Research University

ITMO University is one of the leading universities in Russia with a status of National Research University since 2009.
 
Research ITMO University – Model 2020
 
The target model for research at IMTO in 2020 foresees the diversification of R&D areas through the organization of interdisciplinary modes of research, building on core competencies of ITMO but enriched the new subject-areas of natural sciences, humanities, bioinformatics, medical and social sciences.Competition mechanisms are utilized to provide funding for the priority break-through areas that increase publication ratings, academic reputation, etc. 
 
The “growth hotspots” are the international research laboratories run by co-run by Russia and foreign scientists with a high publication rating (60 IRLs by 2020), Centers of Excellence that integrate hot sports and graduate programs (5 in 2020). Centers of Excellence that also include international researchers and postdocs carry out research and prepare students for studying in research graduate programs.
 
«ITMO Portfolio» program financially incentivizes the staff and students at ITMO to increase their personal publication rate; the amount of the compensation depends on the impact-factor of the journal, the involvement of a foreign co-author and the citation index.
A minimum of two of ITMO’s academic journals are included in the Scopus database.
 
The University is transformed into a graduate-oriented institution, focusing primarily on graduate and post-graduate education by 2019.
 
It features three types of Master’s programs:
- Research Master’s – educating research specialists on the basis of ITMO academies
- Technology Master’s – educating project and technology specialists through strategic partnerships and targeted education
- Business Master’s – educating management staff for the high-tech sector of an innovations-focused economy. 
 
Most of instructors are actively involved in research and have moved from being just an instructor to being a researcher-instructor. Learning is done through researching.
 
A comprehensive system of selection and work evaluation is in place for instructors with consideration to publication activity, citations, the amount of research, working with graduate students. 
 
The University has a strong system of information support aimed growing its reputation and informing the global scientific and business communities about its activities. The task will be addressed by the circulation of an Annual Report, the preparation of media publications, by the University’s participation in major international exhibitions and forums, by joining international associations and communities and disseminating of the expert views of the University’s academics on a wide range of issues. 
 
The effectiveness of the scientific activity is systematically monitored and evaluated, resulting in support for effective and prospective departments and reorganization of less effective units.
 
Research University Today
 
Currently the University applies its resources to research and development primarily in seven areas designated as high priority: Security and Anti-Terrorism;  Nanosystems Industry;  IT Systems;  Life Sciences; Advanced Weapons, Military and Special Equipment; Transport and Space Systems; Energy Efficiency, Energy Saving and Nuclear Energy.
 
The top 14 technologies of interest include:
  • Basic and critical military and industrial technology for development of advanced weapons, military and special equipment,
  • Genomic, proteomic and post-genomic technologies
  • Computer modeling of nanomaterials, nanoequipment and technologies
  • Nano, bio, information and cognitive technologies
  • Technologies for diagnosing nanomaterials and nanoequipment
  • Technologies for access to broadband multimedia services
  • Technologies for information, management and navigation systems
  • Technologies for microsystems and nanoequipment
  • Technologies for receiving and processing functional nanomaterials
  • Technologies and software for distributed and high-performance computing systems
  • Technologies for monitoring and prognosis of the state of the environment, pollution prevention and elimination
  • Technologies for prediction of environmental and technological disasters
  • New generation of technologies for space and transport equipment
  • Technologies for development of an electronic component base and energy-efficient lighting equipment.
 
Top research areas at ITMO include:
 
  • Optics, Photonics and Photoinformatics
  • Information and Computing Technologies
  • Controls and Robotics
  • "Smart" Materials, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies
  • Natural Sciences
  • IT in Economics, Social Sciences and Art
  • Biotechnology, Life Sciences
Funding for Research and Development:
 
Funding for R&D in 2013 exceeded 1,334 million rubles, with about 40% coming from Russian businesses. The dynamics of R&D financing is as follows:
 
 
Customers include:
 
  • Ministries and government entities of the Russian Federation
  • “Precision Machine-building Systems”
  • “LOMO”
  • “Energia”
  • “Institute for Cosmic Research of Russian Academy of Sciences”
  • “Concern Electropribor”
  • “Diakont”
  • General Motors Corp. (USA)
  • PPG (USA)
  • Nokia (Finland)
  • Oxford Instruments Analytical GmbH (Germany)
  • Other large Russian and international companies
 
Grants by international organizations and funds:
 
The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
  • The Optical Society (OSA)
  • Erasmus Mundus
  • USRF
  • 7th Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (FP7) by the European Commission
  • Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross-border Cooperation Program
  • COST inter-government program
 
Research Infrastructure
 
 
Research Publications
 
2013 Numbers
 
  • 1,385 scientific articles
  • 580 articles in international publications cited by Web of Science and Scopus
  • 1,100 citations of the ITMO scientists' work noted by Web of Science and Scopus
  • 184 textbooks and manuals
  • 49 monographs, 21 of them printed by foreign publishers
  • 39 collections of scientific papers, 29 of them are national and international conference proceedings
 
Dynamics of Publications by ITMO University Faculty
 
The number of articles published by ITMO faculty                                                               
 
                                     
 
The number of articles published by faculty of ITMO University Number of articles indexed by Scopus and Web of Science
 
 
Papers by ITMO faculty have been published in scientific journals:
 
  • Nature Photonics (IF - 27.254);
  • Advanced Materials (IF - 14.829);
  • Nature Communication (IF - 10.015);
  • Journal of Chemical Physics (IF - 4.814);
  • Automatica (IF - 3.944);
  • Nanotechnology (IF - 3.842);
  • Optics Letters (IF - 3.385);
  • Applied Surface Science (IF - 2.112).
 
Research by Young Scientists
 
The University holds various competitions for young scientists. The Big Bang, for example, is a competition where student projects are evaluated by representatives of business. In 2013 The Big Bang was held for the second time, and over 35 student teams presented their projects.
 
Undergraduate and graduate students, young scientists and interns participate in the university-wide program of financial incentives for results in research "ITMO Portfolio." Through this program, every faculty member and student gets financial incentives for actual results of their research, such as publications, monographs, reports and patents.
 
Every six months the University holds a competition for an increased state academic scholarship for achievements in studies, research, art, sports and public activities. During the competition, about 150 students are selected for their research activities.
 
Research departments, Graduate Programs Office and Student Research Office hold annual multi-level competitions for best research projects among Bachelor, Master and Specialist students. As the result of the competition, best Master and Specialist students are recommended for the ITMO PhD programs. The University also participates in nationwide conferences, exhibitions of the best research projects, helps young scientists apply for grants and publishes proceedings of scientific events.
 
Young scientists of ITMO University apply for grants for undergraduate, graduate and PhD students of St. Petersburg colleges and universities offered by the St. Petersburg State Committee for Higher Education. ITMO hold second place in the number of applied for and received grants. In 2013, ITMO students submitted 260 applications and received 81 grants.
 
Training of Highly Qualified Personnel
 
ITMO University provides training on 45 PhD and 15 Doctorate degree programs in compliance with the requirements of scientific bodies.   In 2013, 755 graduate and 21 PhD students studied at ITMO.
 
The  University is committed to international cooperation with partner universities around the world and implements several joint graduate programs. ITMO post-graduate students have simultaneously studied at  universities in Germany, Netherlands, Finland, France, including : Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg, Delft University of Technology, University of eastern Finland, Aalto University, Ecole normale superieure de Cachan. Graduate students in these programs carry out scientific research under the joint supervision of two scientific advisors.
 
Nine dissertation committees at ITMO evaluate dissertations for PhD degrees.