{{Short description|Russian businessman (1933–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Family name hatnote|Borisovich|Zimin|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Infobox person | name = Dmitry Zimin | image = Дмитрий Зимин (cropped).jpg | caption = Zimin at The Russia Forum in 2012 | native_name = {{nobold|Дмитрий Зимин}} | native_name_lang = ru | birth_name = Dmitry Borisovich Zimin | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1933|04|28}} | birth_place = Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|12|22|1933|04|28|df=y}} | death_place = Switzerland | nationality = | citizenship = Russian | education = | alma_mater = Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) | occupation = {{hlist|Scientist|businessman|philanthropist}} | years_active = }}
'''Dmitry Borisovich Zimin''' ({{langx|ru|Дмитрий Борисович Зимин}}; 28 April 1933 – 22 December 2021) was a Russian radio scientist and businessman, who was the founder and honorary president of VimpelCom. From his retirement in the early 2000s, he became known as a philanthropist. He founded the Dynasty Foundation and the Zimin Foundation.
==Early life and education== Dmitry Zimin was already engaged in radio engineering when he was a student at Moscow secondary school number 59. In 1950, he entered the Faculty of Radio Electronics of the Aircraft of the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), from which he graduated in 1957.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mai.ru/common/history/alumni/business_directors.php | title=Выпускники МАИ — руководители структур современной экономики | website=mai.ru | access-date=13 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010750/https://mai.ru/common/history/alumni/business_directors.php | archive-date=11 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> Then he secured the position of an engineer in the Problem Laboratory of MAI, led by Mikhail Neumann.<ref name="finparty">{{cite web |title=Biography - Dmitry Zimin |url=https://finparty.ru/personal/dmitriy-zimin/ |website=Finparty |accessdate=15 February 2020 |language=ru}}</ref>
==Career in science and technology== In 1962, Zimin was invited to work in the Radio Technical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. For more than thirty-five years he held managerial positions at this institute: he was the head of the laboratory, then for fourteen years the head of the scientific department, and then the director of the center for the development of radio equipment.<ref name="finparty" />
Zimin obtained his PhD degree in 1963 and the post-doctoral degree in 1984. As a researcher of phased antenna arrays, he was appointed deputy chief designer of the Don-2N radar. In total, he created more than 100 scientific works and inventions. In 1965 together with other scientists (including the engineer A.A. Doljenkov) he became a laureate of the A. S. Popov Prize of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.<ref name="finparty" />
== Business activity == In the final years of the USSR, there was a sharp reduction in defense contracts for the Radio Technical Institute. In March 1991, Zimin founded a private commercial enterprise "KB Impulse". It hired the technical experts who worked at the Institute and specialized in communication systems.<ref name="finparty" />
In 1991, Zimin organized a group of technical experts within the Radio Technical Institute for a project to develop cellular telephone communications. At the initial stage, an American cellular equipment manufacturer and operator owned by the Fabela family <!-- referred to as ''Plexys'' or ''Plexis'' --> was invited as a partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2011/11/18/46844-dmitriy-zimin-osnovatel-171-vympelkoma-187-ya-nadeyalsya-chto-medvedev-budet-borotsya|title=Дмитрий Зимин, основатель "Вымпелкома": Я надеялся, что Медведев будет бороться|date=17 November 2011|website=novayagazeta.ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224073930/https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2011/11/18/46844-dmitriy-zimin-osnovatel-171-vympelkoma-187-ya-nadeyalsya-chto-medvedev-budet-borotsya|archive-date=24 December 2018|url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2018}}</ref> In 1992, the joint-stock company "Vimpel-Communications" (VimpelCom) was established, with Zimin as President and General Director. Zimin managed the operational activity of the company, while his partner Augie K Fabela II contributed equipment and money and managed sales and marketing. Soon VimpelCom launched a pilot AMPS station in Moscow.<ref name="Shekshnia">{{cite book |last1=Shekshnia |first1=Stanislav V. |last2=Fabela II |first2=Augie K |title=Corporate Governance in Russia |date=2004 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=9781781958216 |pages=287–299 |chapter=VimpelCom: From Start-up to the New York Stock Exchange}}</ref>
The company became successful and in 1996, it became the first Russian company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which required a degree of transparency uncommon for Russian companies at the time.<ref name="Shekshnia" />
In 2001, at the age of 68, Dmitry Zimin sold his controlling stake in VimpelCom and left the position of general director of the company. He was honored with the title of the Founder and Honorary President of the company.<ref name="Shekshnia" />
After selling VimpelCom, Zimin invested in various enterprises.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Мухаметшина |first1=Елена |last2=Филатов |first2=Антон |title=Дмитрий Зимин инвестирует в строительство аутлета в Финляндии |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/realty/articles/2015/09/10/608196-zimin-investiruet-v-autleta-v-finlyandii |accessdate=21 March 2020 |work=Vedomosti |date=10 September 2015 |language=ru}}</ref> In 2019, ''BMT Private Equity'', founded by Zimin, bought the Russian carsharing company ''BelkaCar''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Основанная Дмитрием Зиминым компания стала основным владельцем каршеринга BelkaCar |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/news/2019/10/31/815175-belkacar |accessdate=21 March 2020 |work=Vedomosti |date=31 October 2019 |language=ru}}</ref>
== Foundations for philanthropic activities == Following his retirement, Zimin devoted much of his time and wealth to philanthropic activities, mainly facilitated through his Dynasty Foundation in Russia. The Dynasty Foundation was managed by an independent board, in which the Zimin family was represented by Dr. Zimin and his son Boris Zimin.
The foundation's priorities were the development of fundamental scientific research and education in Russia, creating conditions so that scientists could research and teach at home in Russia, and the popularization of science and civic education.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rbc.ru/photoreport/16/02/2018/5a86a5b19a7947440f31908d | title=Дело закрыто: как основатели российских компаний выходили из бизнеса | website=rbc.ru | access-date=13 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224075355/https://www.rbc.ru/photoreport/16/02/2018/5a86a5b19a7947440f31908d | archive-date=24 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> The foundation was the first private Russian nonprofit foundation supporting science and education in modern Russia. It ran projects for the support and popularization of science and the development of formal and civic education. These included programs that supported gifted schoolchildren, future scientists, young physicists, mathematicians, biologists, and teachers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.alliancemagazine.org/feature/interview-dmitry-zimin/ | title=Interview - Dmitry Zimin | website=alliancemagazine.org | access-date=18 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224073948/https://www.alliancemagazine.org/feature/interview-dmitry-zimin/ | archive-date=24 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://philanthropy.coutts.com/en/reports/2013/russia/case-studies/dimitry-zimin.html |title=DIMITRY ZIMIN |website=philanthropy.coutts.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626135156/http://philanthropy.coutts.com/en/reports/2013/russia/case-studies/dimitry-zimin.html |archive-date=26 June 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 March 2019}}</ref>
In 2015, when the Dynasty Foundation was included by the Russian Ministry of Justice on the list of “foreign agents”, Zimin closed the foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/science/news/2015/05/26/n_7229289.shtml |title=Основатель "Династии" Дмитрий Зимин заявил о прекращении финансирования фонда |website=gazeta.ru |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114223946/https://www.gazeta.ru/science/news/2015/05/26/n_7229289.shtml |archive-date=14 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rbth.com/news/2015/05/26/dmitry_zimin_plans_to_stop_financing_dynasty_foundation_46352.html | title=Dmitry Zimin plans to stop financing Dynasty Foundation | website=rbth.com | date=26 May 2015 | access-date=18 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114182211/https://www.rbth.com/news/2015/05/26/dmitry_zimin_plans_to_stop_financing_dynasty_foundation_46352.html | archive-date=14 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://rusletter.com/articles/dmitry_zimin_stops_financing_dynasty_foundation | title=Dmitry Zimin stops financing Dynasty Foundation | Society | RusLetter | access-date=18 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114182235/https://rusletter.com/articles/dmitry_zimin_stops_financing_dynasty_foundation | archive-date=14 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine| url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/russia-cracks-down-on-charities| title=Russia Cracks Down on Charities| magazine=The New Yorker| date=30 May 2015| access-date=18 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010131114/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/russia-cracks-down-on-charities| archive-date=10 October 2018| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-friend-of-science-enemy-of-state/27049480.html | title=A Friend to Russian Science, but an Enemy to the Government | access-date=18 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224022/https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-friend-of-science-enemy-of-state/27049480.html | archive-date=14 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/08/russian-science-dynasty-foundation-branded-foreign-agent-kremlin| title=Russian science foundation shuts down after being branded 'foreign agent'| journal=The Guardian| date=8 July 2015| last1=Harding| first1=Luke| access-date=18 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019104037/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/08/russian-science-dynasty-foundation-branded-foreign-agent-kremlin| archive-date=19 October 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> A number of scientists and public figures condemned the position of the Ministry of Justice regarding the fund, considering the decision to be bureaucratic and unfair.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.medalofphilanthropy.org/dmitry-zimin-russian-philanthropy/| title=Dmitry Zimin: Russian for Philanthropy| date=9 November 2017| access-date=18 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920153346/https://www.medalofphilanthropy.org/dmitry-zimin-russian-philanthropy/| archive-date=20 September 2018| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/characters/2016/03/16/633745-borotsya-vlastyu-chtobi-investirovat-moyu-stranu-dlya-menya-nepriemlemo| title=Бороться с властью, чтобы инвестировать в мою страну, для меня неприемлемо| date=15 March 2016| access-date=18 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114182452/https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/characters/2016/03/16/633745-borotsya-vlastyu-chtobi-investirovat-moyu-stranu-dlya-menya-nepriemlemo| archive-date=14 November 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>
Zimin continued his philanthropic activities through the Zimin Foundation. In Russia, it supports the Enlightener Prize, the Independent University of Moscow, and other projects. International projects were also supported by the Zimin Foundation in public health care, science, education, and culture, including Ariel University<ref>{{cite web | url=http://itbusinessweek.com/ariel-university-dmitry-zimin/ | title=В университете Ариэля открыта лаборатория имени Дмитрия Зимина | IT Business Week Israel | access-date=18 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809045057/http://itbusinessweek.com/ariel-university-dmitry-zimin/ | archive-date=9 August 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> and the School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology, Tel-Aviv University in Israel,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.tau.ac.il/vision/zimin_institute_inauguration | title=Zimin Institute for Novel Engineering Solutions Inaugurated | website=english.tau.ac.il | date=5 November 2017 | access-date=13 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115032626/https://english.tau.ac.il/vision/zimin_institute_inauguration | archive-date=15 November 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> and others.
== Awards == * 2001: the “Business-Olympus” prize in the nomination “Business Reputation”.<ref>{{cite web |title=Лауреат премии Бизнес-Олимп Зимин Дмитрий Борисович |url=http://new.ex.ru/awards/darin/5_ceremony/laureate_zimin.shtml# |website=РАБИП |accessdate=20 March 2020 |language=ru}}</ref> The Russian edition of ''Forbes'' magazine rated Dmitry Zimin as the 63rd richest person in Russia in 2004 and the 52nd in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Золотая сотня-2004|url=https://www.forbes.ru//forbes/issue/2004-05/75910-zolotaya-sotnya-2004|access-date=22 December 2021|website=Forbes.ru|language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=100 богатейших бизнесменов России — 2005|url=https://www.forbes.ru//rating/100-bogateishih-biznesmenov-rossii/2005|access-date=22 December 2021|website=Forbes.ru|language=ru}}</ref>
* 2008: "Symbol of Science" medal in the nomination "Entrepreneur" for 2007 - for specific symbolic steps that bring closer the creation of a legal and moral environment in society in which fair competition of human talents is possible.{{cite web |url=http://mirnauki.ru/default.asp?alias=news&itemID=185&itemType=news |title=Названы лауреаты медали «Символ науки» за 2007 год |date=2008-02-13 |accessdate=2015-03-08 |lang=ru |archive-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608222630/http://mirnauki.ru/default.asp?alias=news&itemID=185&itemType=news |url-status=dead }}
* 2012: Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation - for active charitable and social activities<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 April 2012|title=Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "About Encouragement"|url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201205010010|lang=ru}}</ref>
* 2013: the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2013, the first Russian philanthropist to win the award.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 May 2017|title=Zimin, Dmitry Borisovich|url=https://www.medalofphilanthropy.org/dmitry-zimin/|access-date=22 December 2021|website=Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy|language=en-US}}</ref>
* 2013: as a gift for the 80th anniversary of Dmitry Zimin, the minor planet 315493 Zimin was named after Dmitry Zimin.<ref>{{cite web |title=315493 Zimin (2008 AE2) |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=315493&view=OPD |website=Small-Body Database Lookup ssd.jpl.nasa.gov |access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref>
* 2015: the "For Fidelity to Science" award from the Russian Federation's Ministry of Education and Science.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Климачева |first1=Инна |title=Всероссийская премия "За верность науке". Досье |url=https://tass.ru/info/2648310 |website=TASS |accessdate=21 March 2020 |language=ru}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Zimin died in Switzerland on 22 December 2021, at the age of 88, through an euthanasia procedure.<ref name="MoscowTimes-Obit">{{Cite web|date=23 December 2021|title=Dmitry Zimin, Scientist and Philanthropist, Dies at 88|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/12/23/dmitry-zimin-scientist-and-philanthropist-dies-at-88-a75908|access-date=23 December 2021|website=The Moscow Times|language=en}}</ref><ref name="TAdviser">{{Cite web|title=Leaving life with euthanasia|url=https://tadviser.com/index.php/Person:Dmitry_Borisovich_Zimin|access-date=15 May 2025|website=TAdviser|language=en}}</ref> He had one son, Boris Zimin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Карцев |first1=Дмитрий |title=Загадка Зимина |url=https://kot.sh/node/262 |website=Кот Шрёдингера |accessdate=21 March 2020 |language=ru |date=2015}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zimin, Dmitry}} Category:1933 births Category:2021 deaths Category:20th-century Russian businesspeople Category:20th-century Russian engineers Category:21st-century philanthropists Category:21st-century Russian businesspeople Category:21st-century Russian engineers Category:Moscow Aviation Institute alumni Category:Academic staff of the Higher School of Economics Category:Engineers from Moscow Category:Russian company founders Category:Russian philanthropists Category:Businesspeople from Moscow