On September 26, the InteRussia fellowship program in STEM concluded at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. It had brought together young specialists from 12 countries: Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, India, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Serbia, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam. Among the participants were graduates of leading universities and aspiring researchers who all share the goal of promoting cooperation in the field of technology and international scientific ties.

During their month in Moscow, fellows participated in Skoltech’s Innovation Workshop – a rigorous bootcamp-style course in technological entrepreneurship, which allowed participants to go through the full cycle of bringing technological solutions to life, from the initial idea to the finished product. Mentors divided participants into groups and helped students with prototyping the projects and preparing presentations. This format prioritizes development of practical skills, preparing students for real market conditions.

Four weeks of hard work all led to the final day of Skoltech’s Innovation Workshop, during which groups presented their projects to the judges of Skoltech faculty and representatives of partner organisations. Among the groups that developed winning projects were several InteRussia fellows, which highlighted the level of skill and expertise of young specialists.

“The Innovation Workshop is an opportunity for future leaders of the tech market to gain experience in the field of innovation and develop a working product prototype which started with their idea. InteRussia fellows have shown excellent results, and we are sure that this experience will contribute to their professional development,” noted Skoltech’s Dean of Students Denis Stolyarov.

“The InteRussia program has demonstrated the importance of not only sharing knowledge, but also of creating space for international dialogue. Today, fellows have gained experience that they will be able to apply in their countries tomorrow. Such initiatives become a platform for open communication and international partnership, promoting a more active exchange of specialists: foreign colleagues will come to Russia, and Russian professionals will expand their expertise abroad. It is fundamentally important for us to support such projects, as they form the basis for long-term cooperation, trust, and the development of joint solutions without borders”, commented the President of ABS Electro Charitable Foundation Irina Kharisova.

Academic Coordinator of the Gorchakov Fund Lyana Dymova emphasized, “The InteRussia fellowship has demonstrated that international formats of cooperation are in high demand. It is important to note that Russia creates conditions that facilitate learning, as well as formulating new ideas and creating new partnerships for the future.”

Aside from the Innovation Workshop, during the program the fellows have also visited leading Russian companies and universities. That included VK office, Moscow State University of Technology (Stankin), and Astra Group — one of the leading software developers in Russia. Representatives of the company told participants about Russia’s approaches to development and implementation of the country’s own IT solutions.

The InteRussia fellowship program for non-Russian specialists in STEM is implemented by the Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation in cooperation with the Gorchakov Fund, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, and the Directorate of the World Youth Festival with support from ABS Electro Charity Foundation and the Presidential Grants Foundation.