At the request of the Rector of the University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Vladimir Ivanovich Trukhachev, the event was opened by the Vice-Rector for Science of the K.A. Timiryazev Russian State Agricultural Academy, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Igor Sergeevich Konstantinov.
In his speech, I.S. Konstantinov emphasized the practical significance of the seminar not only for established specialists of the agro-industrial complex, but also for future industry professionals. The Vice-Rector thanked the participants for their contribution to the educational process of the university, and recommended that students get to know employers better and not miss their chance to get an internship and get a job in well-known, dynamically developing companies in Russia and the world.
In turn, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Commercialization of scientific Developments Igor Anatolyevich Popkov noted the importance of developing joint startup projects of Timiryazev residents and leading manufacturers of domestic and foreign equipment in order to improve the scientific and technical level of students, the development of the material and technical base of the university, including using the capabilities of the Timiryazev Academy Engineering Center being opened.
The guest of honor of the seminar, Deputy Chairman of the Board for Intelligent Transport Systems and Digitalization of the State Company Avtodor Igor Sergeevich Kozubenko, in a welcome telegram, pointed out that "the strategic guidelines for digitalization in the agro–industrial complex are to increase the export potential of Russian agricultural products and the efficiency of land use. And we understand that Digit creates conditions for increasing the transparency and openness of agricultural markets for farms and consumers."
- I wish the participants of the conference productive work, the search for effective digital solutions to modern economic problems and in the future – the concrete implementation of those developments that are presented today in this hall, – said I.S. Kozubenko.
Member of the organizing committee of the seminar advisor to the company "AMAZONEN-WERKE" Viktor Emmanuilovich Buksman could not personally attend the event, but addressed a welcome letter to the participants. He emphasized that many agricultural enterprises in Russia are equipped with modern, highly efficient agricultural machinery using navigation and other high-tech equipment, which requires appropriate knowledge and practical training of teachers and students.
- We are glad to cooperate jointly, to carry out joint research on machines and technologies, to publish jointly, and we invite students and teachers to take excursions to our factories, both in Russia and in Germany," the greeting reads.
In the first part of the seminar, two reports were heard on the prospects for the participation of teachers and scientists of the K.A. Timiryazev Russian State Agricultural Academy in startup projects.
Thus, Natalia Krasheninnik, Director of Acceleration in the direction of agriculture, and Sofya Romashchenko, Project Manager (Cluster of Biological and Medical Technologies of IC Skolkovo), made a report on "Opportunities of the Skolkovo Foundation for Agrostartaps". Coordinator for work with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union - Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers (VDMA Agricultural Machinery Association of Germany) Mikhail Mizin and Executive Director of the Association of Agricultural Machinery Dealers "ASKHOD" Olesya Ustimenko presented a joint report "Agrotechnological startups in Russia: from idea to implementation".
Sergey Kosogor, Head of the digitalization projects at the Higher School of Economics, thanked the organizing committee for the opportunity to participate in the seminar and gave a brief greeting and a report on the current challenges of the digital transformation of industry 4.0.
The head of the seminar, Head of the Department of Reclamation and Construction Machines, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Viktor Ivanovich Balabanov made a report on the topic "Stages of development of robotic systems in agriculture".
The main program of the seminar included reports by managers and specialists of the companies of JSC "Amazon", JSC "St. Petersburg Tractor Plant", the Group of companies "Agroshturman", LLC "Vaderstad", CNH Industrial, the Company "Center of Agrotechnologies", LLC Scientific and Technical Center "Roboprob", JSC "KB NAVIS", LLC "Dronstroy", JSC "Geomir", LLC "Agronout", LLC "Agrotester", JSC Research Institute of Information Technologies (Holding Roselectronics), who told about the main achievements of their companies in the field of robotics and digitalization, development and production of modern technology, navigation equipment, development of innovative agricultural technologies.
Within the framework of the seminar, Georgy Bondar, a student of the National Research Technological University (NUST) MISIS, was given the floor with a report "Siberian tiger" – a robotic platform for agriculture." The young scientist spoke about his work on creating a concept and an experimental layout of such a platform.
The seminar was held with the technical support of the Association of Developers, Manufacturers and Consumers of Equipment and Applications Based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems - GLONASS/GNSS-Forum and the German company AMAZONEN-WERKE. The information support of the seminar was provided by the press service of the University, the journals "Bulletin of GLONASS", "Agrotechnics and Technologies", "Agribusiness", as well as the electronic portal "Agro in details".
The results of the work were summed up by the head of the seminar V.I. Balabanov and the director of the Engineering Center of the Timiryazev Academy V.V. Nungezer. The organizers suggested:
- consider the possibility of holding a seminar for several days, increase the time of reports and provide an opportunity for more detailed answers to questions from participants.
- to prepare a traditional electronic version of the seminar materials for posting on available electronic resources for the use by students and teachers of agricultural universities of presentation and advertising and information documents of participating firms when writing abstracts, completing term papers and projects, preparing final qualifying works of bachelors and master's theses.
- consider the possibility of online broadcasting of the next seminar on the Internet.