Polytechnic University helps KRSU develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem

The Summer School of Science and Entrepreneurship «Growth Point» has concluded at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after the first President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin (KRSU). The program ran from 12 to 18 July 2026 at the «Zhashtyk» educational base, as part of the «StartUP!» entrepreneurial project competition. The school was attended by 85 students and postgraduates of KRSU, who presented 45 projects.

For Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU), participation in the school was a continuation of systematic work on developing project-based and entrepreneurial culture in partner universities of the «Slavic Universities» project.

Over the course of a week, participants refined their entrepreneurial ideas, attended masterclasses, workshops, consultations and expert sessions. Special attention was paid to idea validation, formulating value propositions, market analysis, business model construction, financial planning and preparation of project documentation.

The key educational block was delivered by representatives of SPbPU. The masterclass topics were devoted to turning an idea into a sustainable project, preparing a strong project application, social impact and project metrics, legal aspects of start-ups, intellectual property, and creating an investment presentation. Teams also received individual expert consultations.

Selected events of the school were held jointly with Sechenov University and the organizing committee of the «StartUP!» programme. This inter-university format allowed participants to gain different expert perspectives on project development — technological, entrepreneurial, organizational and applied.

The summer school concluded with an investment pitch session. The final presentation included 16 projects in the fields of medical and educational technologies, AgriTech, urban environment, digital services, ecology and social assistance. The jury, with the participation of SPbPU experts and representatives of Sechenov University, singled out three projects that showed the greatest progress during the school: the digital platform «Dykkan» helps establish direct interaction between farmers and processing enterprises in Kyrgyzstan; the educational IT platform EDUMED is designed for medical students; and the project «Yssyk-Köl Taza Dem» is focused on producing a nasal saline spray based on water from Lake Issyk-Kul. Some of the competition initiatives are linked to the research activities of KRSU laboratories or are being implemented with the involvement of academic supervisors. Separately, the jury noted two social projects — TouchMap and ÜN AI — aimed at addressing issues of inclusivity and domestic violence.

SPbPU experts invited the teams to use the opportunities of the Polytechnic University’s technological entrepreneurship ecosystem: acceleration, expert meetings, advisory and mentoring support. This format will allow participants to continue working on their projects after the school ends and gain access to tools that are already used at SPbPU for developing student start-ups.

The Summer School «Growth Point» became another practical step in developing cooperation between SPbPU and KRSU. For the «Slavic Universities» project, this is especially important: modern universities must not only train specialists but also create an environment in which student ideas can become projects, products and future start-ups.