Skoltech is an international graduate research-focused university that was founded by the group of world-renowned scientists in 2011. Skoltech's curriculum focuses on technology and innovation, offering Master's programs in 11 technological disciplines. Students receive rigorous theoretical and practical training, design their own research projects, participate in internships and gain entrepreneurial skills in English. The faculty is comprised of current researchers with international accreditation and achievements.

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Seminar: Introduction to the Thing Tank

The Internet of Things gives rise to a new object centered approach: 'things design things'

The Internet of Things gives rise to a new object centered approach: ‘things design things’

Join us for the Seminar “Introduction to the Thing Tank”, which will be hosted by Professors Chris Speed (The University of Edinburgh), Elisa Giaccardi (TU Delft), Neil Rubens (UEC, Stanford University) on October 07, 2014  at 12:30. This project was competitively selected for the Skoltech Ideas Lab Program, which was launched in July 2014 in collaboration with MIT. The research team wants to share the projects plans with the Skoltech community and describe how it can be beneficial to research and education at Skoltech.

The project pioneers the field of object-centered innovation and aims to make Skoltech a hub for object-centered thinking, design and research.

Where: Beijing-2 Auditorium – China cluster

When: October 07, 2014, at 12:30 pm

 

Background:

Data produced by the practical use and reuse of objects is an untapped potential for design – outside of a streamlined process of production. How can we mine our interactions with ‘things’ to open up and articulate design spaces invisible to the naked human eye?

Project Description:

ThingTank is an Internet of Things (IoT) research project that uses a combination of field studies, object instrumentation, and machine learning to listen to what ‘things’ have to say. The platform explores the practical use and reuse of objects as an untapped potential for innovation. Thus, things will design things.

 

* The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advances scientific knowledge, and fosters new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

Skoltech Ideas Lab Project Presentations: Introduction to the Rapid Design Pivot

The rapid design pivot is part of the Ideas Lab project at Skoltech. Image courtesy of Sascha Pohflepp

The rapid design pivot is part of the Ideas Lab project at Skoltech. Image courtesy of Sascha Pohflepp

Skoltech is pleased to invite you to join us for the Seminar “Introduction to the Rapid Design Pivot”, which will be hosted by Professors Adam Bock (Skoltech), Brian Korgel and James Sham (UT-Austin) on October 06, 2014 at 12:30. This project was competitively selected for Skoltech Ideas Lab Program launched in July 2014 and developed in collaboration with MIT. The research team hopes to share the projects plans with Skoltech community and describe how it can be beneficial to research and education at Skoltech.

By introducing and establishing a Rapid Design Pivot model early in the process of development of technology products, developers will be able to discover diverse and multiple uses and markets for their products more efficiently.

When: Monday, October 06, 2014; 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Where: Auditorium Beijing-2, Skolkovo School of Management, China Cluster

Background:

The process of translating innovative breakthroughs into social or economic impact is inefficient, costly, and prone to dead-ends. Traditional R&D processes may take years to identify new materials, chemicals and device concepts. Reliance on industry partners or experts focuses on pre-existing markets and applications, generating “me-too” or incremental applications, even when the underlying technological innovation is radical or revolutionary.

Project Description:

The research explores the concept of the Rapid Design Pivot: early, creative intervention during innovation development. Creative designers, scientists and technology developers explore new technology concepts at a very early development stage. The study plans to partner scientists at Skoltech and other institutions with creative individuals across disciplines to propose, investigate, and interact with a significantly broader range of potential applications, markets and designs.

* The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advances scientific knowledge, and fosters new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

Skoltech’s Academic Year Opening Ceremony

Edward Crawley, Skoltech's president (right), Mats Hanson, Skoltech's dean of education and students attend the Academic Year Opening Ceremony in 2013

Edward Crawley, Skoltech’s president (right), Mats Hanson, Skoltech’s dean of education and students attend the Academic Year Opening Ceremony in 2013

On September 1, Skoltech opens its doors for the new batch of  Russian and international students.

The official opening ceremony of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) new academic year will be held on September 1, 2014 at 9 am at the Hypercube building. The university invites all to join us at the ‘Ringing the Bell’ event, which is by now a tradition (after being held for the first time last year).

More than 150 students from around the world will begin their studies at the university – or return to school. This year five educational programs of the University are officially open. Students will be studying in the following “tracks”: Energy, Space, IT, Biomedicine and Manufacturing.

As always, the institute will focus on  world class education. Professors from MIT (USA), University of Cambridge (UK), University of Illinois (USA), University of California, Los Angeles (USA) and other leading institutions will teach at Skoltech As for the students, they all hold bachelor and specialist degrees from leading Russian universities such as MIPT, MSU, Bauman MSTU, St. Petersburg State University, and others.  A number of students are graduates of foreign universities with an outstanding reputation – University of Pennsylvania (USA), Vienna University of Technology (Austria) and others.

Currently, the total number of Skoltech master and PhD graduates is 176. More than a third of the students are women, and 18% are international students hailing from 15 countries: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Vietnam, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Thailand, India and Kazakhstan. In total, more than 100 new students join Skoltech this year.

As part of the program, a special award ceremony will take place at Hypercube on September 1 to mark the achievements by outstanding students. The opening ceremony will start at 9 am at the Hypercube (Skolkovo Innovation Center).

* The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advance scientific knowledge, and foster new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

Russian Brain-Drain Reversed, One Researcher at a Time. First Stop: Cambridge, UK

Russian expats in Cambridge meet memebers of Skoltech  leadership team

Russian expats in Cambridge meet members of the Skoltech leadership team

Two dozen researchers and tech executives sat around the white Formica table, decorated with a handful of water bottles and a few ballpoint pens. Some women wore power suits, the men had ties on. The Russian-born expats have come to Cambridge to consider their cooperation options with Skoltech. The Moscow-based tech university, whose core mission includes deepening its ties with the Russian scientific diaspora, have sent two members of its leadership team to the English university town in order to convey a clear message to their target audience. There is one key to reversing Russia’s brain drain: you.

“People. We need people. Human capital is extremely important for a new university,” stressed Mikhail Myagkov, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and International Relations at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), “The growth of our academic and intellectual potential must be parallel to the construction of the campus. Experience gained by young and successful innovation-oriented universities shows that the contribution of scientific is crucial. That is why we are here.”

Natalia Berloff, Skoltech’s Dean of Faculty, pointed out the university’s role as a multidisciplinary institute, a portal between industry and science, diaspora and homeland. “Bear in mind, we serve as a gateway for western companies who want to operate in Russia”.

The university’s representatives were hoping to extend Skoltech’s academic community and discuss opportunities for collaboration in education, research and innovation. Berloff presented the institute’s faculty, recruitment process and compensation packages offered. Myagkov discussed Skoltech’s masters and PhD programs and research opportunities.

But most of their time in Cambridge, where Berloff is Professor of Applied Mathematics, was invested in listening. Participants asked about Skoltech’s partnership with MIT, ties to the business community, students’ recruitment, visiting positions, postdoctoral programs, research funds and the structure of the university’s 15 Centers for Research, Education and Innovation (CREIs).

Dr. Oleg Kovalevskiy, a molecular biologist with the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, said he was considering moving back to Russia after six years in the UK. “I am exploring all the different opportunities available. I have heard many different opinions about Skoltech, both positive and critical, and this round table discussion is a perfect chance to talk about all those matters.”

Russia’s pool of scientific talent is massive but not limitless. Despite being famed for its education system, the country has struggled to keep brilliant researchers at home ever since the collapse of the USSR. Reversing the brain-drain has become a top priority for Russia’s government – and Skoltech was designed with this goal in mind.

round table russian expats in cambridge edit3

Reversing the Russian brain drain is one of Skoltech’s core missions. Photo from a meeting between the institute’s team and Russian-born scientists and entrepreneurs living in the UK

 

* The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advance scientific knowledge, and foster new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

The 4th Skoltech Innovation Program Conference

Bridge the gap between lab and market, laptop and the real world. That’s what innovation is essentially about. That’s what Skoltech’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is about. And that’s what 6 projects supported by the center have to achieve. 

Innovation can be found in the most unexpected places. Image courtesy Dan Mason, flickr

Innovation can be found in the most unexpected places. Image courtesy Dan Mason, flickr

On June 3rd half a dozen teams will present their progress so far and hear expert advice on the way forward. Should these young researchers change course or push ahead in the current direction?

The 4th Innovation Program Conference is due to coincide with the Startup Village events, and take place on June 3, from 10:00 to 17:30, inside the Skoltech tent.

Research teams will present their projects and receive feedback on their progress since last autumn, when they were awarded a year of funding by the Skoltech Innovation Program (SIP). Projects will be assessed by their potential to translate research into market and to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in Russia.

While each project is unique in its focus, all projects share a general mission of using proven scientific findings to create practical real-world applications.

Participation in the conference is open to anyone sharing the center’s enthusiasm for early stage innovative projects and a willingness to support them. The Program aims to develop a common methodology and a series of novel approaches to organizing research and development in universities and research institutes. This year’s gathering is organized with support from the Skolkovo Foundation and API Moscow, Moscow Innovation Development Center.

ABOUT the SIP

The SIP provides critical support for participating teams. We help establish proof of concept and assist advancing technology towards commercialization, including pre-start up identification of high potential market opportunities, intellectual property management, and, if appropriate, team development. The Program helps reduce two major types of risk – technical and marketing, ensuring that the invention meets the market’s tech requirements and finds its niche. Thus, SIP promotes applied research and motivates research teams to take risk and be entrepreneurial.

The Program is developed in collaboration with the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Deshpande Center and MIT have an unparalleled track record of success in tech commercialization. Projects are selected in

the following areas: IT, Energy, Biomedicine, Space, and Peaceful Nuclear Technologies. Successful outcomes for each participating research team will be licensing its technology to industry. Skoltech provides support and assistance to the participants until they reach this result.

 

* The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advance scientific knowledge, and foster new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

 

Secrets of Sperm Swimming Upstream Unveiled by Skoltech Researcher

Vasily Kantsler had his spermatozoid eureka moment when a bored friend dropped by for an unexpected visit at his lab. Now the Skoltech researcher publishes his surprising findings in the journal eLife. His experiments could help explain what makes sperm so good at swimming upstream to reach the egg – and might help men and women who have problems conceiving

Illustration of sperm cells. Image courtesy fatmanwalking, flickr

Image courtesy fatmanwalking, flickr

”It was the weekend and a friend of mine was visiting the lab. She was bored, and asked to see something exciting through the microscope”, reminisces the 34 years old Russian born biophysicist, “so I had to improvise. The only thing available at the lab was a sperm sample.”

Then things got interesting. Without any change of temperature or the use of chemicals, the spermatozoids swam upstream inside a designated channel. It was as if the cells voluntarily performed this incredible athletic feat, which mystified and fascinated researchers for centuries.

“That got me thinking.” Says Kantsler, “and I came up with an intuitive explanation. Swimming against the flow and close to the surface, where the current is relatively weak, the  head of the cell feels a weaker force than the  tip of the tale – that’s the force that aligns the cell against the current. It seemed like a mechanical phenomenon more than a biological one.”

The next challenge was to translate his hypothesis into experiments. Kantsler aimed at shedding light on the mechanism that causes sperm to navigate successfully in the dark Fallopian tube, swim a distance that is approximately one thousand times their own length and travel across a viscous terrain. Hundreds of millions of cells begin the journey, but only a few resilient swimmers reach their final destination, the egg. It is a journey against the odds – and the currents.

Vasily Kantsler

Vasily Kantsler

Kantsler, who is currently on a yearlong Faculty Development Program with the MIT-Skoltech initiative in Cambridge, Massachusetts, teamed up with Jorn Dunkel, an assistant professor of physical applied mathematics at MIT; Raymond Goldstein, the Schlumberger Professor of Complex Physical Systems at the University of Cambridge; and Martyn Blayney, chief embryologist at the Bourn Hall Clinic in the UK.

In a bid to understand what the cells are capable of, the researchers built a series of artificial m channels of different sizes and shapes, into which they inserted the sperm. First using bull sperm, then human, they were able to modify the flow of fluid through the tubes and investigate how the cells responded to different current speeds.

They discovered that at certain flow speeds, the sperm cells were able to swim very efficiently upstream. “If the flow is too strong the cells will be washed away, if it’s too slow the mechanical effect would not be strong enough,” says Kantsler, “we have also realized that the sperm tail is asymmetrical, which causes additional transversal migration.”

Trajectory of sperm cell swimming upstream combined over several images. Image courtesy of the researcher

Trajectory of sperm cell swimming upstream combined over several images. Image courtesy of the researcher

This explains why the sperm were not swimming in a straight line upstream, but in a spiraling motion in a tube. The researchers also think that their experiments explain how sperm cells can travel such long distances before they get very close to the egg and start detecting chemical signals in the Fallopian tube. “We’re all very excited about it. There’s always a flow – this is how the cells know where to travel to. We have possibly explained a major mechanism.”

Kantsler believes the team’s findings might provide ideas for future treatments for both men and women, in order to help childless people conceive more easily. “It could help both men who have too little cells or women who don’t have enough fluids. Usually the problem is a combination of both.”

Another possibility is that, since we found a way to control sperm cells, we can now try to separate cells and select them according to their swimming abilities. We can separate different cells, analyze the DNA and see if the genetic makeup is related to sperm motility and movement skills.”

What will you show a friend next time they drop by for an unexpected visit?

“Possibly a device called spermatron.” He smiles “It’s where we bring cells together and increase concentration to test the collective behaviors and the patterns forming. It’s quite fascinating.”

We think so, too.

 

* The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advance scientific knowledge, and foster new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

Skoltech Biomed Conference, May 26-28: Towards Therapies of the Future

* American and Japanese Nobel laureates in medicine will give keynote speeches to kick-off Skoltech’s biomedical research centers

* Leading researchers from across the world are slated to get together for an international conference on life saving stem-cell therapies

Participants from Russia, The United States, Holland and Japan will take part in the inaugural “Towards Therapies of the Future” conference and kick-off the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology’s (Skoltech) Centers for Research, Education and Innovation (CREIs) for Stem Cell Research and Innovative Biomedical Therapies (RNAi  Therapeutics & Infectious Diseases). World-class leaders in these fields will report on recent and future developments and discuss their impact on  future healthcare.

Nobel laureate (2012, Medicine) Shinya Yamanka

Nobel laureate (2012, medicine) Shinya Yamanaka. Image courtesy ucsf.edu

The keynote speakers for the conference are Nobel Laureates Phillip Sharp (1993) and Shinya Yamanaka (2012), along with presentations from world leading scientists in Stem Cells, RNAi and Infectious Diseases. The conference will provide an opportunity to explore the scope and the science of Skoltech’s biomedical centers, led by professors Anton Berns and  Victor Kotelianski.

Expert participants will discuss opportunities for relevant and high-potential research in the Russian and international context and to provide an occasion for participants to share their scientific insights. They will address groundbreaking science which, for example, transforms simple skin cells into all-purpose “magic” stem cells. Such stem cells could help treat head and spine injuries, various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and immune system malfunctions – and ultimately save millions of lives.  Also on the agenda: RNA therapy’s potential for revolutionizing the treatment of complex diseases by “silencing” harmful genes.

 

Nobel Laureate Phillip A Sharp (1993, medicine)

Nobel Laureate Phillip A Sharp (1993, medicine). Image courtesy purdue.edu

The Nobel laureates are also slated to evaluate dozens of Skoltech students’ tech projects. Using poster presentations, the young Russian researchers will have a rare chance to receive recognition from the brightest minds on the planet.

Professor Yamanaka has recently pointed out the pressing need for international cooperation: “I hope that many Russian researchers would contribute to the research of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS), help develop the technology, and bring iPS cell-based therapies to the bedside as quickly as possible.”

For more information on schedule and transportation to Skolkovo Innovation Center’s Hypercube please visit this page:

https://www.skoltech.ru/en/research/events/toward-therapies-of-the-future/

 

The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advance scientific knowledge, and foster new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

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