St. Petersburg recently hosted the International Innovation Exhibition HI-TECH | ХАЙТЕК, accompanied by a prestigious competition for scientific and technological breakthroughs. Samara University took an active part—and returned home with two top honors, reaffirming its position among Russia’s leading centers of innovation.
At its exhibition stand, the University’s Congress and Exhibition Activities Department presented flagship projects developed across its research ecosystem. Two submissions entered the contest for “Best Innovative Project and Best Scientific-Technical Development of the Year”—and both were awarded high distinctions by the expert jury.
Gold Medal & First-Degree Diploma
In the category “Best Innovative Project in Artificial Intelligence Systems,” the winning entry was:
“Full-Frame Hyperspectrometer Based on a Matrix of Harmonic Lenses ‘Hydra’”
Developed by the Artificial Intelligence Research Center in collaboration with the Scientific Research Laboratory of Automated Systems for Scientific Research (NIL-35), this breakthrough enables unprecedented spectral imaging capabilities for scientific, industrial, and defense applications.
Silver Medal & Second-Degree Diploma
In the category covering “Engines and Propulsion Systems, Automotive/Air/Water Transport, Intelligent and Electric Mobility, Unmanned Vehicles, and Light Aircraft,” the jury recognized:
“Development of a Family of Small-Scale Gas Turbine Engines (SGTE) with Thrust from 80 N to 1000 N”
Created by the Institute of Engine and Power Plant Engineering, this project is supported by a grant from the National Technology Initiative (NTI) Foundation, awarded to the spin-off company “3D Kub.”
Beyond the Awards: A Showcase of Technological Excellence
Visitors and industry experts exploring Samara University’s stand encountered a compelling display of engineering ingenuity, including:
- A cutaway model of a small-scale gas turbine engine
- A prototype of the “Dobrynya” family of auxiliary power units (APUs)
- Immersive VR technologies in engine design: the “AR/VR Engine Engineering” suite and a VR trainer for studying the structure and maintenance of the NK-8 aircraft engine
- Functional components produced via selective laser melting
- A low-power gas turbine unit designed for distributed energy systems
Participation in HI-TECH 2026 once again confirmed Samara University’s status as a national leader in scientific innovation and advanced engineering, bridging fundamental research with real-world industrial impact—and proving that Russia’s future in high-tech begins right here, in Samara.
