SPbPU participated in the Economic Congress of the VI International Municipal Forum of BRICS+ countries
The BRICS International Municipal Forum (BRICS IMF) is an annual business event supported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rossotrudnichestvo. It is focused on promoting socio-economic development of territories, building business communications and attracting investment in regions and municipal cities of BRICS and partner countries.
The main theme of this year’s congress was «Public Health Protection». Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, a strategic partner of the forum, in the framework of the business program together with the St. Petersburg Branch of the RAS held two sessions «Fundamental Science to Public Health» and «Increasing the Scale of Business Tourism: Experience of St. Petersburg and BRICS Countries».
Within the framework of the Congress, Polytechnic University together with St. Petersburg Branch of the RAS held the first session — «Fundamental Science to Health Care». The moderator was Prof. Marina Karpenko, Doctor of Biological Sciences, leading researcher of the research complex «Digital Technologies in Biomedical Systems».
The participants discussed the latest fundamental developments in tissue engineering, biomaterials design, targeted drug delivery, therapy, diagnostics and prevention of socially significant diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Also touched upon were questions about the prospects for the development of fundamental science in modern realities.
Andrei Rudskoi, Rector of SPbPU and Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the RAS, emphasizes: Fundamental science is not just theoretical research in laboratories, it is the foundation on which the future of society is built. Its results penetrate into various spheres — from medicine and ecology to information technologies and energy. We see scientists’ discoveries becoming catalysts for innovation in industry, which is why collaboration between research institutes and manufacturing companies is so important. This cooperation not only accelerates the introduction of new technologies, but also allows science to adapt to the real needs of the economy, creating a closed cycle in which research becomes the basis for practical solutions, and practical tasks inspire scientists to make new discoveries. It is important to realize that the development of society is impossible without the synergy of science and production — this is the key to sustainable progress and well-being
.
On the second day of the congress, Polytechnic University held the second session «Increasing the Scale of Business Tourism: Experience of St. Petersburg and BRICS Countries».
On the margins of the BRICS IMF Economic Congress, the winners of the International Competition of Projects of Students and Young Scientists «Smart City 2030: Managing Sustainable Development of BRICS Cities» were awarded. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students from Russia, India, China and Brazil took part. More than 250 applications were submitted from more than 20 universities. They created projects on the development of urban infrastructure in four areas: intellectual and creative development, safe and comfortable urban environment, technologies and services for a smart city, energy and transportation infrastructure. Eight best projects were selected from them and became finalists. The winners and nominees were awarded with cups, diplomas, medals and certificates for online training.
Polytechnic University also signed a number of agreements. A Memorandum of Agreement on the organization of the 2nd International Project Competition «Smart City 2030: Managing Sustainable Development of BRICS Cities» was signed between SPbPU, Lovely Professional University and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Polytechnic University has a long and successful partnership with universities in India. Developing this partnership, during the forum SPbPU signed Memoranda of Understanding with Chitkara University (Punjab) and with the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (India).
On behalf of the St. Petersburg Branch of the RAS, chaired by Andrei Rudskoi, RAS Academician and Rector of SPbPU, Vitaly Sergeev, Chief Scientific Secretary of the St. Petersburg Branch of the RAS, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the St. Petersburg Branch of the RAS and the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (India).