The ITMO University Department of Technological Management and Innovations became the initiator of the agreement signing. Matthias Krug, the Knorr-Bremse 1520 company CEO, will enter the DTMI supervisory board.
According to the contract terms, the Knorr-Bremse 1520 company will take part in the education of the staff and students of ITMO University and St. Petersburg State University of Communication as well as contribute to the development of new courses in the field of quality management and technology management involving leading German specialists. There are various plans including the establishment of an international research lab, the student design bureau, joint research in the field of vehicle systems safety, popularization of innovation activity and engineering sciences, organization of educational activities for young people.
The representatives of the German side said that the company was interested in the training of professional personnel, owning modern methods of high-tech industries management, as well as in scientific research in the field of security systems in transport.
"A unique system of innovation and entrepreneurship activity is created in ITMO University. There are business incubators, student design bureaus, startup accelerator, Fablab and Technopark. It is this kind of partner we need for the further development," Matthias Krug says.
The relevance of specialists training who are in demand in the knowledge economy, was also noted by Vladimir Vasilyev, the rector of ITMO University. By creating an integrated complex environment for learning, development of innovative technologies, development of professional skills and creativity, the University helps students already during the learning process to acquire knowledge, necessary for building a successful future career and for developing their own business.
"The cooperation with the Knorr-Bremse 1520 company will make it possible to make the educational and research process oriented on the practical results, which, in turn, require the development of production and management technologies.For ITMO University this partnership is another step towards the achieving of one of the strategic objectives: to become one of the world top 100 universities," Vladimir Vasilyev said during his speech.
It is also worth to note that the Knorr-Bremse 1520 company finishes construction of a new plant in St. Petersburg, which will be put into operation in 3 months. It is focused on import substitution and localization of braking systems and components manufacturing for railway transport. The Knorr-Bremse 1520 company is a part of the largest German concern of the same name, which produces equipment and components for the transportation industry.