Research Centers

International Research and Education Centers (IREC) established in cooperation with some of the top manufacturing companies of the world are one of the key application areas for the research and education activities of the Polytechnic University. 

IREC are organizational units of the University located on the premises of one or more SPbPU Institutes or divisions. They operate on the order of the Rector and the Regulations on the Center. Ongoing research and education activities are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Cooperation Agreement concluded between SPbPU and its Partner. 

The first IREC of the Polytechnic University were founded in the 1990s on the premises of the Department of Engineering Cybernetics (now, IITM) in collaboration with leading IT companies: Intel, Motorola и LG Electronics. 

Currently, SPbPU hosts over 30 IREC operating as its organizational units. They are engaged in research projects spanning a wide range of the natural sciences: materials science, mechanics, power engineering, laser technologies, mechanical engineering, etc. 

The main benefit of integrating such centers into the University structure is that it ensures that the problems below are solved in a prompt manner and in close cooperation with an industry partner: 

• providing relevant topics and avenues for research with the aim of improving the quality of the professional development and scientific skills of staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, graduate and postgraduate research works;
• providing center laboratories with specialized equipment, access to the technological solutions and equipment of the company for the purpose of implementing training and research programs;
• offering the staff and students of the University a wide range of opportunities to collaborate with the top manufacturing companies currently active on the market;
• providing education program attendees with career advancement prospects.

1. Research and Education Laboratory «Polytechnic – Motorola»

The Laboratory was established in 1995.
With support from Motorola’s Saint-Petersburg Software Design Center, the Laboratory is engaged in work along the following lines:

• Java technologies;
• automotive telematics;
• remote access solutions and tools;
• telecommunications software

2. Research and Education Center «LG – Polytechnic»

Established in 2004 in cooperation LG Electronics, South Korea.
The Center conducts the following activities:

• search for and training of high-quality specialists in mobile device technologies in compliance with the profile of the LGE Russia R&D Centre
• running recruitment campaigns among final-year SPbPU students, aiming to endorse employment with LG Electronics;
• initial training of students, the further training and retraining of LGE Russia R&D Centre staff, Korean students and LG Electronics employees;
• conducting research in line with the innovation program of LG Electronics;
• performing project and design works or outsourcing as part of cooperation with the LGE Russia R&D Centre.

3. Joint Multi-User Regional Center «Polytechnic – National Instruments»

The Center operates on the premises of two laboratories at IITM and IPNT.

3.1 Laboratory «NI-Polytechnic» on the premises of IPNT, established in 2010. Activity Areas:

1. Training programs developed by National Instruments. On completion, the following certificates are awarded:

• LabVIEW Core 1: Introductory Course (24 hours)
• LabVIEW Core 2 (16 hours)
• Data Acquisition Systems (24 hours)
• LabVIEW Real-Time (24 hours)
• LabVIEW and CompactRIO. Basics of Application Development (24 hours)

2. «LabVIEW Software Development Environment and National Instruments technologies in research and educational objectives» program for further training of teaching staff («Information and Computer Science» Program Track). 72 hours. A certificate is awarded on completion.

3. «LabVIEW Software Development Environment and National Instruments Technologies for Designing Signal Data Processors for Telecommunications and Information Systems» training program for skilled professionals. The Programs was sanctioned by the Edict of the President of the Russian Federation of 7 May 2012 (№594). 72 hours. A certificate is awarded on completion.

4. «Development of Real-Time Applications in LabVIEW. CompactRIO Platform» training program for skilled professionals («Information and Computer Science» Program Track). 48 hours. A certificate is awarded on completion.

5. Using NI technologies for training purposes: experimental methods of research, optical-digital telecommunications systems, optical-electronic devices, analog electronic circuits, digital devices and microprocessors, information science, automation of physics experiments.

Hardware:

• NI Elvis II
• Data acquisition systems
• Modular instrumentation, PXI
• Reconfigured ПЛИС CompactRIO system
• SCXI/SCC signal conditioning systems
• Such instrument control systems with an interface as GPIB, RS 232, etc.

Software: LabVIEW, NI Circuit Design Suite (Multisim) (two classrooms, 25 seats)

3.2 Laboratory «NI – Polytechnic»

Laboratory «NI-Polytechnic» on the premises of IITM, established in 2005. Education and research activities focused on automatic control systems and employing the equipment and proprietary programs of National Instruments.

4. International Academic Center of Excellence «Polytechnic – SAP»

The Center was established in 2005 in cooperation with SAP AG, Germany.
Key Activities:

• coordination of the activities of SPbPU departments using SAP technologies in training and researching topical issues in corporate information system development;
• coordination of SAP university programs in Russia and CIS countries regarding the use of SAP software in training and research;
• certification procedures for students and faculty on their completion of the SAP course «Business Process Integration» accompanied by awarding them a corresponding company certificate.

5. Specialized Research and Education Center «Polytechnic – Altair Engineering»

The Center, established in 2006, operates on the premises of IMMT
Key Research Activities – research in the field of virtual prototyping in a distributed integrated CAD/MBS/CAE/CFD/ FSI/ PDM/HPC/3DiVR environment, including computer technologies of predictive modeling, analyzing and visualizing results with the use of virtual environment systems and by employing the equipment and proprietary programs of Altair Engineering as well as engineering research.
Training in «Virtual Prototyping Technologies in Mechanical Engineering».

6. IREC «FMC – Polytechnic»

The Center was established in 2007
Key Activity Area – organizing special training programs and research work in behalf of FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS, a global market leader in subsea systems and a leading provider of technologies and services to the oil and gas industry.

7. Research Center «Electrolux – Polytechnic»

The Center was established in 2007
The Center is a mark of the success of long-term cooperative relationship of SPbPU and «Electrolux» signified by the development of pilot prototype equipment components and the testing of a wide range of ideas applicable to household appliance manufacturing.
The main objective of the Center is to perform research projects commissioned by «Electrolux» by engaging the services of the most qualified University staff.

8. IREC «Schlumberger – Polytechnic»

Key Activity Areas – research partnership between the Institutes of SPbPU and «Schlumberger»; implementation of training programs tailored to prepare students to meet the needs of the company.
Schlumberger and SPbPU have been engaged in close cooperation for over ten years. They have executed a number of projects in the field of optoelectronics and radio-physical surface diagnostic methods, developed special purpose mathematical models, performed strength calculations for various complex structures, provided tailored training for the students of several Institutes.

9. Russian-German Laser Technology Center

The Center was established in 2009 in cooperation with a consortium of German universities. The joint Russian-German Laser Technology Center was created to facilitate scientific and industrial research and development activities in the area of laser technologies with the aim of further integrating them into the production process.

Activity Areas:

• teaching students, training specialists, providing laboratory experiences;
• conducting scientific research;
• rendering services in the field of applied research and consultations in the field of laser metal processing;
• providing Russian scientists and engineers with access to state-of-the-art laser equipment and processing operations.

10. IREC «Weatherford – Polytechnic»

Key Activities:

Activity Areas:

• developing and updating drilling and well operation equipment,
• operations research and equipment testing,
• managing specialized training for the oil and gas industry.

The Center’s training programs are a strong blend of classical university education and on-the-ground experience provided by Weatherford International.

11. IREC «Schneider Electric – Polytechnic»

The Center was established in 2013.

Key Activities:

• integrating the state-of-the-art power-handling equipment and technologies of Schneider Electric into the training process;
• designing and engineering process control systems and electrical distribution dispatch and automation systems for various industrial and energy sectors;
• retraining and further training of the staff of engineering and manufacturing companies aimed to integrate and operate the equipment of Schneider Electric and to resolve energy efficiency issues.

The Center’s training programs are a strong blend of classical university education and on-the-ground experience provided by Weatherford International.

12. IREC «Polytechnic – ЕМС»

The Center was established in 2013 on the premises of IITM in cooperation with «ЕМС Corporation (ЕМС2)», a global leader in the area of cloud computing, big data handling, and IT protection.

Key Science Activities:

• conducting joint research projects related to cutting-edge information technologies;
• sharing scientific and engineering information on the research and development in the areas of the company’s interests;
• implementing the joint project «Research and Development of System Tools for Modeling the Features of Secure Hardware-Software Data Storage Complexes».

Key Education Activities:

• preparing and integrating training courses related to cloud computing technologies, mass data analysis, methods for secure data storage, and distributed information management;
• developing on-line corporate training courses within the framework of the ЕМС Academic Alliance program;
• offering a series of theoretical classes and practice sessions for the students as well as the academic and teaching staff of the Polytechnic University;
• supporting promising students by, for example, providing them with grant and funding opportunities.

13. Research and Technology Center «Motul – Polytechnic»

The Center was established in 2013 in cooperation with «Motul Deutschland GmbH», a leader in the high-tech engine lubricants market.

«Motul Deutschland GmbH» is a world-famous producer of high-performance motor oils and industrial lubricants. The company has a strong global presence (among its international offices, there is one in Russia) and has secured an impressive foothold in the Russian market. Motul’s research and development laboratories, including those located in France, are dedicated to the development of breakthrough technologies in the automotive and other industries.

The research work of «Motul – Polytechnic» is aimed at conducting joint research in the field of chemmotology, namely, promising lubricants and motor oils.

The education activities of the Center include the tailored training of students, and professional development courses for SPbPU staff and professionals fitting the company’s profile.

14. IREC «Automated Metalworking Production»

The Center was established in 2014 in cooperation with «DMG/Mori Seiki», a company specializing in high-tech solutions.

DMG/Mori Seiki is a worldwide leading machine tool producer, one of the top five global manufactures of multipurpose numerically–controlled machining centers. The company’s international network has a capacity of approximately 15,000 machines per year. In 2015, DMG/Mori Seiki celebrated the opening of its new manufacturing base - the Ulyanovsk Plant in Russia. The Center aims to enhance the scientific potential of the University by consolidating the efforts of academics and experts in the leading areas of research proficient in performing priority scientific missions related to automated metalworking production using numerically-controlled machine tools.

Key Science Activities:

• fundamental and applied research, experimental developments, fine-tuning prototyping technologies in the following areas:
• technological process and machinery production automation;
• IT-based development of an integrated information system to optimize the production tasks of the Northwestern Federal District Machine-Building Platform;
• coating materials and technologies in machine tool production;
• optical-electronic systems in machine building;
• solving problems associated with the automated mirror-finish polishing of objects of any spatial configuration on a milling-machine when utilizing special machining strategies and tools;
• power engineering and green production technologies.

Key Education Activities: training, further training and retraining specialists in the area of automated metalworking production, the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, young professionals, and academic teaching staff of the University and other technical educational institutions within the framework of the multi-stage education system.

15. IREC «New Scintillation Materials for Medical and Industrial Tomography»

The Center was established in 2014.

Cooperation partner: Philips Electronics Nederland B.V.

The scientific endeavors of the Center are focused on engineering materials for medical applications. This unique research avenue has been explored for several years in a cooperative effort of the Philips company and SPbPU. Substantive results achieved in a relatively short term allow expanding the range of applications for the technologies and materials in question. This research work is at the confluence of fundamental physics and new materials engineering, and makes a practical contribution to medical technology advancement.

16. IREC «Embedded Microelectronic Systems »

The Center was established in 2014 in cooperation with Xilinx, USA, a global IT leader.

The Center is to be the first and only Russian institution authorized to carry out training in compliance with certified Xilinx international training programs (www.xilinx.com, University Program section). In point of fact, the training program offered by the Center is a unique international educational product, certified and approved by the company. The SPbPU Center is the only institution authorized to use this program. The Center’s research projects fall in line with priority objectives in the field of application tasks and advanced equipment development.

17. IREC «High-Level Design of Digital Systems»

The Center was established in 2014 in cooperation with Intel Corporation, a global IT leader.

The Center’s major scientific efforts include multidisciplinary research projects in the top-priority focal sectors of domestic and global markets. Strong cooperative relationships and access to the technologies and specialty equipment provided by the partners will enable the Center to achieve a quantum leap in the field of high-level design, further research in most promising and relevant areas of science, and contribute to corresponding educational endeavors. Thus, a growth point and a team of highly skilled and young professionals are created, which will help the University occupy its rightful place in this field of expertise.

18. IREC «HSV&CT-Polytechnic» (Heat Supply, Ventilation and Construction Technologies)

The Center was established in 2014 in cooperation with Ecomatic AS, Estonia.

The Center has a great potential regarding academic program development and applied research in both domestic and foreign markets in the area of energy conservation and efficiency. According to the work plan, the Center is to take an active part in integrating emerging energy-saving technologies into the corresponding academic modules of the training programs of several Institutes as well as in endorsing their application in university research projects.

19. . IREC «Autodesk-Polytechnic»

The Center was established in 2014 as a result of long-term cooperation between SPbPU and «Autodesk».

Main Objectives:

• introducing state-of-the-art Autodesk software products into research and training activities;
• integrating new academic courses and programs aimed at facilitating the development of sought-for competencies into the training process;
• improving the professional qualification of teaching staff;
• enhancing the quality and employability of University graduates;
• developing business relations among SPbPU, Autodesk, and its network of partner companies
• emphasizing the role of SPbPU as a center for advanced information technologies and innovation.

The Center’s training programs are a strong blend of classical university education and hands-on Autodesk software experience.

Besides IERC, the Polytechnic University hosts designated research laboratories established and operating in cooperation with foreign companies and research institutions:

1. Joint Research Laboratory «Impulse Technology for Underwater Oil and Gas Production Applications» (in cooperation with the Norwegian branches of FMC Technologies and Statoil ASA)
2. Russian-Chinese Research Laboratory «Functional Materials» (in cooperation with TSE, China, and the Harbin Institute of Technology, China)
3. Russian-Korean Research Center for Advanced Materials (in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Materials Science, or KIMS)

• Microsoft Authorized Training Center
• Cisco NetAcad– Instructor Training Center
• Prometric Authorized Testing Center
• Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Center
• Certiport Authorized Testing Center
• D-Link Authorized Training Center
• Autodesk Authorized Training Center
• Autodesk Authorized Testing Center