Photos: Outsourcing to Russia

Red Square, the colourful St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin may be the traditional image of Russia but the country is also investing in a series of technology parks - such as one at Dubna, 120km outside Moscow - as it bids for a slice of the global IT outsourcing market.

Russia's share of that market is still fairly small - about $1bn in 2005 - but the strength of the country, according to its politicians, IT vendors and academics, is not in low-cost commodity work but more specialist high-end tasks. The three-hour time zone difference with the UK also makes it a more attractive proposition for some companies than farther-flung destinations.

This is where Russia's strong mathematical and scientific educational background will be an advantage. Just last month HP opened a new research lab in St Petersburg, citing the quality of Russian scientists and engineers.

Photo credit: Andy McCue