Philips Company and the State Hermitage have signed a cooperation agreement

On 12 March 2009 in the State Hermitage a press conference, devoted to signing of an agreement on cooperation between the State Hermitage and  Philips Company took place.

Philips is the world leader in the area of lighting solutions. It will make replacement and modernization of illumination of two key objects of the Hermitage as a part of the joint project.

For Russian enterprises, which are in the system of budgetary financing, matters of rational distribution of means and economy have always been actual. Among them are state museums, which have to reduce many items of expenditures under the conditions of financial crisis and decrease of sponsor’s support. Constant expenses are required: special conditions of storage are necessary for many exhibits; constant restoration works are carried out with use of modern equipment; actually, there appears a necessity of repair of museum premises. Cost cutout becomes the most topical problem in such situation.

Introduction of modern technologies of illumination allows to cut down expenses due to energy saving. Philips Company, the world leader in the field of innovative technologies in light engineering, offers decisions, which significantly allow saving charges for the electric power. The joint project of Philips and the State Hermitage is one of examples of economy by means of introduction of energy saving technologies.

Suggestions offered by Philips and supported by the management of one of the main museum complexes of the country will allow to cut expenses for energy consumption by 55% and to improve perception of exhibits of the State Hermitage collection.

These developed energy saving technologies can change at once internal space of two objects of the State Hermitage: it is Menshikov’s Palace and the Coach Yard. Instead of existing system of illumination Philips company plans to establish the newest energy saving illuminators and to carry out replacement of separate lamps. Preliminary audit of lighting system has designated key features of these two objects: the newest energy saving systems of lighting will be mounted in Menshikov’s Palace, and use of developments of Philips in the field of lighting design with application of light-emitting diode technologies will allow improving decorative and lighting design of the Coach Yard. It is supposed to finish the project on lighting re-equipment of these two objects already by the end of 2009.

Cooperation of Philips Company and the Hermitage proceeds for more than a century already: the first contract has been signed 110 years ago. At that time, Philips has carried out delivery of 50 thousand coal lamps-candles, which have been used for internal illumination of premises of the Winter Palace. Subsequently lamps of Philips had illuminated the whole residence of the Russian emperors. International history of the company has begun just with this contract. Joost Leeflang, General Director of Philips in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia has explained during the press conference that Philips Company perceives participation in the project on modernization of illumination of the State Hermitage as an opportunity to bring a contribution in preservation of great cultural heritage.

About Royal Philips Electronics company

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a company, which is aimed at health and well-being, focused on improvement of living standards of people by constant introduction of innovations. Philips, the world leader in the field of public health services, consumer goods and light engineering, implements technologies and design in the solutions aimed at meeting the needs of people, based on the "sense and simplicity" principle. Philips Headquarter is situated in the Netherlands; 121,000 employees work in representations of the company in more than 60 countries of the world.

The sales volume in 2008 has made 26 milliards euro. Philips holds the leading positions in the market of cardiological systems, hospital and ambulatory medical equipment, energy saving systems of illumination and new forms of application of light engineering, as well as in the sphere of consumer goods for personal health and well-being. Philips has strong leading positions in the market of flat-screen TV sets, male electric razors and grooming, portable entertaining devices and oral cavity care devices. You can find news about Philips Company on the web site http://www.philips.ru/newscenter.

Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage

Joost Leeflang, CEO of Philips in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Central Asia

Vladimir Gabrielyan, Vice-President of Philips Lighting in Eastern Europe and the Balkans

Signing of an agreement on cooperation between the State Hermitage and Philips Company