From 9 to 11 July 2026, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech, Moscow) hosted the 14th All‑Russian Congress of Young Scientists' Councils and Student Scientific Societies. The congress aimed to involve communities of young researchers in addressing the country’s principal development challenges, including the implementation of the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of Russia and the initiatives of the Decade of Science and Technology.

Altai State University was represented by Andrey Ryabykh, Candidate of Chemical Sciences and an associate professor in the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry at the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical‑Pharmaceutical Technologies.

“Many important topics were discussed at the congress: the current direction of scientific development in Russia and near‑term priorities. We also considered grants from the Russian Science Foundation: what reviewers focus on and how to prepare applications to improve the chance of receiving support. Special attention was paid to megascience facilities, in particular the SKIF Center for Collective Use, and sessions on chemistry and new materials were organised.

One of the central subjects was the use of artificial intelligence in science. It was reassuring to hear that AI will not replace researchers but will act as an assistant, freeing up time for creative work. Colleagues shared practical examples of how the initiatives of the Decade of Science and Technology have already helped them stay a step ahead,” noted Andrey Ryabykh.

The discussion showed that AI is already reshaping the research paradigm by automating routine tasks and accelerating the search for solutions. At the plenary session, Russian Minister of Education and Science Valery Falkov emphasized that developed countries are reorganising their research systems and acknowledge the central role of AI in this new era. Representatives of Sber presented the AI4Science cloud platform, which enables scientists to shorten the time needed to prepare papers, perform complex calculations, and collaborate within a single digital space.

The development of research infrastructure was a key topic. Participants were briefed on the possibilities of working with equipment at shared‑use centers (SUCs) at St. Petersburg State University, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, and Skoltech. During the discussion of mega-science facilities, the completion of the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF) SUC was announced.

“I was delighted to hear that SKIF will soon begin accepting research proposals. Altai State University is a member of the SKIF consortium, and our university’s representative is Professor Sergey Beznosyuk, Head of the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, who has made a significant contribution to developing collaboration between these research centres,” commented Andrey Ryabykh.

The session on chemistry and new materials showed how fundamental research is being translated into applied solutions for pharmaceuticals, energy, and environmental challenges. Particular emphasis was placed on youth laboratories as drivers of import‑substituting technology development.

At the session dedicated to RSF grants, experts examined the scientific review process in detail. Young researchers received concrete recommendations on how to prepare applications to reduce risks and improve their chances of securing funding.

Commercialization was also addressed. Participants discussed routes for scientists to join startups, work with patents, and form partnerships with industry. It was underscored that commercialization is a team endeavour: scientists need not become entrepreneurs, but they should understand the logic of building a technology business to avoid intellectual property pitfalls.

“The congress program was very rich. In addition to sessions, there were laboratory tours, exhibitions of advanced technologies and chemical equipment from partners, master classes, and even presentations in the format of scientific battles. As a chemist, I was particularly interested in visiting the Materials Technology Center, where modern coating techniques were demonstrated, and the Energy Technology Center, which featured the latest developments in solar-cell components and lithium‑ion batteries,” said Andrey Ryabykh.

The congress concluded with a discussion of the achievements of the Decade of Science and Technology. It was noted that success is now measured not by the number of events, but by a genuine increase in young people’s interest in science and tangible technological achievements.

“I would highlight what I consider the most important outcome: young scientists in Russia today have real tools for their work — from robust infrastructure to grant support. All that remains is to use them wisely. I would like to express my gratitude to Altai State University Rector Sergey Bocharov and the university leadership for making this trip possible. For me, participating in the congress was an important step in my professional development: new contacts, fresh ideas, and a clearer understanding of current trends will help me move forward,” concluded Andrey Ryabykh.