The past year for our country was marked by important changes and hardships. Despite the unfavorable conditions for the development of research and innovation, due to the specifics of the country in 2014 to fight for its European future, inadequate public policy in determining the place and role of science as the basis of innovative development of Ukraine on the basis of the formation of a competitive economy and a humiliating low wages of scientists, scholars of our University were continuing to work out the own experience of the research university. We talked with Vice-Rector NTUU “KPI”, Academician NAS of Ukraine M.Yu.Ilchenko about the status and prospects of the university science.
- Michael Yuhimovich, how the unstable situation in the country influenced the work of Kyiv Polytechnic scientists?
- Against the backdrop of disasters in the country and work in conditions of force majeure there were the dramatic events related to the consideration of the law on State Budget of Ukraine for 2015. In the draft of this law, it was proposed 27% reduction in government funding of science by MES. This caused a very negative reaction of teachers and scholars. In particular, the 109 members of the Vice Presidents’ Council for Research and directors of scientific institutions of MES of Ukraine, which I am heading, made an appeal to the leaders of the state. In this appeal, they said that: "Without universities’ science it would not be possible to create the armament like BTR-4, a new tank "OPLOT ", almost all models of weapons EDB "Luch ". It would be impossible to develop the aircraft AN-148, AN-70, to achieve the best space industry achievements, and many others of the latest developments for defense and innovative development of the country. Also, there was an appeal of the Vice-Presidents’ Council about the support of public finance technical universities. As a result, in the adopted budget for the funding of science MES it was determined almost at the 2014 level and it was decided to support the projects of the defense areas.
- Our university is the first in Ukraine began to work in the status of the research. How is carried out the training of researchers now?
- Now 564 people are studying in the post-graduate of the university, 29 doctoral students are carrying out their doctoral training. In 2014 161 people graduated NTUU "KPI" post-graduate training. Efficiency of the post-graduate training in the university in average is 25%. This year, there were 2565 research and teaching, and 368 full-time employees of the research. The total number of doctors is 330, PhDs - 1378. Among regular performers of scientific research there were 17 Doctors of Sciences and 76 PhDs.
Priority in 2015 should be changes in training doctors and candidates of sciences as a basis to create new and develop existing schools of the University with the active participation of young scientists. It is important to combine wisdom of the older generation of scientists with the energy and the impetus of the youth. It should be improved the forms and methods of targeted selection of talented young people to enroll in graduate school, to promote creative activity and initiatives for the SAS&PG and of the Council of Young Scientists of the University.
- Please say a few words on the implementation of scientific subjects.
- The total annual funding for science university last year was 42,25 million UAH. In 2014 at the expense of the general fund of the state budget 133 research projects were carried out, including: fundamental - 53 applications - 80. Total number of contractual research works was 112. There were also 447 contracts for the provision of scientific, tech-market services, and 249 scientific initiative research. The main contributions to extra budgetary funding were made by SRI telecommunications ITS, FRE with SRC "Thesis", IME together with SPC "Reliability" and the Certification Authority MLA and MP. The reducing the volume of off-budget science was due to shortcomings state treasury service. I said about it, in particular, during the Parliamentary hearings on July 2, 2014
Research projects at the University are framed within eight integrated programs: "Sustainable development", "Energy and energy efficiency", "Development of the Information Society", "New Materials and technologies", "Clean Water", "Medico-engineering component health protection "," Space Program"," Systems of special and dual purpose ". Good scientific and technical results have been obtained in every of these projects. They will be submitted separately.
We must continue to carry out fundamental research application areas for links between science and industrial production on the scheme "fundamental research - applied research - innovation projects - production." There is a need to step up and give priority support research and application development, aimed at solving the problems of national security and defense of the country.
The scientific departments of the University must specify its cooperation with scientific institutions of the National Academies of Sciences and industry, in accordance with the recommendations of the President of NASU B.E.Paton at a meeting with scientists of the University January 19, 2015. The purpose of such cooperation is the joint implementation of innovative projects that ended in the creation of scientific and technical products required for activation of the domestic economics.
- Innovation activity is an important component in the functioning of the Kiev Polytechnic. What are the results of the year you would like to mention?
- In 2014, our tried and tested model of innovation based on science park "Kyiv Polytechnic" was the most fully realized with the active participation of venture capital funds. The professionals of the high-tech business joined the technology transfer. We are grateful to the leaders of the Fund named after Academician V.S.Mihalevich - M.M.Petrenko and Fund of K.O.Kalinin - B.V.Andriytsev for financial support for innovative projects and launch into orbit university nano-satellites. Together with the Institute of Postgraduate Education NTUU "KPI" it was developed the concept of the program Startup School "Sikorsky Challenge". Its implementation will allow the competitive selection of participants, creation of start-ups and search for investors. The first graduation startup school attended by 92 students was held. 20 start-up ideas were represented, 40 students received certificates.
According to the results of Ukrainian competition startups "Sikorsky Challenge-2014" it was signed 14 memoranda of the most promising investments on the projects.
The tasks for innovation activities: expansion of co-operation with business customers, active search for customers of innovative products NTUU "KPI" using-established capabilities and experience of the Science Park, improvement of mechanisms of commercialization of scientific and technical activities, obtaining licenses for objects of intellectual property, continued creation of start-ups on the base of the university and science park. The effectiveness of patent and licensing work should be increased. We should think about the protection of the developments demanded by production and business structures.
- What is the role of science, in particular to improve the position of the university in the rankings?
- International recognition of the achievements of the university is an important indicator of activity of Kiev Polytechnics, in particular its scientific component and publication activity of the university scientists. Academics of NTUU "KPI" as on December 22, 2014 published in the sources included in scientometric database Scopus, 4691 article (2.8% of the publications of Ukraine), in particular in 2014 361 labor (4.52% Ukrainian works). The work of scientists NTUU "KPI" were cited a total of 8598 times (2014 - 1044 times). Consistently increased the percentage of works published together with foreign colleagues (31.72%). Now the figure for NTUU "KPI" is higher than the average in Ukraine (28.98%). But compared with other universities in Ukraine we share only the fifth or sixth position on the international citation indices of works presented in the database Scopus. Many of our professors are absent in this list. Almost 70% of the publications of the university scientists are not cited. Therefore, there is a need to teach their authors "original art" increase scientometric indicators. For example, publishing in indexed journals abroad, publications in collaboration with scientists from other countries, citing their own work within reasonable limits (up to 30% of the paper list), a qualified professional presentation abstracts of articles in English, and the like.
We will work to expand the presence of all scientific publications NTUU "KPI" in the relevant domestic and foreign databases. To do this we need to switch on the publishing platform world Open Access Journals.
- Inform also about the development of the scientific environment NTUU "KPI".
- The scientific and technical library, SPS "KPI-Telecom" and State Polytechnic Museum contribute in the development of the scientific environment of the university. Library fund at the end of 2014 consists of 2,633,533 copies. There are 1,210,727 textbooks and manuals among them. New arrivals in 2014 were: 13031 copies of 6717 titles. Important result of the library’ activity became the organization of free access to a number of abstracts and full texts of Foreign data bases and formation of its own electronic resource of the research and educational materials of the University.
With the participation of SPS "KPI-Telecom" the modernization of telecommunication networks in university dormitories - the total number of ports modernized network in dorms is 16 590. Now each student has the opportunity to receive high-quality services to access the Internet.
State Polytechnic Museum replenished its funds on 1,805 units. Among the exhibits there was a full-scale display gun KS-19 design graduate KPI L.V.Lyuleva. It was erected on the territory of the museum a monument to outstanding aircraft designer, a graduate of the KPI in 1925 K.O.Kalinin.
Four scientific readings from the series "Outstanding designers of Ukraine" and other scientific and historical events were held.
For further development of the scientific environment of the University there is a need to upgrade logistical, scientific information and laboratory facilities; implement measures to increase the information resources STL and implementation of new modules of library automated system with extension web services. We will continue to expand the activities of the Museum as a center for the history of science and technology, scientific and educational activities, scientific and technical vocational counseling youth.
- And finally name, please, the most significant achievements of scientists KPI over the past year.
- I will answer in short. There are at least six of them.
- Completion of the complex scientific and technological development with the participation of experts FHPE, FE, FRE, ESITS, FEPEA, which created the first Ukrainian university nano-satellite "PolyITAN-1." The establishment of such miniature satellites CubeSat, according to the American magazine "Science", is one of the ten most outstanding world’s scientific discoveries and scientific achievements in 2014.
- . Results of the third competition of innovative projects "Sikorsky Challenge". They showed financial support to 14 winning projects in the amount of 23.4 million UAG for the establishment of appropriate start-ups. It is an illustration of the formation of the Kiev Polytechnic innovative environment as a new type of Ukraine, in which the performance of the organization and implementation innovation projects is based on a combination of global experience and interests of harmonious interaction between education, science, production and business.
- Our scientists - Professor Andrei Fokin and Associate Professor Catherine Butova - in collaboration with colleagues from Germany, USA and Belgium have created the world's first single molecule hydrocarbon diodes with the geometrical dimensions of about 1 nm, which should enable the procedure to reduce the size of devices with new diodes . The results of this work are published in the leading international scientific journal Nature Communications.
- Scientists KPI professionally involved in the creation of a number of technical devices, technologies and materials needed in times of ATO. Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, SC "Ukroboronprom" and the State Border Service of Ukraine supported the developments of drones, communication systems protection, heavy-duty reinforced materials for body armor, anti-cumulative screens and technologies to improve resource details armored mobile systems, water treatment in emergencies and the like.
- The work of young scientists of the University is intensified. They were united in the Council of Young Scientists NTUU "KPI", which was launched with the aim of promoting scientific, innovative, inventive, and other creative activities.
- In 2014 four works executed and implemented with the participation of nine of our scientists were awarded with State Prizes in Science and Technology. Two works - the winners were three scientists - were noted with Prize of the President of Ukraine. Prize Two scientists were noted by Prize of the Cabinet of the Minsters. Thus, in 2014 the winners of awards at the state level have become 14 university scientists.
These key achievements of science are record in quantity and quality - they were obtained under severe conditions within one year, symbolizing our university as a kind of island of science and innovation in the stormy sea of chaos. We note in passing that the progress we have obtained in this year is coincides with the 80th anniversary since the organization in our school research sector.
Finally I want to thank all the scientists and organizers of science and innovation in our university for many years of quality, effectiveness, recognized by the state scientific work.