At the All Hands Meeting of Skoltech on April 14, Igor Shuvalov, the chairman of the Skoltech Board of Trustees and the VEB.RF group, introduced the Institute’s new President, Yulia Gorbunova, a RAS Academician.

Yulia Gorbunova is a leading Russian chemist and the author of over 550 scientific papers. She is a leading research scientist at two Russian Academy of Sciences institutes: the Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry and the Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry. She succeeds Alexander Safonov, who had been serving as the Interim President following the completion of Academician Alexander Kuleshov’s term. Kuleshov, who led Skoltech since 2016, will now take on the role of Chief Designer at the Institute.

“Yulia Gorbunova has extensive experience — she graduated from Moscow State University and has built an outstanding academic career. Now she will bring new energy to Skoltech. The university has already established itself as a key part of Russia’s scientific and educational landscape. Together, we will continue to build on this strong foundation. I also want to express special gratitude to Skoltech’s leadership and to everyone who stood by us when foreign sanctions were imposed and the Institute came under unprecedented pressure. Alexander Petrovich Kuleshov, thank you for holding the team together,” said Igor Shuvalov.

Yulia Gorbunova noted that, in today’s rapidly changing environment, the Institute faces a dual challenge: maintaining and strengthening its current standing while ensuring high‑quality development that meets new scientific and technological challenges.

“I see several priority areas for our work. First, the scientific depth and quality of research. Skoltech already has strong positions in fields such as artificial intelligence, photonics, life sciences, new materials, and energy sources. Our goal is not only to maintain this level but also to develop it, moving toward setting goals that define the future research agenda. Second, the development of entrepreneurial and technological components. We will consistently strengthen technology transfer mechanisms and interaction with industry, creating an environment in which the path from idea to practical implementation becomes a natural extension of scientific work. Third, openness and scientific cooperation. Science is international by nature. And despite external circumstances, it is fundamental for us to maintain and develop professional connections, participate in the global scientific dialogue, and remain part of the international research community,” said Skoltech President Yulia Gorbunova.