Gas Industry developed in Tomsk. The industrial mastering of oil resources in the 70s resulted in great gain for Tomsk lands. The startup of Tomsk Oil Chemistry Plant has completed an industrial cycle and has given an intensive impulse for city infrastructure development. Rapid growth of oil industry, slowed down in beginning of 90s and recovered in the beginning of new century caused a development of all Tomsk industries.

The cultural and sport life of Tomsk is very versatile. The Drama Theater, the Theater of Young Viewer, the Theater of Doll and Actor “Skomorokh” are well known far away from Tomsk. Tomsk Academic Symphonic Orchestra is well recognized professional music team. Its concerts make glad the fans of classical music for more than hundred years.

Siberian Athens is proud for its sport victories. Soccer Club “Tom” well-known by Russian soccer fans and begun his history from amateur plant team has obtained its reliable position in Russian Premier League. Underwater Sport community “Skat” (scate) brings gold medals of European and World championships for a many years.

The stars of Russian sports including Olympic basketball champion Sergey Belov, multiple Olympic ski champion Lyubov Yegorova, Olympic ski champion Natalia Baranova-Masalkina, world power-lifting champion Ekaterina Tanakova are the pride of Tomsk.Four centuries of Tomsk history created its unique image. The city on Tom combines wood lace of old towers and original modern style of famous Siberian architects, soviet Empire style and latest architecture extravagance.

There is a modern Tomsk on these photos, but its four century history isn’t a burden. As old well-founded trader mansions is neighbor for daring modern building, Tomsk is able to get along together with sprit of youth brought here with many and many student generations.