Kazan for one week becomes nanocity

An official ceremony, opening an annual summer school Nanocity, one of the Rusanno’s School League’s central events, today took place at the Kazan’s Tennis Academy.

Attendees were Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov, Rusnano deputy chairman of the board Andrei Svinarenko, School League director general Mikhail Epstein and other officials.

This year, over 150 high school students from 34 Russian schools, 20 entrepreneurs and 30 scientists came to Kazan. The summer school is arranged for the second time, the first edition held last June in Perm.

The agenda includes lectures, workshops and master classes dwelling on various areas of science and technology, as well as the basics of high-technology enterprise. The students will be able to participate in research, discussions, laboratory work and project groups. The programme includes sporting and entertainment events as well.

The course will finish on 11 July.

A welcoming message from JSC Rusnano board chairman Anatoly Chubais was read out at the opening ceremony.

Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov welcomed the summer school students, wishing them the best impressions from the stay in Tatarstan.

Andrei Svinarenko said nanotechnologies were key for success, which makes the Rusnano School League a growing project that over 100 schools are willing to participate.

“I wish you to get into the habit of nanowins over this week in Kazan,” he said.

Mikhail Epstein told Tatar-inform Tatarstan was one of the fastest paced Russian regions.

“Nano manufacturing emerges here, which is important for us. Importantly, technopolises and technoparks open in Tatarstan. It is a right model to copy. One of our tasks here is for the young people to learn the model of business and science interaction. Then they could become tenants in such technoparks.”

The Nanograd summer school project is implemented with the support of the Fund for Infrastructural and Educational Programmes. Attendees are winners of natural science and high technology competitions, as well as members of volunteer teams from the participant schools.