Over 300 students took part in the “Energy Laboratory-2023” - the acceleration program of En+ and INRTU
The opening of the 6th season of the Energy Laboratory acceleration program took place online on October 5. 323 students from 25 universities and colleges in Russia showed interest in the accelerator, which was organized by the En+ holding together with INRTU.
Participants and mentors of the program were greeted by En+ Operations Director Mikhail Khardikov and Rector of INRTU Mikhail Kornyakov. The moderator of the opening was the head of the Youth Policy Department of IRNTU Irina Byankina.
En+ is the Russian leader in low-carbon metallurgy and renewable energy. The company operates in various regions of the country, with key assets concentrated in Siberia. The territory contains four hydroelectric power stations, nine thermal power plants, a network of modern electric gas stations, four coal mines and other facilities.
The goal of the accelerator is to develop innovative solutions favouring En+ enterprises. Over six years, over a thousand people from 35 educational institutions joined the project. In 2023, the geography of participating universities expanded at a record level. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Volga State University of Technology, Sirius University, etc. joined the accelerator.
INRTU represented 22 teams consisting of 124 people. Contestants solve 23 cases related to ecology, robotics, mechanical engineering, IT technologies, materials science, and mining. Three teams will be the winners of the accelerator; they will receive grants in the amount of 300,350 and 400 thousand rubles. Leaders will also be chosen among the teams that have been implementing cases for the second year.
According to Mikhail Khardikov, the Energy Laboratory has been upgraded from a local accelerator into the producer of interesting solutions:
“Every year we set more ambitious goals. The best projects undergo pilot testing at enterprises. For example, a robot developed by INRTU students to inspect the water pipelines of a hydroelectric power station. Such accelerators allow us to look at students’ scientific initiatives from a business perspective.”
Rector of INRTU Mikhail Kornyakov noted that the success of the accelerator is connected with the company’s maximum involvement in the process of working on cases:
“The mentors are experts from En+ and educational institutions. This gives participants the opportunity to work on their original projects at a high level. I wish students to bring ideas to life with interest and to work closely with mentors.”
Rector of Bratsk State University Ilya Sitov thanked the En+ company for its great contribution to the development of the region’s HR potential and active participation in the educational process of students.
The official opening of the accelerator was preceded by training under the Mentoring program for scientific supervisors, as well as presentation sessions. In October, participants will take part in excursions to En+ industrial enterprises, meetings with trackers and mentors. Then the teams will have to demonstrate intermediate results in the pre-defenses. The final presentations will take place in December.
At the end of the event, Irina Byankina held a quiz on knowledge of facts about the Energy Laboratory.
