Polytech in Focus. Visit of the St. Petersburg Scientific and Technological Development Team

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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The key event in the 2025 schedule of off-site events is the visit of the NTR team to the country's leading technical university, which allowed them to discuss the prospects for the development of engineering science, determine priorities and highlight key challenges in the city's technological development. The event took place in the Kapitsa conference hall of the Technopolis Polytech Research Building. The participants were welcomed by the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin and the First Vice-Rector of SPbPU Vitaly Sergeev.

"The Government of St. Petersburg sees its key role in being a catalyst and a bridge between science and business," Vladimir Knyaginin addressed the meeting participants. "We create conditions for their effective interaction: we form a common technological agenda, support high-tech projects and help bring university developments to the industrial level. Such coordination allows us not only to generate breakthrough ideas, but also to implement them in real production, creating new products and strengthening our technological sovereignty."

The visit of the NTR team to the university confirms the importance and relevance of scientific and technological developments of our scientists. The dialogue in which the Polytechnic University acts as an integration platform is important for effective interaction between academic science, government and the real sector of the economy. We are confident that such synergy is a key factor in strengthening the scientific and technological sovereignty and competitiveness of the region, – emphasized the First Vice-Rector of SPbPU Vitaly Sergeev.

The heads of the university's flagship research departments presented the achievements of scientific and technological development in the field of engineering sciences.

Chief designer for the key scientific and technological development area of SPbPU "System Digital Engineering", director of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU "Digital Engineering" Alexey Borovkov presented the ecosystem of technological development of SPbPU, combining scientific, educational and engineering competencies to solve multidisciplinary problems for more than 10 high-tech industries: aircraft and UAV manufacturing, engine manufacturing, nuclear and oil and gas engineering, medical engineering, automotive manufacturing, railway transport, etc.

The digital platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench® is the main tool for conducting breakthrough research, ensuring the capitalization of knowledge and competencies. The CML-Bench® Digital Platform currently presents more than 373 thousand digital and design solutions formed based on the results of work with leading industrial enterprises of Russia, – noted Alexey Borovkov.

Dmitry Bogdanov, Director of the Gazpromneft-Polytech Scientific and Educational Center, highlighted the center's key projects aimed at digitalizing the oil and gas industry and presented the results of developing a software package for the automated selection of optimal drilling targets.

"Our AI algorithm analyzes an array of geological and field data: residual oil-saturated thicknesses, reservoir pressure maps, the position of the flooding front," the speaker said. "This allows us to find promising zones and automatically place well trajectories in them with maximum economic effect, minimizing the routine work of experts."

He also demonstrated the results of mathematical modeling of hydraulic fracturing (HF) using a liquid foamed with gas. He emphasized that the 2D and 3D models developed by the center can significantly increase the sand-bearing capacity of the liquid and, as a result, increase the conductivity of the created cracks, which is critically important for efficient production from low-permeability reservoirs.

The delegation visited the laboratories and production sites of the university, where the director of the Scientific and Educational Center "Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials" Pavel Novikov gave a presentation on the main areas of research activities in the field of additive and laser technologies.

In his speech, Pavel Novikov focused on the triad of technological leadership: materials, technologies and production. He spoke about the development and production of new materials, in particular, high-entropy alloys and ceramics for rock-cutting tools, as well as intelligent materials with programmable properties.

The key element of the presentation was the demonstration of the domestic high-temperature layer-by-layer laser synthesis installation “VPLS Mercury”, developed jointly with ZAO Biograd (3DLam).

This installation, with a working area heated to 1300°C and a multi-laser system, allows us to manufacture gas turbine parts from heat-resistant alloys with characteristics superior to foreign analogues, Novikov said.

The guests were shown printed samples of a feather segment and a working blade.

Particular attention was paid to technologies for repair and restoration of critical components of power engineering. Using the example of repairing blades of gas turbine engines (GTE) Man Turbo and Mars100, it was clearly shown how laser cladding allows for the restoration of expensive parts made of alloys such as Mar-M-309, Inconel 792 and Mar-M 247, significantly extending their life cycle and reducing replacement costs.

Promising developments were also presented.

WAAM technology for printing large-sized parts, such as impellers and wheel rims, with high productivity (up to 6 kg/hour for titanium) and significant material savings. Creation of functionally graded and multimaterial parts, such as actuators made of NiTi (nitinol) alloy for the aerospace industry and combustion chambers for liquid rocket engines made of a combination of 316L and FeNi36 steels. Development of smart materials and structures, including antennas with specified properties and optimized cellular structures for medical implants.

"Our developments are not just scientific projects, they are ready-made solutions for industry," Pavel Novikov noted. "We not only create new materials and technologies, but also manufacture our own equipment: centers for direct laser growth and robotic complexes for electric arc growth, which allows us to offer customers a full cycle – from the idea to the finished product."

In conclusion, he noted that the future of additive manufacturing lies in the area of process intelligence using artificial intelligence, hybridization of methods and convergence of materials, which opens up new opportunities for critical industries such as aerospace, energy and medicine.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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