Russian computer experts working from home

(7 Aug 2002)

1. Wideshot of Moscow
2. Exterior of Bauman University, tilt down
3. Close-up of statue
4. University sign
5. Various of scientists demonstrating in Moscow
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Zhana, PhD student at the Pushchino Research Institute
"If nothing changes and if my government doesn't do anything, me and many other scientists will have to leave our native country, although we are needed here I think".
7. Exterior of Sergey Terekhov 's, former Russian military officer, flat,
8. Various of Terekhov having breakfast with his wife and daughter
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian): Sergey Terekhov, former Russian military officer
"After the Russian army started to cut back on staff so rapidly and unexpectedly, I was forced to look for some sort of civil job. Because I was a highly qualified programmer, I was able to find a job relatively quickly."
10. Cutaway of picture of Terekhov in military uniform under Soviet flag
11. SOUNDBITE (Russian): Sergey Terekhov, former Russian military officer
"We (Soviet Union) were preparing for high technological war, we were not preparing people to produce widely demanded goods but to develop highly technological weapons. And that demanded very highly qualified engineers and programmers."
12. Terekhov typing
13. Close-up of hands typing
14. Close-up of Terekhov' s 'Microsoft Certificate of Excellence'
15. Various of pedestrians
16. Ron Lewin - Managing Director of outsourcing firm Terralink on the phone
17. Close-up of hands typing
18. SOUNDBITE (English): Ron Lewin, Managing Director of outsourcing firm Terralink
"Offshore software development as an industry in Russia is really helping prevent brain drain because it finds good paid work for highly qualified specialists in Russia, where if they didn't have this work they might be forced to work abroad. That work abroad could be in friendly countries such as America, or for unfriendly countries such as Libya or Iraq."
19. Computers in server room
20. Various of Russian programmers working
21. SOUNDBITE (English): Anatoly Gaverdosky, founder of Vested Development Inc.
"The advantage of working with us I think can be concentrated in a few areas. We can not say that there is a sole advantage. First of all, of course, it is a cost-effective solution because developers here are cheaper than developers in the States. The second is the level of developers and our customers often recognise that the levels of developers here are higher than what they can find in the States".
22. Staff leaving building
23. Wideshot of Vested building
24. Wideshot of Moscow

STORYLINE:

Software outsourcing is growing in popularity in Russia.

Government cutbacks over the past decade have left talented scientists either out of work or with an average salary of 60 US dollars a month.

In this financial climate, developing software for western companies is proving to be a compelling alternative for scientists who do not want to go and earn a living abroad.

A few weeks ago, hundreds of research scientists gathered in Moscow to demand more funding to improve research conditions and to stem the flow of talented scientists to foreign countries.

Unlike thousands of talented Russian scientists, Sergey Terekhov didn't have to leave his native country to get a high-paying job in the west.

Instead, Terekhov left the Russian military where he was chief of a special software and maths laboratory and now works from his Moscow flat, developing software for the European Space Agency.






Gaverdovsky now employs 250 people.





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