On May 22-23, Skoltech held its Frontiers of Progress conference to discuss key technological trends and ways to incorporate them into the economy.

The conference brought together scientists, business leaders and public officials in search of practical cooperation opportunities. The focus was on industrial AI solutions, energy-efficient systems, advanced materials, bioengineering, medical diagnostic tools, and other technologies that can ensure Russia's long-term development and reduce its dependence on external suppliers.

The event featured a business program, as well as a technology exhibition where Skoltech showcased its solutions, many of which are being tested with industrial partners and commercialized. Exhibits included a Russian LTE/5G base station; next-generation photonic integrated circuits for telecommunications; a radio range finder for drones and navigation systems; an AI platform for monitoring ice and fires; and medical coatings that accelerate healing and reduce the risk of post-surgery infections. During the poster session, Skoltech presented its applied research findings in biomedicine, mass spectrometry, photonics, quantum physics, nanobiotechnology, optical diagnostics, and other advanced fields.

The fundamental questions addressed were: Who is shaping the country's technological priorities today? What technologies are in demand? And how can universities, companies and the state be effectively connected?

The participants sought answers to these and other questions through open discussions and expert reports. The main ideas, conclusions, and directions identified during the two days are summarized below.

Generative AI is already used with confidence in corporate processes, ranging from document generation to purchase assistance. According to TAdviser, 90 of Russia's 100 largest companies used artificial intelligence and machine learning in their internal processes in 2024. The focus is now shifting, as these technologies move from offices to production sites. This topic was examined at an open discussion, where TVEL, Nornickel, Gazprom Neft NTC, Sber, Datana, and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) talked about transitioning from prototypes to working solutions.

One key conclusion is that the industry needs precise, process-specific tools rather than abstract universal models. This explains the interest in multimodal and multi-agent architectures, which can process text, images, and telemetry while adhering to regulations. This is particularly important for analyzing sensor readings and camera videos in real time in compliance with relevant standards.

Nornickel is one of the few companies that uses AI in the production. Predictive models help control the flotation process, which uses air bubbles to extract non-ferrous metals from ore. AI analyzes the composition of the froth and adjusts the equipment settings in real time. Initially, the technology only used tabular data but was later supplemented with computer vision, resulting in a 0.3-0.5% increase in the recovery rates. Currently, Nornickel is developing a language model for metallurgy. Trained on GOSTs, regulations and processes, the model will be the foundation of AI assistants in R&D, HR, and legal services.

Gazpromneft NTC is testing AI to produce hard-to-recover reserves where conventional automation fails. About 70% of wells experience unstable operation with abrupt pressure fluctuations, gas breakthroughs, and occasional pump shutdowns.  Controlling the equipment from data centers is not efficient here, since data arrives with delays and the system cannot keep pace with the rapidly changing situation. Therefore, it was decided to move signal processing closer to the equipment. Currently, local computers at the wells analyze data in real time. The next step is to teach the computers to adjust parameters without human intervention. "This will help us take advantage of the operational potential that is currently being lost," said Evgeny Yudin, the director of the Production Management at Current Facilities program.

However, technology is only one part of the equation. The participants agreed that large-scale implementation requires a mature infrastructure, regulatory framework, and computing power, in addition to algorithms. The main question is: Who takes responsibility for decisions made by neural networks?

Another discussion within the AI track, "Artificial Intelligence for Autonomous Adaptive Systems", was moderated by Alexander Menshchikov, who heads the Artificial Intelligence for Autonomous Systems Laboratory at the Skoltech AI Center. He invited Dmitry Devitt from the Innopolis University's Center for Unmanned Autonomous Systems; Vladimir Karapetyants from the Progress Microelectronic Research Institute; Andrei Korigodsky from Sverkh; Ivan Oseledets from AIRI and Skoltech; Dmitry Sizemov from Digital Robotics; and Maxim Tomskikh from Dronshab Group to participate. The discussion focused on three interrelated challenges: continuous model adaptation in a live industrial environment, bridging the semantic gap between theoretical RL approaches and real-world production, and distributing computations between onboard computers and the cloud in environments with unstable or nonexistent connectivity.

Menshchikov opened the discussion by articulating a key dilemma: "The script defines the architecture. When communication is unpredictable, critical functions must be performed on board; otherwise, a 200-millisecond delay could result in a collision." Dmitry Sizemov, the CTO of Digital Robotics, supported this statement by providing examples from quarries, where heavy dump trucks "learn" to recognize dangerous obstacles. He believes that model adaptation begins with manual markings by drivers. After a few trips, the system refines the risk map and reduces the number of false alarms. Ivan Oseledets added that modern "multi-context" reinforcement learning, in which an agent is trained on multiple tasks and trajectories, can greatly improve the transfer of simulations to the real-world shop floors. However, it requires billions of examples and high-speed simulators.

Vladimir Karapetyants proposed "nervous cooperation", which emphasizes the independence from hardware imports and focuses on Russian integrated circuits and components for AI systems. Sergei Yashchenko, whose neuromorphic research was mentioned during the discussion, took the lead, stating that transitioning to brain-like chips could be a "shortcut" for Russia in the field of global microelectronics — but only if resources are allocated to targeted programs. Maxim Tomskikh, who works with fleets of drones and ground robots, presented a hybrid approach in which a low-cost robot performs basic functions locally while complex coordination and model training take place in an edge cloud. This approach helps update the skills of the entire group without increasing the cost of each piece of equipment.

The discussion concluded with an interactive "trust assessment" via QR code voting. Most participants said that they were ready to rely on autonomous systems with clearly defined boundaries of responsibility and transparent security criteria. Thus, the session emphasized the importance of promoting adaptive learning algorithms, developing a Russian hardware platform, and formulating business tasks as specifically as possible to reduce the semantic gap between academia and industry. Then, workable AI solutions will transition from laboratories to everyday industrial practice

Materials are no longer just selected to meet engineering needs; they are setting new trends and opening new possibilities in science, the economy, and infrastructure.

The session titled "Frontiers of Advanced Materials" emphasized the importance of research in driving progress, especially with regard to 3D printing in space and the design of materials with specific properties.

Assistant Professor Stanislav Evlashin from Skoltech's Materials Center emphasized that 3D printing is already being used aboard the ISS to make tools and devices for station maintenance. Future applications include recycling plastic and printing with regolith, the lunar soil. This could eliminate the need to deliver materials from Earth, reducing the cost of extraterrestrial exploration.

Alexander Kvashnin, who heads the Laboratory for Industry-Oriented Computational Discovery at Skoltech, presented an advanced approach to materials design. His team uses digital modeling and artificial intelligence to design materials with specific properties. This approach helps determine which materials will be suitable for a given task before an experiment even begins, allowing researchers to proceed immediately to synthesis.

This helps save resources, shorten the development cycle and achieve more predictable results. Examples include heat-resistant carbides, which are used as catalysts, and borides, which can replace diamonds in drilling rigs. In the face of limited imports and global competition, swiftly producing the right materials is paramount for achieving technological self-sufficiency in various industries.

Photonics uses light instead of electricity to transmit and process data. Photons transmit signals faster and require less energy. That is why photonics is becoming the foundation of the next generation of the Internet, data centers, satellite communications, medical diagnostics, and AI.

The expert roundtable titled "Integrated Photonics: Information Quantity Matters" addressed both technological aspects and implementation barriers. T8 CEO Vladimir Treschikov noted that the share of Russian developers of optical communications systems increased to 30% after foreign companies left the market. However, Russia still does not produce essential components, such as chips, lasers, and control processors. Evgeny Goldenberg, the CEO of the Moscow Photonics Center, said the Alabushevo plant is expected to begin testing PIC production by fall 2025. 

Pavel Dorozhkin, who heads the Applied Photonics Center at Skoltech, explained that photonic chips are the future of quantum communications. Currently, they are too expensive and require complex optical components. However, when all the optics are integrated onto a single chip, quantum solutions will become accessible even to public networks. 

Vladimir Drachev, who heads the Physics Center and the Plasmonics Laboratory at Skoltech, commented that Russia should not develop its photonics ecosystem using foreign project libraries. His team focuses primarily on developing specific products in collaboration with industrial partners, covering the entire cycle from research to implementation.

Grigory Goltsman, the founder of Skontel, noted Russia's significant capabilities in producing single-photon detectors, which can capture individual particles of light. He added that the country can still create products that even global leaders lack, but this requires access to equipment, exports, and integration into global supply chains. Participants agreed that transforming research into competitive products necessitates consistent policy backed by a long-term support program, stable investments, and a focus on exports.

Today, reliable and scalable energy storage is needed everywhere, from renewable energy to industrial infrastructure. While inventing the technology is no longer an issue, launching regular production poses a real challenge.

The open discussion, "Trends, Tasks, and Research Results in Energy Technologies", centered on translating research findings into practical solutions. Artem Abakumov, the director of the Skoltech Energy Center, presented research on lithium-ion batteries. He emphasized that the goal is to create efficient materials and establish a comprehensive national product chain, from component synthesis to industrial prototyping. This is precisely what his startup, Rustor, is doing. Stanislav Fedotov, an associate professor at the Energy Center, discussed the potential of post-lithium technologies, including sodium-ion batteries as a safer and more affordable alternative to lithium batteries. He added that the relevance of such solutions is underscored by limited access to lithium reserves.

Anastasia Mikhailova, the CEO of RENERA, said that the key to market success is the ability to quickly adapt a solution to a specific task while maintaining flexibility and scalability. However, few companies in Russia have these qualities.

The first step has already been taken. Skoltech has pioneered the production of cathode materials − a key element that determines a battery's energy density, capacity, and lifetime. In 2024, Rustor, a Skoltech-based startup, increased its production of NMC cathode materials from two to ten tons per year.  The team expects to increase the production rate to 100 tons, establishing itself as a technology powerhouse in this strategic field.

The participants placed a special emphasis on the global race for standards. According to Igor Demidov, the CEO of Polar Lithium, countries that establish their standards and formats first will have an advantage in international trade. In order to achieve this, science, industry, and government should work together. Otherwise, even the most advanced technologies may never reach the market.

The open discussion, "Biotech Next: Future that We Will Program", focused on the shift in biotechnology from basic research to applied solutions, such as bioprinting, molecular diagnostics, biological age estimation, and cellular reprogramming. The discussion highlighted clinical applications, ethical challenges, and scientific sovereignty.

Oleg Gusev, who heads the Molecular Biomimetics group at the LIFT Research Center, presented a project analyzing age-related changes in skeletal muscles through the monitoring of gene activity in various tissues. The study, conducted in collaboration with Japanese scientists, examines eye and respiratory muscles. The ultimate goal is to create a digital map of age-related changes and develop tools for the early diagnosis of myopathies. Gusev emphasized the importance of establishing an independent genetic database so that Russia can contribute its own solutions in addition to using international findings.

Youssef Hesuani, the co-founder of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, said that Russia is not just catching up − it's taking the global lead in bioprinting. He added that 28 patients in Russia have undergone surgery using bioprinted tissue implants. While these implants are merely "patches", not organs, their clinical efficacy has been confirmed. Today, bioprinting is becoming a standard tool for surgeons and not just a topic for laboratory research. Russian teams are also developing robotic systems for in-surgery bioprinting.

Maxim Nikitin, the scientific director for nanobiomedicine at Sirius University, discussed data storage in DNA molecules. He explained how DNA's unique properties, particularly its ability to fine-tune molecular affinity, help encode and transmit information. Genome editing technologies are already being used in biomedicine to treat cancer and hereditary diseases. However, the key limitation is not the editing itself, but rather the precise and safe delivery of molecules to target cells. This issue is currently holding back the development of personalized medicine and the introduction of new bioinformatics solutions.

The "Frontiers of Biomedicine" session demonstrated that future medical technologies stem from basic biological research. The focus is currently shifting from treating the consequences of diseases to early detection, prevention, and personalized therapy. Universal recommendations are being replaced by precise models based on biomarkers and computational methods.

The team led by Philipp Khaitovich, the director of Skoltech's Neuro Center, is developing a biochemical test to identify biomarkers of depression and schizophrenia based on lipid composition in blood plasma. This approach could replace subjective assessments by doctors with instrumental testing similar to blood glucose or cholesterol tests. Patients would be more likely to seek medical help, and diagnostics would be more accurate.

Associate professor Ekaterina Khrameeva from Skoltech's Bio Center presented her team's "aging calculator". This solution uses omics data, such as gene activity, proteins, and metabolism, combined with machine learning algorithms, to estimate individual aging rates relative to the age norm. The age calculator could be used in personalized medicine to quickly assess overall health.

Artem Isaev, the head of the Laboratory for Metagenome Analysis at Skoltech, discussed phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics. His team studies the interaction patterns between bacteriophages − viruses that destroy pathological bacteria − and how they bypass bacterial defenses. This research helps develop phage cocktails for treating resistant infections and improves our understanding of bacterial innate immunity.

In all of these projects, basic science evolves into applied research without compromising clinical analysis. Using specific biological markers in addition to clinical symptoms greatly improves diagnostic accuracy.

Geopolitical instability and limited access to global technology pose new challenges for Russia. We must develop critical competencies and create independent technological chains locally. The solution lies in the synergy of science, education, industry, and the government. For this system to work, however, universities will have to take on a different role.

Historically viewed as providers of training, universities should now become partners in technology development and application. The discussions revealed that the government requires technological breakthroughs, businesses need practical solutions, and universities need a way to integrate into the process. In practice, however, companies and academia are still operating on different wavelengths, and research teams are not always able to embrace product logic.

"We don't buy ideas, we need teams that will bring them to fruition," said SIBUR's Director for R&D and Innovation Sergey Tutov. The focus is shifting from patents to project management and from theory to practical applications.

As a technology partner, a university would require new architecture, including project offices and industrial interfaces, as well as a culture of trust. "If companies are to leverage university expertise, they should have easy access to it," said MIPT Rector Dmitry Livanov.

Skoltech's "R&D as a Service" model is based on this exact logic. Rather than merely sharing knowledge, the university conducts research and development for specific business tasks, meeting project deadlines and taking responsibility for delivery.

The university of the future is more than just departments and laboratories. It is an entirely new setting, where teams operate like engineering companies, prioritizing quality, speed, and results. Professors launch startups and students solve real-life problems alongside industrial partners from their first year onward.

For the new model to work on a national scale, we must establish a complete institutional ecosystem. As Alexander Kuleshov, the president of Skoltech, put it: "Boosting science at universities alone is like pulling a heavy chain through the middle. Only a comprehensive solution that encompasses all stages, from school to production, can make things work."

The plenary session, "Frontiers of Progress as Seen by Government, Business and Science", further examined this topic. The speakers were Sberbank President and Chairman of the Board Herman Gref; RAS President Gennady Krasnikov; Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev; VEB.RF Chairman Igor Shuvalov; and Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov. The speakers emphasized that a structured approach to human capital development is essential for achieving technological leadership.

To create world-class products, we must cultivate design leaders from an early age. Then, technology entrepreneurship will become the norm, and talented professionals will choose to stay in Russia and thrive.

Participants in the sessions also noted the shortage of qualified customers who can identify a research task, express it in terms of basic science, and build an interdisciplinary team. Without these elements, even talented teams will be working blindly.