RESULTS OF 4th CONGRESS OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS
On November 27-29, 2024, on the federal territory of Sirius, for the fourth time, the Congress of Young Scientists gathered representatives of the academic and university community, state corporations and private business, and public associations. This is the key annual event of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia, announced by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in 2022-2031.
The events and activities of the Congress, the main theme of which is "Priorities for scientific and technological development: creating the future today," made it possible to see the future of Russian science through the eyes of young scientists.
“Young scientists - scientific leaders in priority areas, from space and quantum technologies to biomedicine and the humanities - shared their vision of Russia as a technological leader. It is impressive that they have a clear idea of what our life will look like on the horizon of 2036, and understand how to achieve it. At the same time, the priority for them is a person - his inner nature and inner harmony, which is important to preserve when introducing the latest technologies,“ said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Head of the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Preparation and Conduct of the Congress of Young Scientists and Satellite Events.
This year, more than 7,000 people from 85 regions of the Russian Federation, including new Russian regions, and 63 foreign countries took part in the Congress. Participants range in age from 6 to 87, with an average age of 33. The number of universities that took part in the Congress totals about 500 institutions, 95 are foreign ones.
336 volunteers worked at the IV Congress. They are students of the country's leading universities, most of them spoke BRICS languages, and even such as Farsi, Hindi, Bengali, Japanese.
PROGRAM
The most significant event of the IV Congress of Young Scientists was the plenary session - more than 1200 people attended it. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the participants and guests of the Congress. At the opening of the plenary session the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Andrei Fursenko read President’s greetings. In his greetings the Head of State noted Russia's openness to a constructive, equal and mutually beneficial international partnership in the scientific field.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko moderated the plenary session. D. Chernyshenko stressed that the current year is marked by the most important dates: the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences and St. Petersburg State University, as well as the 300th anniversary of the birth of the philosopher Immanuel Kant.
The Deputy Prime Minister summed up the results of the year, noting a significant increase in interest in science. He mentioned the success of the exhibition "Russia" at VDNKh, where the interactive exposition "Decade of Science and Technology" took place bringing together more than 140 thousand visitors.
"The Decade of Science announced by our President has united the country. The total number of events held in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in 2024 exceeded 12,000. The largest of them is the IV Congress of Young Scientists. The events and activities made it possible to see the future of Russian science through the eyes of young scientists. Hundreds of events of federal and regional significance were held, dozens of state corporation projects were presented in various areas of the country's scientific and technological development. Scientific playgrounds and new tourist routes have opened. Now you can go on a trip to 76 popular science destinations in 24 regions. Thanks to the Congress we have taken a serious step in popularizing research and innovation among residents of our country of all ages. The share of students planning to build a scientific career in Russia has grown to 92%,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.
The plenary session was held for the second time in the dialogue format between talented young scientists who spoke about their scientific work and shared stories of their professional success, and mentors who assessed the relevance and potential of developments, gave competent advice on how to build an effective investment strategy, and offered support tools. The plenary speakers were the authors of breakthrough scientific and technological developments and discoveries, heads of high-tech companies.
Within the framework of the plenary session, the award ceremony of the BRICS Young Innovators Competition took place. Its goal is to determine the best projects that can contribute to the development of world science and economics, as well as to involve as many young scientists as possible in international scientific and technical cooperation.
The winner was a scientist from Brazil Chiago Egiviges, professor at the Federal University of Technology of Paraná. In second place - Professor of the Scientific and Technical University of China Yuan U. The third place was taken by the Russian scientist - representative of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Dmitry Shadrin. The winner in the special nomination was another representative of China - Tongji University innovator Xin Cai.
Within the program more than 190 events were held in four main areas: "Big challenges and priorities of scientific and technological development," "Science without borders: sharing principles, uniting minds," "Development resources: people, ideas, infrastructure," "Initiatives of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia."
Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Andrei Fursenko during the Congress stressed that Russia continues to be open to cooperation with different countries, because scientific achievements are of universal value.
"The geopolitical situation, borders and commercial interests do not affect the interaction of scientists from different countries so much, because they build relationships based primarily on their scientific interest. The IV Congress of Young Scientists brought together a record number of young innovators from different countries, and this indicates that there are conditions in Russia for the development of international scientific dialogue, "said Andrei Fursenko.
Round tables, sessions, discussions and educational events were held in various areas of research activities, in which 933 speakers took part. During the discussions, they touched the development of quantum, microfluidic and neurotechnology, the use of artificial intelligence in science, education and medicine, the labour market in the professions of the future, digital services for the scientific community, the commercialization of scientific developments, the development of youth science and the popularization of science. The international track talked about the role of scientific interaction in a multipolar world and new scientific and technological leaders.
The events of the IV Congress were attended by laureates of the Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of science and innovation for young scientists. In 2023, they became a professor at the Department of Neurotechnology, Director of the Research Institute of Neurosciences of Nizhny Novgorod State University. N.I. Lobachevsky, Head of the Center for Neuromorphic Computing ANO "Neymark" Susanna Gordleeva; leading designer for the product "OKB named after A. M. Lyulka" branch of PJSC "UEC-UMPO," senior lecturer of the FSBEI HE "MAI" Georgy Gogaev; Olga Yakubovich, Professor, Department of Geochemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Researcher, Institute of Geology and Geochronology, Precambrian RAS; Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Ecological Physiology, Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Pavlushin.
"The Young Scientist Congress is one of the key events of the year for young researchers in our country. This year, its participants were especially actively involved in the work of the sessions, presented their developments and scientific projects, their vision of the development of science. We hope that their ideas will be implemented. And, of course, I have no doubt that the young researchers who took part in this Congress have gained valuable experience and new useful contacts here that will help them in their future scientific careers, "said Gennady Krasnikov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
BRICS CONSOLIDATION ACTIVITIES
The IX Forum of Young Scientists of the BRICS Countries was held at the Congress in 2024. The Forum gathered the largest number of participants in its entire history - 180 delegates. This is due to the entry into the international association of new participating states: since the beginning of the year Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have joined the BRICS. The forum completed the Russian chairmanship in BRICS in the field of science, technology and innovation.
For the first time in test mode there was used simultaneous translation into 9 languages based on artificial intelligence. A text broadcast could be read in real time from a smartphone screen. The service was used in the plenary and some program rooms.
EXHIBITION
The Congress hosted a traditional exhibition of modern Russian technologies: scientific achievements, developments and startups were presented by 50 largest Russian companies, leading universities, scientific and educational centers, state and public organizations. The exhibition area was almost 7000 square meters.
The state corporation “Rosatom”, Sibur, X Holding, the state corporation “Rostech”, Sberbank, Yandex presented their developments. NASHA LABA brought modern Russian and Belarusian equipment and reagents to the Congress to equip modern scientific laboratories and research centers. At the stand of the Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" there talked about the role of an organization in the modern scientific landscape and R&D products in various scientific areas. More than 60 inventions were shown at the stand of the "Movement of the First."
For the convenience of foreign guests, the exhibition stands of the Congress were equipped with QR codes with reference to the description of the exposition and the presented projects in Russian, English, Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese. As part of the work of the stands, thematic sessions, master classes and lectures on promising technologies, scientific and engineering professions were held.
At the “REC Square” scientific and educational centers from all over the country showed their R&D products. The team of the Kuzbass-Donbass Scientific and Educational Center presented 40 exhibits: products in the field of ecology, coal mining and processing, metallurgy, medicine and culture, created in close science-and-business cooperation.
The presented technologies are already being adopted in production. A Jupiter mine dump truck with a carrying capacity of 125 tons jointly developed by specialists from the Kuzbass State Technical University named after T. F. Gorbachev and PJSC KamAZ. It will be tested at the Kuzbass coal mine in January 2025. Another product presented is nutrient media created at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Cardiovascular Diseases (CPCD), which allow to study cells, develop new treatments and medicines. Kemerovo cardiologists and their industrial partner have already produced and sold environments worth 1.5 million rubles.
The world-class scientific and educational center “Yenisei Siberia” has demonstrated 17 developments in the field of new technologies, digital humanities, radio communications, environmentally friendly processing of materials, biotechnology, software, and medicine. These are VR-simulators for transformer repair and safety training in oil and gas fields, a handwritten document recognition service, software for monitoring forests, phosphors for light-emitting devices, smart clothes and accessories, and much more.
Joint developments of the REC “MoreAgroBioTech” and the Sevastopol State University were presented at the stand. Among the unique technologies: the Sargan surface unmanned vehicle, designed to test communication and control systems, and the Barabulka modular surface multifunctional platform for environmental monitoring of the bottom.
The Eurasian REC showed import-substituting developments of the advanced engineering school “Motors of the Future” - non-contact high-performance electric motors for unmanned aircraft composed over 97% of domestic components. To date they are already being implemented into mass production or are undergoing the latest flight tests. Biodegradable polymer composites made of recycled raw materials were also demonstrated at the stand. They reduce costs by recycling materials. Another exhibit is a hydroboard, a small-sized swimming vehicle that can be used by water rescuers, the military to overcome water obstacles, as well as for entertainment purposes.
At the stand of the Russian Science Foundation School there were held seminars for grantees - grant programs, peculiarities of scientific expertise and mechanics of selecting applied projects. Speakers of the School gave advice on how to prepare grant documentation, how scientists interact with each other and present research results to society. An open microphone was also held with Andrei Blinov, Deputy General Director of the Russian Science Foundation, who answered grantees’ questions and listened to their ideas for improving the grant system.
The Scientific Lounge introduced the participants of the Congress to the most modern technologies of Russian production – a smart edible film, the Pushkin Digital resource, a Russian smartphone with a special security mode, an intelligent facial emotion recognition system and others. In the media space of the Lounge there were popular scientific films and lectures by leading Russian scientists.
In the zone of the initiative of the All-Russian complex "Mentally Ready for Labor and Defense", the Congress participants tested the level of cognitive functions: reaction speed, visual and spatial memory, logic, attention and others.
In the service of scientific networking “eTalk” by ITMO University, which was first organized at the Congress, 2066 meetings in the format of quick acquaintances took place.
The exhibition “Science in Faces” was presented at the site - an exposition of portraits of 24 outstanding Russian scientists, engineers, inventors, laureates of the Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of science and innovation for young scientists.
AGREEMENTS
During the Congress 27 agreements were signed between various organizations aimed at developing scientific and educational cooperation in the country. The largest: the agreement on the creation of a scientific and educational consortium between the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics, ITMO National Research University, National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky, Samara National Research University named after Academician S. P. Korolev, Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the development program of the Obninsk Tech International Scientific and Educational Center for Nuclear and Related Technologies for the period 2024-2030 between NRNU MEPhI, the Government of the Kaluga region and the state corporation “Rosatom”; the cooperation agreements between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Challenge Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations, as well as the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the operator of the Decade of Science and Technology ANO “National Priorities”, signed agreements on the creation of thematic initiatives with the state atomic energy corporation “Rosatom”, PJSC “Sibur Holding” and state corporation “Geoskan”.
SPORTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS
Traditionally more than 40 events of sports, cultural and evening scientific and entertainment programs for participants took place. The sports program of the IV Congress included events in eight sports.
The Intellectual Sports Lounge worked at the site, where the Rapid Chess Congress Cup was held with the ID assignment of the Russian Chess Federation, a session of simultaneous play with the champion of Russia under 19 years old Anna Zhurova, as well as master classes in chess, drafts.
Coaches of the Student Hockey League teams held a hockey master class for members of the Coordination Council for Youth Affairs in the scientific and educational spheres of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education and titled Russian judokas. The chairman of the Coordination Council, the head of the Kurchatov complex of synchrotron-neutron research of the Kurchatov Institute Nikita Marchenkov, the champion of the Olympic Games in London 2012 Mansur Isaev, the bronze medalist of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo Madina Taimazova and the head coach of the Russian national judo team Vitaly Makarov, as well as other scientists and athletes.
Four talented scientists presented their reports during the on-move conference “Thoughts in Motion”.
The Congress participants played in world football and sports programming tournaments, and also attended a friendly match between the women's national football teams of Russia and Azerbaijan and the KHL game Sochi HC - Ak Bars.
Leonid Chesnikov, a student at Voronezh State University of Engineering, won the Sports Programming Cup. In May, he won the international competition held by the Russian Sports Programming Federation.
The cultural, scientific and entertainment program included film screenings with discussions, a musical and technological quiz, a karaoke battle, the final of the University League of Scientific Battles, the Night of Scientific Failures, the intellectual game "What? Where? When? "With the participation of Club experts and young scientists.
The final of the University League of Scientific Battles, the Night of Scientific Failures and the musical quiz "How many decibels are needed?" were organized by the Science Slam Russia Association and the MISIS University of Science and Technology.
The Challenge Youth Community held a karaoke battle. Participants performed famous songs with rewritten texts in a scientific way: the main plot of musical compositions was built around scientific terms, theories and phenomena. The best performers were awarded memorable prizes.
“Polyquiz” by the Polytechnic Museum took place - a team quiz with questions of varying complexity, including those invented using artificial intelligence.
For the first time “ScientificRock” appeared in the program - performances and a rock concert, where leading scientists and leaders of large scientific and industrial organizations acted as speakers and musicians. X Holding organized astronomical walks for the participants of the Congress.
Intellectual game “What? Where? When?” was held with the participation of Club experts and young scientists. The main prize - a trip to the world's only nuclear icebreaker base in Murmansk and a top (one of the main symbols of the game) - was received by the team of the Coordination Council.
Participants of the IV Congress visited the museums of Sochi and the Krasnodar Territory and the Sochi Park amusement park.
PARTNERS
The IV Congress of Young Scientists was held with the support of the title partner - Rosatom State Corporation, the strategic partner - PJSC “Rosseti”, the official partner - the Moscow Innovation Cluster Foundation, the official partner - PJSC “Sberbank”, the official partner - Nizhny Novgorod REC, the strategic scientific partner - SIC “Kurchatov Institute”, the strategic partner of the exhibition - LLC “X Holding”.
First time partners - LLC “X Holding”, LLC “Yandex” (“Yandex Education”), “Proryv project”, LLC “Helikon Company”, RKTU named after Mendeleev, Omsk REC, NRNU MEPhI, JSC “UK Efko”.
Information partners of the IV Congress were 25 mass media. This year, for the first time, the Russia-24 TV channel became the general information partner. “RIA Novosti” was the photo host agency and information partner.
Information partners of the IV Congress: Sputnik, IA TASS, MIC “Izvestia”, NTV channel, RT channel, TV BRICS, Nauka channel, “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, Gazeta.ru, Lenta.ru, “Argumenty i Fakty”, “Vedomosti”, Stimul magazine, Regional Russia journalistic magazine, Public News Service.
Industry information partners: journal “Science and Life”, ”TechInsider”, scientific and information portal “Search”, Naked Science, Indicator, InScienceNews, Ixbt.com. The broadcast partner was “VK Video”.
V CONGRESS OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS
On November 28, 2024, a meeting of the Coordinating Committee for the Decade of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation was held, at which the dates for the anniversary, V Congress of Young Scientists were approved: it will be held on November 26-28, 2025.
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