08.06.2026 The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is a platform for direct dialogue and strengthening business ties. The Vyzov Foundation made the most of this opportunity: the period fr om June 2nd to June 6th brought productive meetings and important decisions.
One of the Forum's central events was the announcement of the application campaign results for the VYZOV Prize for Future Technologies. In 2026, 1,438 applications were submitted – nearly 2.5 times more than last year. International reach also grew significantly: in 2025, applications came fr om 39 countries, while in 2026 that number rose to 47. For the first time, applications came from the UK, Japan, and Singapore – countries with advanced scientific sectors. Within Russia, the geographical spread covered 79 regions, compared to 58 the previous year. Scientists from regions with high scientific and technological development ratings showed strong interest in the Prize, including Novosibirsk Region, the Republic of Tatarstan, Sverdlovsk Region, Samara Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Voronezh Region, and Tomsk Region.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Natalia Tretiak, Konstantin Ostrikov
Representatives of the Vyzov Foundation took part in thematic sessions at SPIEF. Ten speakers shared their expertise, including foundation leadership, VYZOV Prize Scientific Committee members, and laureates. The range of topics was exceptionally broad: discussions covered building international partnerships, wh ere technological progress is heading, and the role of humanity in the modern world. Vyzov speakers brought a crucial perspective – the scientific and cultural dimension, without which any vision of the future would be incomplete.
With the Foundation's support, the Forum hosted a session titled Capital of Ideas: Private Initiatives in Science, Culture, and Sports. The discussion brought together Vyzov Foundation experts, Russian entrepreneurs and philanthropists, and cultural figures. They faced a challenging question: why do private investors and benefactors actively channel funds into sports and culture, but rarely into science? The result was a substantive conversation that showed: investing in science today is the foundation for growth across key industries. Such investments not only raise the profile of scientists but also create attractive role models for the younger generation, building the groundwork for the country's technological leadership.
Equally timely issues were raised at the SPIEF International Youth Day, wh ere VYZOV Prize laureate Leonid Fershtat spoke. At the session A Profession Exists – Creating the Future, he discussed the opportunities currently available to young scientists in the academic world.
Leonid Fershtat
The Vyzov Foundation's partner network expanded significantly. On the sidelines of SPIEF, five cooperation agreements were signed – with Tula and Chelyabinsk Regions, Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Republic of Bashkortostan, and ANO Eurasia. The documents provide for joint science outreach projects both in Russia’s regions and across the Eurasian space. Plans include engaging scientists in research conferences, forums, seminars, and professional development programmes. Special focus will be placed on talent potential: measures to support early‑career researchers are being developed.
Beyond the packed business agenda, the Forum will also be remembered for a standout cultural event – A Challenge to the Senses (Vyzov to the Senses) evening, organized by the Russian‑Austrian Civil Society Forum Sochi Dialogue with support from the Vyzov Foundation. The programme, dedicated to the 270th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, brought together science and art. VYZOV Prize Scientific Committee member Alexey Semikhatov delivered a lecture titled The Universe as a Score and a Performance, exploring how music can help us understand reality. The evening also featured performances of pieces by Mozart, Puccini, Gounod, Donizetti, Brahms, and Dvořák by Mariinsky Theatre soloists Natalia Pavlova and Andrei Serov.
