On November 20, NRU MEPhI and Rostec State Corporation signed a corresponding strategic partnership agreement. Rostec has also signed similar agreements with universities such as MIPT, MISIS, STANKIN, Sechenov University and SPbPU.
The signing ceremony took place during the meeting "Prioritization of tasks of scientific and technological cooperation to achieve technological leadership". It was attended by Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec, heads of the Corporation's holdings and rectors of leading Russian universities.
The head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Valery Falkov recalled that in 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved two fundamental documents – the updated Strategy of scientific and technological development and the Decree "On the national development Goals of Russia until 2030 and for the future until 2036".
"In these documents, special attention is paid to cooperation between science and industry, staffing of industries, the development of the institute of a qualified customer, the orientation of research results to accelerated implementation into the economy, as well as increased investments in science from both the state and business. The decrees determined not only the priorities of state policy for the coming years, but also a list of tools aimed at achieving technological leadership," the Minister stressed.
Rector of MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko considers cooperation with companies included in the Rostec State Corporation circuit to be a logical development of the work already being carried out by the university within the framework of the tasks set in the President's message to in February of this year and aimed at a multiple increase in the share of domestic high-tech products in the domestic market by 2030. "Consolidation of university and industry resources within the framework of scientific and industrial cooperation will allow creating globally competitive developments. For example, in the field of micro- and nanoelectronics, this is one of the leading scientific fields in MEPhI: the first department of microelectronics in the USSR was established at our university. Joint work within the framework of the signed agreement will strengthen the production arm of those programs that have already been launched in the country, including as part of the Scientific Instrument Engineering consortium with the participation of MEPhI. Additional confidence in the fruitfulness of future cooperation between universities with Rostec and industry in general is provided by the eight new national projects on technological leadership with budget financing in the amount of 3 trillion rubles, which were reported to the head of state on November 20 by Denis Manturov, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation," said Vladimir Shevchenko.
The purpose of the signed agreements is to integrate the scientific and educational potential of universities and industrial enterprises. Joint work will help to improve training programs for the training of a new generation of Russian engineers and strengthen career guidance activities aimed at finding young talents.
The parties also intend to intensify joint research and development work on topics relevant to universities. Among other things, it is planned to conduct developments in the fields of metallurgy and metalworking, medicine, new materials, electronics, photonics, robotics, artificial intelligence, etc.
"Many Russian universities and institutes have significant expertise in areas relevant to us. Therefore, we attach great importance to cooperation with them in the field of R&D. For example, last year Rostec's investments in joint developments with universities and research institutes exceeded 14 billion rubles. I think scientific and industrial cooperation needs to be strengthened and brought to a new level. In order to create products and innovations together that are necessary for the state, various sectors of the economy and citizens of our country," said Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation.
One of the mechanisms for strengthening cooperation between science and the real sector is the postgraduate production project, which is being launched in pilot mode from 2025. It provides for the joint training of highly qualified engineers by the university and the company. During the study period, which will take from 3 to 6 years, each graduate student will develop a ready-to-implement engineering and technical solution. Several enterprises of the State Corporation are already planning to join the project.
The meeting also discussed the prospects for the formation of scientific and industrial associations, taking into account the already established partnerships between universities and enterprises in the real sector. Their goal is to accelerate the introduction of scientific research results into industry, to ensure the development of pilot and small–scale production of high-tech products.
Rostec State Corporation is the largest engineering company in Russia. It unites over 800 scientific and industrial organizations in 60 regions of the country. The company acts as a key supplier of weapons, military and special equipment within the framework of the state defense order. It develops high-tech civilian industries in strategically important sectors for the country, such as aircraft construction, engine building, transport and energy engineering, medical instrumentation, pharmaceuticals, new materials, etc. The corporation's portfolio includes such well-known brands as KAMAZ, UAC, Russian Helicopters, UEC, Uralvagonzavod, Shvabe, Kalashnikov Concern, KRET, High-Precision Complexes, Roselektronika, Natsibio, etc. Consolidated revenue in 2023 exceeded 2.8 trillion rubles.
