Ural Federal University: Modern Universities Make a Significant Contribution to the Development of the Economy
The leading universities of the Ural region are able to make a significant contribution to the development of the region’s economy. First of all, through the introduction of advanced scientific developments in enterprises, as well as training and retraining of qualified personnel for them. The promotion of universities globally and nationally must also remain an important priority. This was stated at a meeting of the Sverdlovsk Regional Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union committee on the development of professional education and human resources by Daniil Sandler, deputy chairman of the committee and Ural Federal University first vice-rector for economics and strategic development.
The topic of the meeting was the influence of strategic projects implemented by universities of the Sverdlovsk region within the framework of the Priority 2030 program on the increase of scientific and technological potential and economic development of the Sverdlovsk region.
“UrFU’s development program is aimed at creating a world-class scientific, educational, and innovative center focused on such priorities of the scientific and technological development strategy as digital technologies and new materials, environmentally friendly and resource-saving energy, and effective interaction between man, nature, and technology. Moving in these directions will allow to successfully develop the region and make it more competitive,” said Sandler.
Daniil Sandler added that the implementation of the UrFU development program is built on the implementation of five strategic projects: “Materials and Technologies for Hydrogen and Nuclear Power Engineering,” “Design and Technology of Functional Materials and Systems,” “Human Welfare in Digital Transformation,” “Academic Excellence,” and “Education: Personnel for Scientific and Technological Breakthrough”.
The Sverdlovsk region, being one of the leaders in terms of domestic spending on development and research (according to Rosstat for 2020, 5th place after Moscow, the Moscow region, St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod region), took an active part in the national project “Science and Universities”. Due to the development of the system of higher education in the Sverdlovsk region, three universities of the Sverdlovsk region were included in the Priority 2030 strategic academic leadership program in 2021 by competitive selection. Among them is the Ural Federal University (Research Leadership track).