Category: Russian Universities

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

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At an extraordinary meeting of the SPbPU Academic Council, a ceremony was held to award the diploma, gown, and badge of Honorary Doctor of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University to Georgy Fokin, General Director of Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, and Professor. The decision to confer the title was unanimously adopted by the members of the SPbPU Academic Council on May 23, 2025.

"We are honored to welcome representatives of Gazprom into our Polytechnic family," SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy welcomed the distinguished guest. "Through you, we will continue our creative, scientific, and educational collaboration, which has linked us for many years. First and foremost, we will do everything we can to ensure that you employ top-class engineers. And, of course, we will conduct joint scientific research. We will work together for the benefit of our country and to achieve technological leadership. This is a tremendous task, one we are capable of."

The partnership with Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg (a subsidiary of PJSC Gazprom) has become one of the most significant and productive for the Polytechnic University. In 2014, the university established a specialized department, "Gas Turbine Units for Gas Pumping Stations," headed by Georgy Fokin. In February 2025, he became the head of Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg and the rector of SPbPU. signed an updated cooperation agreement, aimed at advanced training of personnel for the industry, conducting research and development work in the interests of the company and the entire Gazprom Group, and developing and applying advanced technologies.

Introducing the new Honorary Doctor, SPbPU Academic Secretary Dmitry Karpov noted that Georgy Fokin's personal commitment is the foundation of the extensive collaboration between the university and the company, and cited outstanding examples of collaboration over the past year. For example, undergraduate and graduate students from the specialized department, equipped with state-of-the-art computing facilities, are participating in a major R&D project to localize the T32 gas turbine unit, which is part of the GPA-32 "Ladoga" gas compressor unit. An alternative 3D printing technology has been mastered for the manufacture of a fuel injector swirler.

At the request of Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Gazprom, the Polytechnic University promptly launched a program to train dispatchers and offer professional retraining at the Gazprom Transgaz Saint Petersburg training center.

The University's Mechanical Engineering Building has renovated the air system for air testing, and space has been equipped for students in the turbine engineering laboratory.

Georgy Anatolyevich Fokin graduated from the Faculty of Electronic Engineering at the V. I. Ulyanov (Lenin) Leningrad Electrotechnical Institute. In 1994, he defended his dissertation at the Saint Petersburg State Technical University (as the Polytechnic University was then known) and became a candidate of physical and mathematical sciences. In 2016, he also defended his doctoral dissertation at the Polytechnic University on the concept of developing small-scale power generation for compressor and gas distribution stations.

Georgy Fokin is a multifaceted man. He combines his professional career with community service: he serves on the Public Council of the Northwestern District of the Russian National Guard Troops, the Board of Trustees of the Charitable Foundation for the Development of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve, and the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society. He is also the Honorary Consul of the Dominican Republic in St. Petersburg.

"Today, we are not so much inviting another outstanding individual to join the ranks of the Polytechnics as we are sincerely thanking this highly qualified specialist, professional, and remarkable leader for his collaboration and partnership—in full accordance with the SPbPU Honorary Doctorate Regulations—for his significant contribution to the development of cutting-edge fields of knowledge and science, which has contributed to the university's strategic development, the expansion of its areas of cooperation, and the enhancement of its authority internationally," concluded Dmitry Karpov.

Traditionally, to the sound of the student anthem "Gaudeamus," the ceremonial vestments—the gown and headdress of an Honorary Doctor—were carried into the Academic Council hall. Students dressed in early 20th-century Polytechnic uniforms helped Georgy Fokin don his academic attire, and the Polytechnic Rector presented him with the Doctor Honoratus badge, a diploma, a certificate, the book "Honorary Doctors of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University," and souvenirs.

After the ceremony, Georgy Fokin thanked everyone from the podium for the honor and shared his memories of the beginning of his collaboration with the Polytechnic University: "I feel a sense of pride standing in this place, where outstanding people, pillars of science, have stood before me. My entire scientific career has been connected in one way or another with the Polytechnic University. At ETU "LETI," I graduated from the basic department of the Physicotechnical Institute, headed by Zhores Ivanovich Alferov, who later founded an entire faculty at the Polytechnic Institute. After that, I worked at the Ioffe Institute, then moved to the Center for Advanced Technologies and Development. And in 1994, I defended my PhD thesis at the Polytechnic University. Those were challenging times, including for science. When we submitted our documents, it turned out that the dissertation council hadn't defended a single thesis for two years. And during my presentation, they asked me 32 questions. Not because they wanted to overwhelm me, but because the dissertation council members were curious; they missed defenses." I answered all the questions, received a PhD in Physics and Mathematics, and since then my work related to the Polytechnic has only developed.

Georgy Fokin recalled that in 2018, the Polytechnic University was recognized as Gazprom's flagship university. He concluded his speech by saying, "I commit to continuing to support our cooperation with the Polytechnic University."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Arman Holding, in collaboration with the Institute of Power Engineering at SPbPU, has created an innovative laboratory for low-power power machines in power engineering, aimed at addressing national human resources and technological challenges. It will host undergraduate and graduate classes in Power Engineering, focusing on "Turbines and Aircraft Engines," "Gas Turbine Units for Gas Pumping Stations," and "Steam and Gas Turbines." The laboratory is also designed to implement continuing education programs and train postgraduate students.

The opening of the laboratory is part of a long-term collaboration between SPbPU and Arman Energo.

Cooperation with Arman Holding is a shining example of the continuity of the polytechnic community: the company’s founder and president, Serikbay Bisekeyev, is our graduate, and nowHonorary Professor of the Polytechnic University"I would like to note that Arman Holding has awarded scholarships for the current academic year to five talented students and five faculty members who are particularly involved in working with them," emphasized SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy.

"Let the best turbines in the world be created here, and you will take part in this," Serikbay Bisekeyev, president of Arman Holding, addressed the laboratory staff.

Arman Holding also awarded scholarships to five full-time students who demonstrated outstanding academic and research abilities.

Amount: 15,000 rubles per month for each student.

Payment period: academic year 2025/2026.

In addition, additional payments were awarded to five SPbPU teachers who creatively participate in the training of specialists in specialized disciplines (electronics, computer science, energy).

Amount and term: 15,000 rubles for each teacher (one-time payment amount for the academic year, taking into account insurance premiums and personal income tax).

Payment period: academic year 2025/2026.

The "Low-Power Machines in Power Engineering" laboratory is located in the Mechanical Engineering Building and its courtyard. It is divided into six functional zones (stands), each equipped with various equipment.

Rotor balancing stand:

balancing stand BS-34-200S(H) with a brake module and a full set of equipment (control rotors, workbenches, tools, carts). For high-precision dynamic balancing of turbine and engine parts.

Rotor assembly/disassembly stand for preparation for testing:

precision bench center (beat gauge) PB-1000 with extractor and tools;
hydraulic press (50 tons);
HDTV inductor (heat treatment for assembly/disassembly);
cryogenic equipment (Dewar vessel for cold pressing);
ultrasonic bath for cleaning parts;
drilling and grinding machines.

Mechanical measurement stand:

measuring plate (1000×2000 mm);
a complete set of precision measuring instruments: micrometers, bore gauges, indicators, calipers, devices for measuring roughness and hardness, scales;
work furniture and computer equipment for data processing.

Stand for electrical and digital measurements:

control and measuring equipment: digital oscilloscopes, multimeters, current clamps, thermal imager, pyrometer, vibrometers, metal analyzer, video endoscope;
auxiliary equipment: laboratory power supply, soldering station, LATR;
a complete set of electrical safety equipment (dielectric tools, mats, gloves, boots, posters);
communications and surveillance: portable radios, video recorders.

Hot test bench (supplied by Arman Energy):

200 kW gas turbine electric motor with a fuel supply system, located in a container on an external site.

GTEA control system stand (supplied by Arman Energy):

power inverter cabinets and gas turbine electric motor control cabinet.

Additional general laboratory equipment:

load device (500 kW) to create a controlled electrical load during testing;
lifting and transportation equipment: mobile crane (3 tons), hydraulic trolley, manual hydraulic stacker;
compressor and coating kit (compressed air system).

Block container of the test bench Arman-GT200-0, 4-KN0
Inverter cabinet “Orbita” RVMG 435431.004
IF rectifier cabinet “Orbita” RVMG 435411.002
Frequency converter cabinet “Orbit” RVMG 435424.001
Microturbine control cabinet SHU-MK P15.2022.01.001
Methane discharge ramp RRM-1khb-200-100SHU TU 28.14.13-001-53619129-2022
Gas turbogenerator (Microturbine Engine Module) CAPSTONTE Turbine C200, SD, serial number 107807

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov awarded the city's best physical education and sports professionals. Among them were Kirill Prigoda, a record-holder and world champion swimmer, renowned Polytechnician, and assistant at the Higher School of Sports Education at the Institute of Physical Culture, Sport, and Tourism at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The awards ceremony for the distinguished coaches and athletes was traditionally held at Smolny.

The awards include the honorary title "Honored Worker of Physical Culture of St. Petersburg," the chest badge "For Merits in the Development of Physical Culture and Sports," and the honorary badge of the Government of St. Petersburg "Best in Sports of St. Petersburg" for 2025.

"It's a great honor for our city when its athletes compete successfully at various high-level venues. All of St. Petersburg is proud of you," noted Alexander Dmitrievich.

As Alexander Beglov emphasized, the city government will continue to make physical education and sports accessible to everyone, including creating conditions for the development of street sports.

In 2025, 12 people were awarded the St. Petersburg government's honorary badge "Best in Sports in St. Petersburg," including Kirill Prigoda.

Let us recall that the renowned swimmer recently became the athlete of the year according to the Russian Ministry of Sports innomination "Pride of Russia", and was also recognized as the best by the country's Water Sports Federation.

Kirill Prigoda is a ten-time world champion, two-time European champion, world and European record holder, and Honored Master of Sports of Russia. This year, at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Kirill won three gold medals in relays, one of which set a new world record, as well as three silver medals in individual events. In Singapore, he added a silver in the 50m breaststroke and two gold medals as part of the relay team.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The concerts of the SPbPU Chamber Choir and Pop Symphony Orchestra served not only as a test of a full semester of rehearsals but also as proof that the Polytechnic University is a space where young people have great opportunities for creativity and growth.

When engineering students take the stage alongside professional artists, it's an extraordinary event. And we're not talking about amateur performances, but full-fledged programs that have become a fixture in the White Hall's repertoire.

First, the SPbPU Chamber Choir, under the direction of Alexandra Makarova, presented a large choral concert in two parts, dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer Georgy Sviridov. Following this, the Ingenium Pop and Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dmitry Misyura, presented a concert program entitled "Music of Game Worlds."

Polytechnic students, who sing in the choir, decided to celebrate the 110th anniversary of one of the most "choral" composers of the 20th century, Georgy Sviridov, by performing his music, imbued with love for the Motherland and humanity.

"The students enthusiastically and with remarkable dedication tackled complex works for a cappella choir and cantatas with instrumental accompaniment," notes the choir's director and conductor, Alexandra Makarova. "We were especially delighted to collaborate with the wonderful St. Petersburg musicians—soloists Maria Egorova and Boris Petrov—and to perform the cantata 'Snow is Falling' with the junior choir of the M. I. Glinka Choral School, an unforgettable and heartfelt performance."

The Polytechnic Orchestra, re-formed at the beginning of the academic year by first-year students, quickly prepared a new program and presented it to the public without delay. The orchestra's legendary game soundtracks were a treat for gamers and symphonic music enthusiasts.

"The idea for the program came about quite spontaneously. We tried out a soundtrack in the spring and it turned out great, so we decided to create a program featuring music from computer games," says the orchestra's conductor, Polytechnic University graduate Pavel Zhukov. "The guys started bringing music from their favorite games, and many of them are truly masterpieces! Complex rehearsals and the musicians' great passion allowed us to delight the audience and have a great time."

The White Hall featured music from the best-selling video games Syberia II, The Witcher 3, Super Mario Brothers, The Elder Scrolls III, Angry Birds, and World of Warcraft, all uniquely arranged by orchestra director Dmitry Misyura. These legendary soundtracks truly sounded like symphonic masterpieces.

The audience's interest in the Polytechnic University's performances exceeded all expectations—a full house, a warm welcome, and shouts of "bravo." The students deserved it. Combining an engineering education with a serious passion for music, they confirm the Polytechnic University's core tenet: "An engineer must think symphonically."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The research team from the Higher School of Engineering and Economics of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade at SPbPU achieved significant success, taking third place in the finals of the 17th All-Russian Intersectoral Youth Competition for Scientific and Technical Works and Projects "Youth and the Future of Aviation and Cosmonautics."

The "Youth and the Future of Aviation and Astronautics" competition has a rich history. It was first held in 2009, and since 2014 has become an integral part of the international Aerospace Science Week program. Its distinguishing feature is its unique prize fund, which is funded by aerospace industry companies and amounts to at least 1,500,000 rubles. The goals include identifying promising innovative projects, building a professional community, and strengthening ties between science and industry.

This year, the competition aimed to comprehensively address several strategic objectives. The key goals of the event were to identify talented young people and promising research teams from young scientists, university specialists, and industrial enterprises, as well as to identify and support the most interesting and significant innovative projects. Furthermore, an important objective was to foster a youth-focused professional community for the active exchange of cutting-edge scientific approaches and technologies as a foundation for strengthening corporate ties between education, science, and the real economy.

The competition's scientific areas covered key segments of the aerospace industry.

Aviation Systems: Research in the design and operation of aircraft. Unmanned Systems and Technologies: Development of autonomous systems and intelligent solutions. Aircraft Engines and Power Plants: Modern engine and power supply concepts. Digital Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics: Digitalization of processes and the creation of robotic systems. Rocket and Space Systems: Advanced developments for space exploration. Advanced Materials and New Manufacturing Technologies: Innovative materials and additive manufacturing for the aerospace industry.

The research project "Integration of Deep Learning and Stereo Vision Algorithms into the Architecture of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Environmental Monitoring" was selected by an expert committee from among 221 applications and accepted for an in-person defense in Moscow. The research team presented a prototype of their development, demonstrating the operating principle of the analytical UAV. The project, developed by a research group led by VIES Associate Professor Evgeny Konnikov, was highly praised by experts in the "Unmanned Systems and Technologies" program. The research was led by Prokhor Polyakov, a first-year student in the "Automation of Statistical Decisions in Organizations" master's program, and Olesya Starchenkova, a VIES assistant and graduate of the "IT Economics and Business Analysis" program. The team from the Higher School of Engineering and Economics took third place in the finals of the 17th All-Russian Intersectoral Youth Competition of Scientific and Technical Projects "Youth and the Future of Aviation and Cosmonautics."

"The Watchman" is an analytical UAV based on a heavy FPV drone with a Raspberry Pi 5 and a stereo camera, designed for the automatic detection of trash and illegal dumping sites. It uses the YOLOv8 neural network, which recognizes waste in a video stream, estimates its distance using stereo vision, and records findings in reports along with coordinates and photos. The system operates in near real-time (≈5 fps) and provides up to 30 minutes of flight time, making it suitable for environmental monitoring, said Olesya Starchenkova, a member of the research team and assistant at VIES.

The key objective of the project is to improve the organizational and economic mechanism for environmental protection of the population within the regional economic system.

A total of 79 projects advanced to the finals. The defenses were held in person and included a presentation of the results to experts. The competition entries were evaluated based on a set of interrelated criteria: relevance of the topic, scientific novelty, depth of analysis of analogs, degree of elaboration of the solution, practical value of the project, and the authors' personal contribution. This multifaceted approach allowed the experts to objectively identify the most promising developments with the potential to make a significant contribution to the development of the aerospace industry.

The final round of the competition took place at the Moscow Aviation Institute. The program included in-person poster presentations, a scientific discussion with leading industry experts, and a roundtable discussion on "Identifying and Promoting Research and Development." A formal summing up of the results and the awards ceremony for the winners and laureates took place on the same day. The SPbPU team received special recognition for their work with diplomas from Progress Research and Production Company, a company that supplies enterprises with testing systems, including its own. Progress Research and Production Company collaborates with research institutes, large domestic companies, and industry leaders, which will significantly facilitate the expansion of the Polytechnic University team's activities.

Dmitry Rodionov, Director of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics, was invited to support the team in the second stage of the competition.

The finalists had a unique opportunity to present their developments to leading scientists and representatives of major companies in the aviation, rocket and space, and defense industries. The winners were awarded diplomas, cash prizes, and sponsor awards, as well as the opportunity to publish their work in leading peer-reviewed journals such as the Moscow Aviation Institute Bulletin and the MAI Transactions.

Dmitry Rodionov, Director of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics, emphasized the significance of the Polytechnic students' work: "Our team's victory in the all-Russian competition is not just a success, but a logical result of the systematic work of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics. We create an environment where talented students and young scientists can implement ambitious projects at the intersection of engineering, economics, and digital technologies. It is particularly valuable that our work on environmental monitoring using UAVs was highly praised by leading experts in the aerospace industry. This confirms the correctness of our chosen development direction and demonstrates the relevance of interdisciplinary research in solving today's pressing challenges."

The Polytech-Invest research laboratory, led by Evgeny Konnikov, specializes in investment consulting and the development of digital and technical solutions for businesses. The laboratory's uniqueness lies in its combination of practical consulting for industry and the development of advanced technologies, strengthening the university's ties to the real economy.

In addition to the competition program, the forum program included meetings with experienced industry specialists, roundtables and master classes, exhibitions, satellite competitions, and special programs for the youngest representatives—schoolchildren, for whom a separate scientific and competition program has been organized for several years.

The successful performance of the VIESH team in the final of such a high-level event demonstrated the high quality of scientific research conducted within the walls of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics and its growing authority in the country's scientific and technical community.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.