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From November 10 to 14, 2025, Yekaterinburg will become Russia's center of industrial innovation and professional excellence. The final stage of the International Hi-Tech Future Skills Competition will be held at the Yekaterinburg-Expo International Exhibition Center and the International Competence Center – Ural Polytechnic College. This event, crucial for developing the human resources and technological potential of Russian industry, will bring together over 1,000 competitors and experts from 15 countries. In parallel with the Competition, the International Youth Science and Technology Creativity Festival will be held for the first time.
The competition is being held by the Skills Development Agency with the support of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region, and the country's leading industrial corporations.
The Competition Program: A Testing Ground for the Skills of the Future
The Competition is based on large-scale competitions in 41 relevant skills that determine the competitiveness of modern industrial solutions. Twenty-three core skills, including "Industrial Automation," "Machine Learning and Big Data," and "Additive Manufacturing," are supported by the government and partner companies. Another 18 additional skills, such as "Quantum Technologies," "Digital Substations," and "Space Systems Engineering," were initiated and fully supported by leading corporations, demonstrating the industry's direct demand for specific skills and specialties.
To attract new companies, a demonstration format for participation was introduced in 2025. Nine organizations will compete in the pilot mode across four skills (Electrical Installation, CAD Engineering Design, Occupational Safety, and UAS Operation), gaining unique experience integrating into the Competition ecosystem.
The system of credits and awards: recognition of the highest achievements
Winners and runners-up will be determined in three key rankings: national, international, and overall. They will be awarded digital diplomas, medals, and certificates confirming the highest level of professional excellence. Their achievements will be further recognized by three special awards from the Industrial Development Fund (IDF), the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), and the Agency for Technological Development (ATD). These awards recognize the most outstanding projects and participants, with a total prize fund exceeding 6 million rubles.
Focus on Future Technologies: A Strategic Project on UAS
One of the key topics of the Competition Final will be the implementation of a pilot project in the field of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This strategic project for the country aims to create and test advanced technological solutions in the unmanned sector for agriculture, logistics, and energy. Participants will work on real-world industry scenarios proposed by major customers, and their developments will be tested in a specially equipped flight zone. The best solutions will have the opportunity for rapid industrial implementation, and based on the project's results, a three-year plan for developing UAS competencies will be developed, laying the foundation for Russia's technological leadership in this field.
Global dialogue and international cooperation
The Hi-Tech competition strengthens Russia's position as a global hub for developing industry training standards. Over 100 international competitors, experts, and team leaders from 12 countries will participate in the in-person competition, primarily strategic partners from BRICS (China, India, South Africa) and the EAEU (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan), as well as Iran, the UAE, and countries in Southeast Asia and South America. Over 100 more specialists from Brazil, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries will join the competition remotely.
The business program includes international sessions to discuss technological cooperation, human resources support for export projects, and the development of common standards. The goal is to create alternative technological chains and strengthen international alliances in cooperation with the Russian Federation.
Conference Program: Shaping Vectors of Technological Development
The Competition's conference program will provide a platform for participation in shaping trends in technological leadership. It will be structured around the following tracks: "Youth," "Partnership," "International," and "Corporate." Key topics for discussion include the practical implementation of cross-cutting technologies (AI, robotics), the development of digital competencies, increasing labor productivity, and strengthening international dialogue. The culmination will be a plenary session featuring senior officials from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, representatives of enterprises, and development institutions, where the results will be summarized and the contours of the further development of the personnel training system will be outlined.
Scientific and Technical Creativity Festival: A Professional Boost for Young Talents
In parallel with the Competition, the International Festival of Scientific and Technical Creativity for Children and Youth will be held for the first time. Over 300 young inventors aged 12 to 20 will present solutions to practical problems posed by industrial enterprises. The festival aims not only to popularize engineering professions but also to create an effective social mobility platform. Participants will have a unique opportunity to present their projects directly to the country's leading corporations, gaining recognition and support for further development. The best projects may be further developed and implemented, and their authors will be invited to internships and targeted training at leading technical universities, thereby gaining a direct path to becoming leaders in Russia's technological future.
For the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, supporting the Hi-Tech Championship is a systematic effort to create conditions for the advanced training of personnel who can meet the new technological challenges of the economy. We see how the Championship is evolving from a platform for skills testing into an important tool for the formation of real industry standards. This is where the competencies that will become the foundation for technological leadership in key industries tomorrow are being tested. We consider the growing involvement of industrial corporations, which are not simply partners but initiate and fully support entire skill sets, to be particularly significant. This is a direct signal from the market about the competencies and specialists it needs now. Our shared goal, together with business, the government, and educational institutions, is to ensure that this signal is heard and transformed into effective training pathways for specialists for the new era,” noted Alexander Vaino, Director of the Young Professionals Division at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI).
"The International Hi-Tech Future Skills Competition is becoming much more than just a competition. We are intentionally creating a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters technological leadership and the global competitiveness of our country. Here, current industrial challenges meet the talent and competencies of the best specialists, and the standards developed become benchmarks for leading industries. It is deeply symbolic that our platform brings together young people, professionals, corporations, and international partners to shape a new industrial agenda. We are not simply determining champions, although the excitement of competition and genuine emotion are part of the program – we are building the future of domestic industry," emphasized Maria Elkina, General Director of the Agency for the Development of Professional Skills.
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The Skills Development Agency was established by the Government of the Russian Federation, the Rosatom State Corporation, and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to implement projects in the areas of human resources policy and professional development. The Agency's mission is to promote Russia's technological sovereignty through the development of an expert community of professionals and partnerships with leading companies and government agencies.
photo courtesy of JSC IEK HOLDING
