On April 28, 2021, the defense of the projects in the frame of the competition "RSUE’s StartUp projects 2021" aimed at educational and awareness-raising activities was held at RSUE’s co-working space “Boiling Point”. The developers presented their innovative ideas in the field of IT, the Internet of Things (IoT), medicine, waste recycling and preservation of the ecology of the region and the country, as well as various projects aimed at educational and awareness-raising activities. 

The event was opened with a welcoming speech of RSUE’s rector Elena Makarenko who noted the importance of implementing the Startup as a Diploma program, which is one of the key elements of the student entrepreneurship ecosystem. Prof. Makarenko noted that: “The Startup as a Diploma program aims to involve talented students in the development of entrepreneurship, as well as to support businesses that are in their early stages. The development and implementation of a training program for applicants and university professors in the preparation of startups as diplomas are envisages and supported by one of the national projects of the Russian Federation “Digital Economy”. Our university has also joined the implementation of this project: a local regulatory act has already been adopted that regulates the process of protecting graduate qualification works in the form of a startup project”.

In total, 54 applications were submitted for participation in the competition by undergraduate and postgraduate students of RSUE. Only 25 projects were selected for the final defense. The topics of the presented startup projects are the following: a business plan for opening a production for processing raw materials, development of modular IoT client-server applications, creation of a compound feed production in a rural settlement, development of a mobile application "Physics in your pocket", a project on gamification of higher education, development of a mobile application for interaction between the patient and the medical organization, atlas of youth initiatives and others.

The event engaged an expert group formed by both internal and external stakeholders of the Uxiship project. The expert group included Minister of Digital Development, Information Technologies and Communications of Rostov Region, Public Representative of ASI Evgeny Poluyanov, RSUE’s Rector Elena Makarenko, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, Public Representative of ASI Natalia Vovchenko, Head of the Scientific StartUp Laboratory, Honored Inventor of the Russian Federation Sergey Sokolov, public representative of ASI Sergey Andonov, individual entrepreneur, RSUE’s master student, finalist of the Leaders of Russia competition Boris Lukashov, director of the Agency for Support of Innovative Development, public representative of ASI Taras Tokhtamyshev, general director of CPI RO JSC, leading expert of the Edunet working group, expert of ASI Alexander Stanchula, head of the audit department, semi-finalist of the competition "Leaders of Russia" Alexander Kizilov, head of RSUE’s student bureau Elena Kotlyarova, chairman of RSUE’s Council of Young Scientists, expert of the ASI Nikita Bukhov, program director of RSUE’s co-working space “RSUE’s Boiling Point”, ASI expert Oleg Sulimenko. 

This initiative “Startup as a Diploma” supported at the governmental level is a chance for students’ business ideas to be assessed and encouraged for their further implementation. Besides, it demonstrates a positive impact on the socio-economic development of the region due to the formation of entrepreneurial competencies, thinking and culture already from the student years.