SPbPU cooperation with the International Foundation of Production Research
On November 11, 2015, the Polytechnic University hosted Veli Matti Virolainen, Professor at the Lappeenranta University of Technology, President of the International Foundation of Production Research (IFPR). On behalf of SPbPU, the Russian–Finnish discussion on the enhancement of cooperation and participation in international projects of strategic importance was attended by D. G. Arseniev, Vise-Rector for International Realtions; V. D. Khizhnyak, Head of the International Relations Office (IRO); N. M. Golovin, Deputy Head of the IRO; I. V. Ilyin, Prof., Head of the Department of Information Systems in Economics and Management; and V. A. Levencov, Director of the Institute of Industrial Economics and Management.
The prospects of SPbPU cooperation with the International Foundation of Production Research became the main subject of discussion. D. G. Arseniev welcomed the Finnish guest, emphasizing the importance of the partnership with the Lappeenranta University of Technology.
The Finnish university specializes in alternative energy sources, intelligent networks, nuclear power engineering, and energy efficiency. According to the Professor Veli Matti Virolainen, technologies are developed in the context of business needs. The university houses the Green Campus, where inventions are not only tested, but also used. Lappeenranta University of Technology cooperates extensively with many universities across the world on 300 research programs. Its policy is in line with the requirements of the Finnish government, which has been paying considerable attention to the creation of innovative clusters and various academic development centers in recent years. All this allows Finland to be the forerunner in the fields of information and communication technology, metallurgic and mechanical engineering, biotechnology, energy engineering, and wood processing. However, there are certain rules for achieving the common goal of strengthening the presence of the global scientific community. One of them is cooperation with the International Foundation of Production Research. The IFPR focuses its activity on production management.
Professor Virolainen has officially offered SPbPU to become a member of the International Foundation of Production Research. "The Foundation was founded in 1971 by Norman Dudley, Professor at Birmingham University. We work closely with three renowned academic periodicals published by Elsevier. One can only become a member of the Foundation by invitation. Being a member of the IFPR is a great honor," V. M. Virolainen stated, "SPbPU is the first Russian university to join our ranks. We also plan to invite Bauman Moscow State Technical University."
"Joining the Foundation will be beneficial for the Polytechnic University. The IFPR unites the greatest minds of Europe, Asia, and America in the fields of production and operative management, supply chain management, project monitoring and management, information systems in economics and management, etc. Many experts in these fields work at the Institute of Industrial Economics and Management (IIEM), and we are interested in developing these areas. We will be able to report on the results of joint research at international conferences held by the IFPR and publish them in renowned periodicals," Director of the IIEM V. A. Levenzov explained.
Professor I. V. Ilyin highly praised the achievements of his Finnish counterparts. He believes that cooperation between SPbPU and the IFPR will involve taking part in conferences on production management, supporting postgraduate activity, and publishing articles.
"Professor Veli Matti Virolainen has told that he takes professional interest in research on production management in the automotive industry, and he is willing to consider conducting joint research and bidding for grants from scientific funds for project funding," Professor I. V. Ilyin specified.
Eventually, all parties agreed that cooperation with the International Foundation of Production Research will unite experts in the field of production processes, organize business operations of production enterprises, and provide mutual informational and technological support. Delegates from the SPbPU Institute of Industrial Economics and Management are expected to take part in the next IFPR conference that is set to be held in Romania in 2016.
International Relations Office