Machine tool industry as the foundation of industrial development: new technologies and engineering talent discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA

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Modern industry is impossible without the machine tool construction — a sector that provides the technological foundation for the development of virtually every area of manufacturing. The importance of the industry, the training of engineers and the development of next-generation equipment were discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA during the "Motherland Is People" meeting dedicated to technological sovereignty.

"This year, we began the practical implementation of the national project 'Space', which covers the internet, satellite communications and navigation, Earth remote sensing and meteorological services. These solutions are in demand across the entire economy and give citizens equal access to education, employment, medical, government and financial services regardless of where they live. The areas I have outlined are based on a common technological framework. It is formed by the machine tool industry, robotics, microelectronics, new materials and products of the chemical industry. The maturity of these sectors determines the limits of what the manufacturing industry can achieve, as well as the quality and competitiveness of Russian goods," said the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov.

Yury Koval, Director of the Lead Competence Centre for the Machine Tool and Tooling Industry at STANKIN Moscow State University of Technology, emphasised that the machine tool industry is a key area of industry: "This is the sector without which success is impossible in any area of industry. The achievements of the machine tool industry affect the development of industry as a whole in one way or another." 

The Lead Competence Centre was established by decision of the Government of the Russian Federation and operates at STANKIN Moscow State University of Technology, one of the country's leading universities for training engineers for the machine tool and tooling industry. Today, the Centre employs around 60 highly qualified designers and analysts who identify areas for the industry's development, study promising technologies and propose them for implementation. In 2027, the Centre's production facilities will cover 19,000 square metres and will be equipped with modern machinery.

"This will allow us not only to design the best machine tools, but also to develop metal-cutting equipment that is not currently manufactured in the Russian Federation. Most importantly, our pilot production facilities will enable us to build prototypes, test them and then transfer them to our industrial partners for serial production," Yury Koval said.

The speaker devoted particular attention to the training of engineering personnel. According to Yury Koval, creating modern production facilities is directly linked to the ability to attract and train specialists capable of working with new technologies. At the same time, young people's attitudes towards engineering professions are gradually changing.

"Many people remember a time when the engineering profession was, shall we say, not particularly sought after in society. Young people were more likely to choose careers in management, economics and law. Today, the situation has changed. The country needs engineers. Competition for places on engineering programmes has increased in recent years. Engineering really is a prestigious profession," the speaker emphasised. 

One of the ways of attracting young specialists to the industry is to introduce them to modern manufacturing. The Lead Competence Centre has a youth design bureau where students from STANKIN Moscow State University of Technology and other technical universities in Moscow work. Each young specialist is assigned an experienced mentor, allowing practical knowledge and experience to be passed on directly in the course of their work.

"You can design the most sophisticated machine tool or the most advanced technology, but without people, it is all just a pile of metal," Yury Koval emphasised.

He also noted that the modern machine tool industry is very different from the conventional image of industrial production. Today, a machine tool is a high-tech system, and its control panel is comparable in complexity and technological sophistication to modern aircraft control systems.

An important step in the development of engineering education will be the new campus of STANKIN Moscow State University of Technology. A decision to allocate funding for its construction has already been made. By 2030, the university is expected to have a new look, modern infrastructure and completely updated facilities.

The "Motherland Is People" meeting on "Technological Sovereignty" was held as part of the All-Russian project "What Does the Motherland Begin With?" at the National Centre RUSSIA. The thematic meeting brings together representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation, federal executive authorities and regions, as well as heads of enterprises and opinion leaders.