Residents of Russky Technopark, the Skolkovo Foundation, and the Yakutia Technopark will present their projects to an expert panel of judges in the format of a pitch session. The event participants will have the opportunity to talk about their projects, share their ideas, and feedback and practical advice from experts who will evaluate the projects, while noting its pros and cons. The goal of the project is to help promising start-up projects find potential investors and partners.

Moderator:
Kirill Kaem — Senior Vice-President for Innovations, Skolkovo Foundation

Expert jury:
Alexander Borisov — the Director of High Technology Park “IT Park”
Andrey Zubkov — Managing director, Voshod Foundation
Vera Ptitsina — Deputy General Director, Yukutia Venture Company
Anna Struchkova — General Director, Agency for Investment Promotion and Export Support of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Alexander Shatirov — Director, Fund RC-Investments

Technological entrepreneurship is one of the powerful drivers of economic development all around the world. The development of innovative products and solutions provides a country with technological sovereignty and competitiveness in the global market. Some believe that the development of technological entrepreneurship can be intensified by integrating it into the university environment. Students are the ones with their flexible thinking, fresh hard skills, and an interest in new professions who will be able to generate ideas for tech startups and take them to the market. For this, though, it is crucial to support young people’s interests and provide them with the necessary skills: training and accelerators, teaching them approaches to developing promising ideas, and raising investment. The ‘Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship’ federal project being implemented by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education aims to provide this support at Russian universities. However, not all representatives of the university community view this initiative favourably. Some experts believe that teaching entrepreneurship at universities will diminish the quality of education by distracting students from mastering core subjects.

What tools do Russian universities have today to develop technological entrepreneurship? How are they being integrated into the educational process? Should existing entrepreneurs be involved in teaching activities? How can the trend of developing start-up movements impact university curricula? Can tech entrepreneurship be taught? What are the benefits and risks of university-based tech entrepreneurship for students, the university, and the state? What role do government support measures play in developing tech entrepreneurship? How can we form a community of young entrepreneurs and help them start their professional path? How can we attract business to develop the startup movement?

Speakers:
Mikhail Gordin — Acting Rector, Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Ekaterina Ivanilova — Head of Strategic Communications Department, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
Boris Korobets — Acting Rector, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU)
Dmitry Livanov — Rector, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Artem Malgin — Vice Rector for Development, MGIMO University
Mikhail Nachevsky — Head of Digital Transformation Department, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
Andrei Omelchuk — Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Andrey Siling — Adviser to the General Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects; Executive Director, Platform for National Technology Initiative

Moderator:
Vyacheslav Shoptenko — Director, Institute for Organizational Development and Strategic Initiatives, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)

The Arctic and the Far East today are places that unite natural resources (oil, gas, and minerals), scientific and technological solutions, and human capital, including representatives of Indigenous peoples with their culture, art, traditions, as well as their folk and artistic crafts. There are 20 ethnic groups in the Far East, and more than 50 in the North. Women are heavily involved in preserving the unique ecosystem and identity of the territories, as well as designing the future of the regions.
What growth points and opportunities for developing women’s entrepreneurship exist in the northern regions and the Far East? What projects are women implementing to develop and conserve their territories? What technological projects are being implemented to develop the region? What corporate programmes to support women’s leadership exist in the northern regions and the Far East? What social support measures do women need right now, and what conditions are in place for the self-realization of Russian women in the North and the Far East?

Speakers:
Nina Veysalova — Vice President, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)
Natalya Gonchar — Head of Corporate Relations Department, Sakhalin Energy
Lyubov Odzyal — President, Resident Public Organization Association of Indigenous People of the North of the Khabarovsk Region
Aleksandra Ryabykh — Co-founder, Association of Women in the Nuclear Industry Foundation
Anna Tsivileva — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kolmar Group

Moderator:
Maria Afonina — Vice Rector for Learning Activities of Educational Center SENEZH (“Russia - the Country of Opportunities” Project)