“The Future Belongs to You, Young Engineers!”

On Friday, February 7, on the eve of Russian Science Day, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, Governor of the Samara Region, attended Samara University. He got acquainted with the Additive Technology Production Centre and supported the initiative of the students who studies under the target program “Wings of Rostec”.

The Additive Technology Production Centre was established on the base of Samara University. Technologies of 3D printing using domestic materials are being developed here, and high-quality engineers are trained for enterprises in the region and the largest energy companies in the Volga Federal District.

Due to additive technologies, it is possible to manufacture products of the most complex shape in the shortest time, including parts with internal channels or topologically optimized constructions.

The head of the region carefully got acquainted with the Centre’s products, with modern domestic equipment in the field of additive technologies, which makes it possible to implement the most daring design solutions from domestic metal powder mixtures.

In particular, the governor was demonstrated the prototype of the small-sized gas-turbine unit (GTU) for the needs of ground-based distributed energy industry; it will be in demand in remote areas in the Far North and Siberia.

As explained to Vyacheslav Fedorishchev by Rector Vladimir Bogatyrev and Evgeny Filinov, Associate Professor at the Department of Aircraft Engine Theory, the project has been underway since 2022, and at present, the GTU small-scale production is planned to be launched this year. Among potential customers, there are oil and gas concerns of Russia. The unit is able to completely substitute its foreign counterparts.

The head of the region was also shown advanced domestic equipment in the field of additive technologies, which makes it possible to quickly solve import substitution problems by industrial enterprises’ orders. This equipment is based on selective laser melting (SLM) technology. And at the end of 2024, another novelty in the field of additive manufacturing, the Russian RusMelt 310M 3D printer, was purchased for the Center, using the federal grant under the National Project “Science and Universities”. The device uses SLM technology, which makes it possible to carry out projects and produce parts, assemblies and components for various industries, from mechanical engineering to medicine.

According to Vitaly Smelov, Director of Institute of Engine and Power Plant Engineering the competencies of the Centre’s staff and high-tech equipment concentrated on the single site in the Samara Region can ensure the full production cycle of manufacturing parts and components: “The industries and areas where the Centre’s developments and products are in demand are propulsion engineering, production of parts and components for aviation and space engineering, nuclear energy, oil refining and oil and gas production industry”.

Also, during his visit to the Additive Technology Production Centre, the head of the region talked to the students of the Institute of Engine and Power Plant Engineering, who studies under the target program “Wings of Rostec”.

Future engineers suggested Vyacheslav Fedorishchev to implement the comprehensive project for young residents of the region: to create additive classrooms in schools and lyceums, where children, under the guidance of mentors from the “Rostec Wings” students, could learn the basics of 3D printing and technology in the field of unmanned aviation systems.

“This is a motivational project aimed at popularizing the engineering profession among schoolchildren. We want the schoolchildren to think about choosing a technical profession for themselves in the future. Now 23 educational organizations of Samara participate in the project, we would like them to be in every school in the city”, addressed the students to the governor.

The head of the region supported the idea and stated that from September 1, 2025, the “Russian Technologies” program will be opened in the Samara Region: 100 engineering classes, in which schoolchildren will be taught 3D printing, modeling, everything related to the field of additive technologies and UAVs.

“We know for sure that the future belongs to you, young engineers”, said Vyacheslav Fedorishchev to the students. “Now, we are turning into one of the centres for unmanned vehicles in Russia. Not only for development and production, but also for implementation, therefore, specialists, methodologists and teachers are necessary, as well”.

During the meeting, the young people asked the head of the region for assistance in updating the collection of the University’s Aircraft Engine History Center. The guys also raised a number of problematic issues, in particular, about transport accessibility in Samara and housing for future young engineers.