Scientific developments of AltSU scientists help the real sector of the economy — Rossiyskaya Gazeta

The university is establishing close ties with enterprises and organizations in order to link its scientific projects and educational programs with the needs of the regional economy, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports. This is the only way today to train in-demand personnel and introduce advanced scientific developments in industry, agriculture, and the social sphere. Altai State University has become a member of the Priority 2030 federal program, aimed precisely at creating products, services, and technologies for specific customers.

“Today, the country has taken a course towards technological sovereignty, therefore, projects that are of practical importance and focused on real customers receive priority support from the state,” said Sergey Bocharov, Rector of Altai State University.” We held a competition at the university and selected seventy projects that may be of interest to enterprises and organizations. They include the development of biological products, special services for farmers to study the climate and soil conditions, the creation of a technology for clonal micropropagation of crops and a line of functional products from Altai medicinal herbs. Many projects are related to the introduction of IT technologies in various fields of activity, which is now in great demand. Last year, under the Priority 2030 program, the university received federal support — one hundred million rubles. 70% of these budget investments is spent on the implementation of the most promising projects and the purchase of equipment and consumables for scientific research. The partner network of the university already includes 98 enterprises and organizations. To expand it, the university created a special center for the development of research and development, aimed at finding partners for long-term cooperation.

One example of such cooperation is a joint project with the Sibbiopharm production association (Berdsk). The enterprise produces enzymes for food production, feed additives and preparations for animals. Last year, due to sanctions, the company faced a shortage of imported recombinant enzymes needed for its production.

It turned out that AltSU scientists have been working on the creation of such enzymes for a long time.

Their research in the field of recombinant producers became the basis for a joint project.

- The scientific group, which included employees of three departments of the university, has developed three import-substituting enzymes - alkaline protease, thermostable alpha-amylase and phospholipase C, - said Sergey Bocharov. - Last year at the end of December, we handed over the first batch to the industrial partner for testing. We hope that the quality of our product will satisfy Sibbiopharm and we will continue cooperation. This year we plan to start training the company's employees in the subtleties of microbiology necessary to work with new enzymes.

According to Igor Stepanenko, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Altai Krai, federal funds under the Priority 2030 program are a good support for the development of science in the region, contributing to the introduction of developments in the real sector of the economy.

“But we are concerned about the quality of knowledge of school graduates, which may affect the training of professional personnel and researchers,” Igor Stepanenko emphasized. “The average USE score is declining, and we must solve this problem together with universities. On the other hand, today there is a big competition in secondary vocational schools, young people choose working specialties. Universities have also felt this change in the preferences of the younger generation, they now have to compete with colleges and technical schools for applicants.

Altai universities are trying to actively attract foreign applicants, and some of them remain in the region after graduation. So, in AltSU, despite the geopolitical situation, the number of foreign students increased last year. Their share for the first time reached a record 21% of the total number of students.

— In international cooperation, we have always focused on the countries of Central Asia. Therefore, the change in the geopolitical situation in 2022 did not lead to an outflow of foreign students and teachers from our university. So, we continue to increase the export of education, - Sergey Bocharov emphasized.