Read the entire July Newsletter here.
Welcome to Skoltech!
The past few months have seen a number of key events take place at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. The academic year has come to a close, and I would like to share some of our most exciting activities with you.
In June, our first 20 M.Sc. students returned from their year abroad at pilot programs in Energy Science and Technology and Information Science and Technology. During a ceremony at Skoltech, we celebrated their successes from the past year at our partner institutes, including: clinching a victory in the TAPPED hackathon at MIT, reaching the finals in the CleanTech Challenge and becoming semi-finalists at the MIT $100k competition.
We also made concrete steps in building our network of Russian university partners. From June 24 through 29, nine Skoltech students participated in an intensive training at the FabLab at the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloy (MISIS). The ‘Fabrication Laboratory’ provides cheap and simple fabrication of almost any product. In five days, they worked in groups to construct a small radio-controlled robot. They will use this experience as they help us develop our own FabLab at Skoltech.
As of September 1, we will also launch a partnership in the form of a double degree program with the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Phystech). Our students will start taking courses with fellow classmates at one of Russia’s most prestigious universities and develop their Master’s thesis in partnership with co-advisors from Phystech.
The Skoltech Board of Trustees also approved the formation of the Center for Advanced Structures, Processes and Engineered Materials. This Center is deeply integrated with industry as companies such as United Aircraft Corporation and Rosatom have signed on as key partners. We look forward to the technological innovations that will arise from their research and opportunities our students will have in developing advanced materials.
Skoltech continues to rapidly develop with much already accomplished in close collaboration with MIT and Skoltech’s faculty. Much remains, however, and we excitedly take on the challenge. We are forming a new kind of university grounded in bridging research and innovation.With our partners and excellent students we are confident in the road ahead.
Sincerely,
Mats Hanson
