BNRU Partners with Local Industry to Help Students into Business

The competition was launched in February this year on the back of the 'Career Breakthrough' competition, that had been run by the same organisations to assist Junior Researchers with their innovations.

The organisers looked for projects from a variety of fields and sectors. The competition was restricted to Start-ups from Belgorod Region and included diverse categories such as, information technology, cell research, biotechnology, genetics, innovation in medicine, the production of modern materials and technology involved in their creation, and the development of new tools and instruments.

EFKO's R&D Centre ran a series of lectures and workshops in conjunction with BNRU aimed at helping these embryonic businesses take their plans forward from theory into practice. Alexander Kolbas, Deputy General Director for Development at Biryuch-NT, curated the program, and said that,

'Most projects coming from a higher education establishment or research institute have a very strong scientific foundation, but struggle in other aspects of business which are mandatory for the successful implementation of the plan. Developers have little idea of how the market works, and they find it difficult to assess the capabilities of competitors and the needs of potential customers. Many difficulties can also arise with the prototype of the planned product. Under our guidance and guidance from colleagues at BNRU, the four projects that reached the final are looking promising.”

EFKO rewarded Ulyana Krut, who is developing a bioactive sorption composition to neutralize micro-toxins in animal feeds, and Alexander Radchenko, currently working on a drug for treating gastrointestinal tract diseases, with an internship at Biryuch-NT, one of the most modern R&D centres in Russia. 'Scientific Breakthrough' represents a first step in the world of business, and access to EFKO Group's considerable research, laboratory and industrial facilities. EFKO is affording students an opportunity to create their own businesses in cooperation with a strong industrial partner.