Head of HSE University Laboratory Evgeny Knyazev Completed Management Talent Pool Program at Senezh Management Workshop
The fourth module of the strategic-level Management Talent Pool Development Program in Science, Technology, and Higher Education concluded at the Senezh Management Workshop. Among the 82 participants who received certificates of professional development was Evgeny Knyazev, Head of the Molecular Physiology Laboratory at the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University.
Systemic Solution for Science-Industry Integration
During the final module, the team of Evgeny Knyazev presented the project "System of Class A Scientific-Industrial Conferences (NIKKA)", aimed at fundamentally addressing the gap between academic science and the real economy sector.
"Our project proposes creating a new type of scientific events that unite scientists, industry representatives, and government structures on a single platform," noted Evgeny Knyazev. "The goal is ambitious: to increase extra-budgetary sources of R&D funding by 500 billion rubles annually by 2030."
The NIKKA project is based on international experience of successful science-business interaction, including analysis of the Soviet system of sectoral conferences, the American corporate R&D model, and the Chinese program of government support for scientific and technical events. Special attention was paid to China's experience, where since 2015, government support for sectoral conferences has contributed to significant growth in the country's Global Innovation Index.
Comprehensive Approach to Management Competency Development
The program included four educational modules with participation from leading industry experts. The final module focused on key results and new solutions within the country's scientific potential. Participants discussed engineering education, implementation of national goals under current conditions, management competencies for universities and research institutes, and mechanisms for supporting scientific programs.
The certification commission included Denis Sekirinsky, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Elena Shmeleva, Chairman of the Council of Sirius Federal Territory, and other experts.
Practical Application of Acquired Knowledge
"Participation in the program gave me the opportunity not only to develop management skills but also to integrate advanced approaches into scientific administration," emphasized Evgeny Knyazev. "The acquired competencies are already being applied in our laboratory work, especially in project management and building relationships with industrial partners."
The NIKKA project envisages creating an interdepartmental working group of representatives from federal government bodies, industries, universities, and the Russian Academy of Sciences to develop standards and methodology for conferring special status to conferences. The incentive system includes support measures for all participants: from counting NIKKA participation as a RSCI core publication for scientists to obtaining "Qualified Customer" status for enterprises.
Strategic Significance of the Program
Denis Sekirinsky noted the program's importance for human resource development: "We are creating a system where young, talented, and ambitious researchers can not only acquire management skills but also try themselves in solving the most complex management tasks in science, technology, and higher education."
The program is implemented by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin with support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, based at the Higher School of Public Administration of RANEPA and Sirius University of Science and Technology. During the program's existence, more than 200 specialists have completed training and joined the ministry's management talent pool.
Development Prospects
In the long term, the NIKKA project aims to create an effective system of science-production interaction, increase the economy's receptivity to new technologies, and develop knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship. By 2030, the system is expected to encompass 200 conferences with 20,000 participants annually.
"Completing the program is not the end but the beginning of a new stage in our laboratory's development and strengthening ties with industry," concluded Evgeny Knyazev. "The knowledge gained and contacts established will become the foundation for implementing more ambitious projects in molecular physiology."