The oldest Russian university - St. Petersburg State University (SPbU) - is now teaming up with the youngest - Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) (founded in 2011 in collaboration with MIT) - to develop and implement joint educational programs, professional development programs for faculty, and research projects. More so, the agreement foresees creating temporary laboratory spaces, research teams, and analytical and consulting centers in various scientific fields.
The two sides also agreed on the opportunity to work together developing new technologies in the fields: Biomedical Science and Technology, Energy Science and Technology, Information Science and Technology, Nuclear Science and Technology, Space Science and Technology, nanotechnology and materials sciences, environmental sustainability, and technology management.
This partnership will enable Skoltech and SPbU to improve the long-term quality of education within both universities.
The agreement is also more than a declaration of intentions as Skoltech and SPbU are already creating joint laboratories at SPbU. Skoltech Founding Faculty Fellow and SPbU lead investigator Stanislav Smirnov will oversee a laboratory in mathematics and Skoltech and SPbU professor Raul Gainetdinov will lead a laboratory focused on bio-pharmacology.