All-Russia space innovation convention to open in Uglegorsk

UGLEGORSK TOWNSHIP (Itar-Tass) - The first
all-Russia space research innovation convention opens here on Wednesday.
It was near this township that the construction of Vostochny (eastern)
cosmodrome began in 2010.
More than 400 Russian young scientists and experts will take part in
the Convention, an official at the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs
(Rosmolodyozh), which together with the Amur Region government is the
organizer of the Convention, has told Itar-Tass.
"The holding of the Convention in Uglegorsk and Blagoveshchensk is
timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of man's first-ever space
flight, as well as with a Year of Russian Cosmonautics designated by the
President of the Russian Federation," the official said.
"Merited representatives of the Russian aerospace sector --
scientists, technicians, and cosmonauts, as well as young scientists from
all over Russia, more than 400 people all in all, will be guests of the
Convention," the Rosmolodyozh official added.
The Federal Agency official specified that participants in the
Convention would present projects in the following four areas: "Space
Rocket Technology", "New Technologies and Materials", "Information
Technologies", and "The Use of the Results of Space Rocket Development
Activities in the Socio-Economic Development of the Country".
"With support from the Agency's Zvorykin Project which is aimed at
fostering youth innovations-related activity, the best Russian project
groups working in the field of space technologies and IT will participate
in the Convention," the official pointed out.
An expert council consisting of representatives of the Federal Space
Agency, the Russian corporation for nanotechnologies, institutions
ofhigher learning, and research institutes of Russia will evaluate the
young scientists' works.
"On the strenghtof evalutaiton, 42 projects are to be selected and
marked out for prizes in the following nominations: "The Best Innovative
Idea", "The Best Innovative Project" and "The Best Innovative Product,"
the official specified. Winners will be be delegated to take part in an
all-Russia youth innovation convention to be held by the Federal Agency
for Youth Affairs.
Denis Kravchenko, deputy head of Rosmolodyozh, told journalists, "To
young scientists, this Convention will provide an opportunity to introduce
their ideas and hold investors' attention, and move on to the phase of
introduction of innovations to production".
"It is highly symbolic that this will happen against the background of
the unfolding construction of the new-generation space launch center in
Uglegorsk, i.e. precisely the place where Russian technologies are
currently in particular demand," Kravchenko added.