Innograd International Competition winners named at UNN
On 14 December, Lobachevsky University hosted the finals of the Second International Educational Competition for Youth Entrepreneurship INNOGRAD (Innograd International). The All-Russian Innograd programme was held for the 12th time and this was the second year in a row that it was run in an international format. This year, taking part in the programme were representatives of universities from Uzbekistan and Belarus. Traditionally, the finals were held in a hybrid format at the UNN Boiling Point.
In 2023, students from 21 Russian universities and partner educational organisations from the Eurasian Economic Union member states produced 169 projects on the UNN iGeneration platform. They competed for the right to rank the best in four categories: "Innovation and Intellect" (technological entrepreneurship); "Entrepreneurial Activity" (small business); "Social Design" (social business); and "Creative Thinking" (creative industries).
970 students under the guidance of 43 mentors took part in the two-month Innograd educational programme implemented by the Lobachevsky University team. Alexander Bedny, UNN Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Networking, welcomed the finalists:
"Our great thanks go to the organisers, experts and partners of the competition. Innograd is the result of joint work, an example of synergy and effective partnership of like-minded people from the university and industry. I wish everyone an entrepreneurial spirit, great and brilliant accomplishments and achievements!".
The jury of the project competition finals included leaders and experts of public organisations, business and science, who have experience in expert work in the relevant areas, as well as leading representatives of Lobachevsky University's academic and innovation community.
In his closing remarks, Nikita Avralev, UNN Vice-Rector for Strategic Development, congratulated all the winners and runners-up of the competition and noted that the university will continue to work on the development of student entrepreneurship, also as part of the startup studio grant that Lobachevsky University won in 2023.
The INNOGRAD International (Innograd II) Competition is held as part of the Priority 2030 strategic academic leadership programme.
