UMNIK-ITMO Innovative Project Competition Application Period is Now Open
ITMO University together with the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises have announced the launch of the UMNIK-ITMO competition. Students and PhD researchers, young scientists and entrepreneurs working in the field of digital economics are welcome to participate. The best ideas will get 500,000 rubles in funding. Read more about the competition, the participation conditions, and its former winners in this ITMO.NEWS article.
About the competition
It’s not the first time that the UMNIK competition is being held. The Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises has been organizing it with various research groups and universities for several years now. This year, the Foundation partnered with ITMO University.
“ITMO is known in Russia as the best school for programmers, and that’s even reflected in the name – IT. A competition held in collaboration with ITMO opens up new opportunities for talented students as they will be able to test their research ideas and start a science-driven business while still staying at university with all the necessary infrastructure. Grants from the Foundation allow students to focus on the scientific part of it without the need to look for investors. It’s important that the selection process is remote and students from all over the country can submit their applications. We are hoping to see ideas that will change our future and technologies that will affect our whole world,” says Vitaly Kiselev, curator of the UMNIK program in the area of digital economics at the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises.
How to apply?
Students, PhD researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs or staff members of hi-tech companies between 18 and 30 years old, who are Russian citizens and have not received support from the Foundation before are eligible to apply.
The participating project has to fit into one of the six fields of the competition: artificial intelligence; new production technologies; Internet of Things; robotics and sensorics; 5G communication technology; satellite communication.
To take part in the competition, the candidates need to fill in the application form on the UMNIK program website before July 15, 2020. The final round will take place at ITMO.
Authors of the best projects will receive 500,000 rubles in funding from the Foundation to bring their projects to life.
Former winners of the competition
ITMO University students have already taken part in the UMNIK competition before. ITMO.NEWS talked to the winners and got to know what they gained from participating in the contest, and what piece of advice they had for the current applicants.