An Inspiring Flight: SILA Union at “Engineering Takeoff” at NArFU!
A powerful boost toward the future: SILA Union set the development vector and inspired the next generation of young professionals at the student festival “Engineering Takeoff” at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov (NArFU).
Read on to learn more about:
– a new level of engagement with the national engineering community;
– how we sparked student interest in technology at NArFU;
– what ideas inspired us for future projects;
– and why such initiatives are strategically important for business, education, and regional development.
Let’s go step by step: what was the event and what happened there?
The Northern (Arctic) Federal University became a center of ideas, technologies, and future professionals during the annual student festival “Engineering Takeoff.” For SILA Union, participating in this event was a meaningful investment in developing the country’s engineering ecosystem.
Right from the start—SILA Union took the lead: during the opening panel discussion, SILA Union’s Managing Partner Elena Silkina set an inspiring tone for the entire event. She introduced the company, its flagship product SILA Union, and ignited interest in technology and real-world business among students and faculty.
“SILA Union is a cutting-edge platform where ideas transform into goals, and goals into results. The synergy of our experience, the capabilities of the SILA Union digital platform, and the bold engineering solutions of young talented professionals and students is the foundation for our country’s technological growth. We believe that by creating opportunities for young specialists to grow, we are laying the groundwork for innovation, sustainable business, and a strong professional community of tomorrow,” said Elena Silkina.
Elena presented the company's mission, introduced its advanced, modern product, and shared real case studies showing how technology transforms business. Her inspiring speech became a catalyst for students’ enthusiasm toward engineering and modern tech solutions.
Afterward, the SILA Union team took a short tour of NArFU’s IT campus, where they explored the vibrant space where ideas are born, teams are formed, and the engineering future is being built. We were convinced that it is in such places where education, technology, and practice unite, where real technological breakthroughs happen—and SILA Union plays a key role here as an industry partner and mentor for future developers.
The highlight of the day was the student project defense, judged by representatives of SILA Union: Managing Partner and key business process management expert Elena Silkina, digital economy expert Lyudmila Gontar, and Head of Non-Profit Partnerships Anna Linkevich. They witnessed firsthand the passion students have for technology. The student ideas covered a wide range of topics—from engineering developments to entrepreneurship and legal environment analysis. The level of projects, ambition, and creative thinking all confirmed: our country has a promising technological future!
A valuable part of the festival was the SILA Union team’s meeting with Alexey Aksenov, Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Scientific and Technological Development of the Arkhangelsk Region. During the discussion, they explored future cooperation through national educational initiatives “North-South” and “Arctic Star,” and shared motivation for upcoming projects. Special thanks go to Oksana Bugayenko, Acting Vice-Rector for Digitalization at NArFU, for being the visionary behind the event and one of the key drivers of the “North-South” project. It is thanks to such leaders and encounters that growth points emerge for the region and for businesses ready to collaborate with the state, education, and science.
Innovative Future of Our Country
“Engineering Takeoff” demonstrated the great potential of young minds studying at our universities and the ambitious goals that can be achieved through creative ideas, promising projects, and determined work. The festival became a platform for scaling ideas, combining efforts, and building the future.
Partnerships with universities and government agencies expand opportunities to participate in national educational and technological initiatives and contribute to the development of engineering education—creating bridges between science, education, and business. SILA Union supports young talent and is actively involved in shaping an open, opportunity-rich educational environment. In doing so, we not only develop human capital but also shape the technological future of industries.
The Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov (NArFU) is the leading university in the Arkhangelsk Region and one of Russia’s youngest educational complexes. It offers a wide range of programs in engineering, natural sciences, IT, economics, and the humanities. Today, NArFU comprises 15 institutes, lyceums, colleges, and regional branches, with approximately 26,000 students and postgraduate students.
