Home - News RSS feed - Interaction between science, higher education and industry discussed at UNN

 Vzaimodejstvie nauki vysshego obrazovaniya i proizvodstva obsudili v NNGU

A round table focused on the interaction between science, higher education and industry was held at Lobachevsky University as part of the Science without Borders Forum. Taking part in the discussion were Arutyun Avetisyan, Director of the RAS Institute for Systems Programming, Lev Zeleny, Scientific Director of the RAS Institute for Space Research, Chairman of the Space Research Committee of the International Scientific Council, Yulia Gorbunova, Vice-President of the Mendeleev Russian Chemical Society, Elena Zagaynova, Rector of Lobachevsky University, Oleg Trofimov, Executive Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Research and Education Centre, representatives of research institutes, universities and enterprises.

The meeting participants noted that interaction with the CIS countries should now become one of the state priorities and that there is a very good potential for such cooperation. Besides, according to the roundtable participants, it is important to align collaboration with CIS scientists in the framework of educational or scientific programmes.

"We can set up joint laboratories with universities in CIS countries and invite their scientists here. We also can, as they say, 'mirror' our laboratories there, which is very popular today. However, it is important to regulate, institutionalize scientific interaction within the Commonwealth. I believe it is necessary to adopt a resolution based on the results of the forum. Our first decisions may be simple and general, but it is the beginning of movement towards state programmes. Most importantly, we have a common history and a common language of communication," said Elena Zagaynova, Rector of Lobachevsky University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The round table also dealt with the need to reduce migration barriers and address staffing issues. In particular, representatives of enterprises noted that they were very interested in new highly trained employees.

Oleg Trofimov, Executive Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Research and Education Centre, spoke about the work of this organisation. The main task of REC is to unite higher education, science and industry in order to create new competitive technologies and products that will be in demand on the Russian and world market. Lobachevsky University is one of the key participants of the Nizhny Novgorod REC. UNN has many promising research results that can be implemented in business.

"Previously, scientists were literally searching for opportunities to implement their R&D results - and quite often without success, but now, in light of the changing environment and market conditions, companies and businesses have become interested in science. These are additional opportunities that, on the one hand, allow business to solve current problems and, on the other hand, give scientists a real chance to implement their innovations and proceed to serial production," said Oleg Trofimov, Executive Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Research and Education Centre.