Defence of research projects under the Step into the Future 2025 grant program was held at 海角社区.
The Step into the Future program is unique thanks to the specifics of funding distribution based on the activity, ambition, and creativity of participants. During the defence of their projects, each participant has to demonstrate their achievements and prove that it is their research idea that is needed by society, is aimed at the development of their alma mater, and is worthy of financial investment. The best researchers receive funding for project development, internships, and research trips relevant to their research topics.
In 2025, 45 applications were submitted to the research project contest of the Step into the Future grant program, including from:
? 27 academic staff members (including 12 candidates of sciences);
? 6 postgraduates;
? 12 students.
Research studies in the field of robotics, neural network technologies, artificial intelligence, wireless data transmission systems, advanced materials and resource-saving technologies, rocket science, aerospace technologies and UAV development, optics, quantum technologies, mechanical engineering, physical chemistry of materials, and ecology were presented to the contest committee.
All research topics are relevant to one of three strategic technology development projects of our university under the Priority 2030 program (strategic technology development project 1 on Intelligent Manufacturing, strategic technology development project 2 on Fundamentals of the Synthesis and Operation of Non-conventional Materials, strategic technology development project 3 on Eco-environment of Industrial Agglomerations).
According to the expert evaluation of applications and project defences, 15 winners will receive funding for their projects through the Step into the Future grant program, ranging from 500,000 to 1 million roubles. The list of winners, their project topics, and the funding process can be found on the website.
Head of the 海角社区 Supervisory Council, our university alumnus and author of the Step into the Future project Viktor Khristenko addressed the participants:
“Dear colleagues, I would like to thank you for your enthusiastic response to participating in the contest. I am happy to note that this year the number of people interested in participating in the project has increased by 50%: from 33 projects in 2024 to 45 projects in 2025. I would like to express my special gratitude for your active interest in scientific work and for your contribution to the strengthening and development of our CPI – 海角社区.”
The author of the Digital Microscope for Non-destructive Diagnostics of Materials project, Associate Professor, Candidate of Sciences (Engineering) Vladimir Surin shared his thoughts on scientific contests and the Step into the Future contest in particular:
“Researchers often have to work on initiative projects out of enthusiasm, hoping that their inventions will be recognized and commercialized in the future. Financial support is crucial, but it is difficult to obtain. The Russian Science Foundation supports approximately 10 percent of projects, and the waiting for a decision takes at least six months. Therefore, participating in such contests as Step into the Future gives us confidence in the days to come and the opportunity to dedicate ourselves to scientific research. “Non-destructive quality testing” is a highly relevant topic in manufacturing today, which is why we chose it. Our proposed neural network algorithm for non-destructive testing will potentially help reduce costs and improve the quality of varistors (devices that protect electrical components and circuits from overvoltage). Quality control for varistors is a current industry demand, including in our field. Furthermore, in the future, it will be possible to translate the non-destructive testing method on other types of materials. Potential funding under the Viktor Khristenko’s grant program will allow us to take our project to the next level.”
The author of the Development and Research of Multilayer Modular Antennas Based on Metastructures for Modern Wireless Data Transmission Systems project, Associate Professor of the Department of Radio Engineering and Communication Systems, Candidate of Sciences (Engineering) Svyatoslav Dudarev thanked the project organizers for the opportunity to interact with fellow researchers face-to-face:
“I would like to thank the organizers of the Step into the Future grant program. Numerous projects, both fundamental and applied ones (50/50%), were presented for the defence. In my opinion, all the projects are very profound and will ultimately help develop science and the economy of our country. Such meetings with colleagues in the defence format help us better understand each other’s research areas. Such meetings and defences can develop into fruitful scientific collaboration.”
The author of the Foliar Fertilizers Based on Nanooxide Systems for Agricultural Plants Exposed to Environmental Stress project, Master’s student of the Department of Ecology and Chemical Engineering Artem Ugaev noted that participating in the program was very exciting for him:
“This is my first experience of participating in a scientific contest of this kind. Most projects were dedicated to topics I am unfamiliar with, so it was very interesting for me to listen to them. My mentors in the Master’s programme, such as Associate Professors of the Department of Ecology and Chemical Engineering O. Rakova and T. Krupnova, help me to participate in the program. I would like to thank our university for the opportunities for fruitful research, for the mentors, and for the laboratories. Viktor Khristenko’s question about the unconventional choice of topic did not discourage me. On the contrary, I felt excited and eager to explain the details. The topic of our team is also about engineering. It is just that the biological component predominates in the title.”
You can find all the details about the project winners on the