TsAGITech, Skolkovo Hold SkLab.Zhukovsky Intensive Program
19 October 2022
From October 4 to 6, Zhukovsky (Moscow Region) held SkLab.Zhukovsky, the intensive training program for young innovators aimed to generate the ideas for technological start-ups. It was organized by TsAGITech (TsAGI is a part of NRC “Zhukovsky Institute”), Skolkovo Foundation, Skolkovo Open University, ANO Investment Promotion Agency of the Moscow Region.
The free practice-oriented program focused on the quick launch of youth technology startups. About 170 students, postgraduates, young scientists, freelancers, and individual entrepreneurs subject to the self-employment tax were involved in the event—including representatives from TsAGI, Gromov Flight Research Institute, MAI, MIPT, MSTU, MSU, Dubna State University, etc.
The first day of SkLab.Zhukovsky was focused on technological trends and specific features of modern economy sectors. Welcoming speech was made by Igor Chirkov, Acting Head at Moscow Region Investment Development Agency. According to him, Moscow Region currently exceeds the other Russian regions in the number of the self-employed. The Government of Moscow Region actively supports the first-time entrepreneurs whose activities represent a key vector for Russian economic development.
Ekaterina Morozova, Director at Skolkovo Open University, informed the SkLab.Zhukovsky participants on the prospects of preparing advanced papers that could be included into the federal project, Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship, bringing real money.
‘Once again, TsAGI has united ambitious and enthusiastic smart young people at one platform. Here, they can come up with and work out the innovative ideas that would be later defended as startup. Indeed, the energy and talent of the young people, combined with the acquired knowledge and skills, will provide a new high-tech quality both regionally and domestically,’ said D. Sc. Aleksandr Medvedsky, First Deputy General Director, TsAGI.
During the three-day intensive program, the attendees learned to generate the ideas for research-and-technology startups, received expert evaluation of their project concepts, and formed teams within such areas as RPAS, new materials and technologies, Industry 4.0 Technologies, digital aerospace technologies, robotics, and AI.
The program included such events as the Event Startup (a simulation of searching for startup ideas) ‘speed-dating’ (a training presentation with industrial experts), validation of ideas, and master classes on target audience research, market research, consumer research, creation of client-oriented product, and further project development trajectory. SkLab.Zhukovsky ended with the defense of team startups and the awarding of the finalists. Three best projects were selected within the intensive program: a digitalization project and two Industry 4.0 projects. Apart from that, all participants got official certificates from Skolkovo Open University, Moscow Region Investment Development Agency, and TsAGI.
‘The SkLab.Zhukovsky program has become really useful for its participants as they could get advice from the experienced colleagues and form the team of like-minded people. Such events represent a platform where promising ideas lay the foundation of business projects, including those related to science, technology and innovation. In turn, Moscow Region supports its researchers—for example, the Moscow Region Governor Awards in Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation are given annually to the young scientists and specialists. In the eleven years, the award has been given to 160 people,’ said Yekaterina Zinovyeva, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Moscow Region; Minister of Investments, Industry and Science of the Moscow Region.
‘In the three years, TsAGITech has been developing not only as innovative and high-tech platform but also as an educational one. We succeeded in holding training events—for example, Mind Power, the three-month pre-accelerator workshop has recently ended. It was logically continued by the Skolkovo Open University’s SkLab.Zhukovsky Program. Gratifyingly, the Skolkovo Foundation is becoming an important participant in TsAGITech ecosystem—we are developing cooperation with the Foundation in different areas, including educational projects,’ said Dmitry Chernyshev, Head of Innovative Infrastructure and Technologies, TsAGI.