St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2023: St Petersburg University experts on the role of science and entrepreneurship in ensuring the country’s security

Biotechnology to tackle the world’s biggest challenges

Anton Nizhnikov, Professor of St Petersburg University, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems at the All-Russian Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Chairman of the Scientific Committee in Biological Sciences and Bioecology, member of the Coordination Council for Youth Affairs in Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation, and Acting Head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, was among the keynote speakers at the roundtable discussion "Social Cohesion and Societal Resilience". In his presentation, Professor Nizhnikov underlined the fact that advances in biotechnology in recent decades have had a decisive impact on the development of agriculture, medicine and industry. This branch of science contributes systematically to tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges, such as: ensuring food security; increasing efficiency and sustainability of agriculture and industry; and extending the human lifespan and healthy longevity.

However, as Professor Nizhnikov explained, biotechnologies are critically dependent on resources necessary to meet our objectives. ‘In the current situation, it is extremely important to localise production of equipment, software and reagents for key areas, including: disease diagnostics and pathogen detection in medicine and agriculture; and standardisation of food items to name but a few,’ stressed Anton Nizhnikov. ‘Advanced (end-to-end) technologies are vitally important; yet, no less important is building a solid technology foundation. In addressing this issue, funding programmes for research and innovation, and grant competitions held by the major science foundations, such as the Russian Science Foundation, are of paramount importance.’

Russia has very wide margins of stability, unique resources, and high intellectual capital. Hence, it has the potential to further consolidate one of the leading positions in genetics and biotechnology that it holds today.

Anton Nizhnikov, Professor of St Petersburg University, Acting Head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, laureate of the 2020 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Professor Nizhnikov mentioned science-industry interaction as a key component of the framework for biotechnology development. This includes both translating research into industry and research requests from the industry that can generate research and development projects. Advanced training programmes are also imperative, and St Petersburg is a leader in this area. In fact, it was at St Petersburg University where the first department of genetics in Russia was established in 1919. Anton Nizhnikov underlined that universities should develop and implement interdisciplinary curricula in natural and engineering sciences, and there are a great many examples of interdisciplinary research in genetic technologies, bioengineering and synthetic biology, as well as in bioinformatics.

Green Arctic

Also, as part of the SPIEF 2023, the International Youth Economic Forum held a discussion themed "Money out of Thin Air: The Escalating Allure of Green Youth Entrepreneurship". The participants discussed the challenges and prospects for green entrepreneurship in Russia. Olga Ievleva, a 2nd year master’s student in the International Relations programme at St Petersburg University, presented the Youth of the Arctic project. The project aims to create an international community interested in the development of northern regions, with no geographical limits assigned on participation. A resident of any region or state can join the project. The project seeks to provide a platform for young people who are concerned about the Arctic. On the platform, they can find a team and financial support to implement their ideas for the benefit of the Arctic. Currently, the key focus areas of the project include: people; science; culture; environment; economy; and the media. The participants have the opportunity to keep up-to-date on: development opportunities; grants and competitions, including those promoting environmental start-ups; and youth initiatives.

According to Olga Ievleva, despite some successful examples, sustainable companies are still a rarity in Russia. Most often, entrepreneurs use the green agenda solely for the purposes of advertising, without making any real contribution to environmental protection. The leaders of the Youth of the Arctic project therefore emphasise the importance of sound information policy promoting environmental entrepreneurship among the youth. As part of the project agenda, they seek to raise public awareness of environmental issues in order to motivate as many people as possible toward sustainability. The project presents sustainability case studies and success stories, trying to form a healthy image of green business, while informing aspiring entrepreneurs about the issues they may face.

‘The Arctic is a strategically important region for Russia. The Arctic zone is of primary importance for the country’s defence capacity and development prospects in the context of climate change, which is affecting the Arctic three times faster than other regions,’ explained Olga Ievleva, project leader of the Youth of the Arctic project, a master’s student at St Petersburg University. ‘New opportunities are opening up for us to extract oil and gas, to intensively develop the Northern Sea Route in order to transport these resources and meet the needs of the northern regions of our country. On the other hand, the growing and uncontrolled anthropogenic pressures in the Arctic zone exacerbate the existing problems.’ In conclusion, Olga Ievleva emphasised that the participants in the Youth of the Arctic project learn not only about the region’s development prospects but also about its challenges. The project helps them to get a complete picture of the life and work in the North and to find like-minded people for implementing their projects.