A conference named «German-Russian discussion of raw commodities at the river Saar» took place in Germany on the premises of the former steel plant VölklingerHutte. Its main message was to outline the fact that local businesses oppose sanctions against our country and aim instead for restoring economic relations between our countries. Forpost had a discussion with one of the forum’s participants Vladimir Bazhin (dean of the minerals processing department at Saint-Petersburg Mining University) regarding scientific projects that could be carried out together with German scientists and their interest in partnering up with Russia.
One of the areas of your academic interest is high aluminium alloys. It is currently quite a popular field of research in Germany, fast-growing in popularity in engineering and many other industries as well. Is there a possibility that Russian and German scientists, if they work together on similar projects, can make a positive effect on their economic viability?
Yes, certainly. For example, we are partners with a professor and pro-rector for research Rudolf Kawalla from Freiberg Mining Academy. Previously his specialization was magnesium alloys, and we specialized on aluminium alloys. Due to combining Russian and German research findings, we can now progress much faster than ever before.
A few of our joint research papers have been already published in the popular magazines, and we have already filed an application for a grant to Russian Science Foundation (RSF). An application will be also under German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft or DFG) review, an organization designed for facilitating international cooperation, which includes Russia as well. Implementing our innovative solutions in the real sector of engineering industry is intended to be done via grant funding, and it is also very important. Sometimes granted patent can just gather dust for many years, which is a clear signal of science inefficiency.
If we are able to get research funding for our project from certain Russian and German companies, it will be easier for us to team up and work effectively towards a desired result. Our project realization may become a genuine breakthrough in automobile manufacturing.
Do sanctions pose a problem?
Sanctions do not affect our partnership at all, as there is no connection with science. No difficulties arise when crossing borders as well, including movement of necessary for joint research equipment.
Academic mobility is also on the rise. For instance, my post-graduate students participate in annual long-term internships in Germany in accordance with DAAD system, because some ideas related to our research interests have been already introduced there. This type of training helps students get better understanding of the things that we are talking about and provide an insight into the structure of semifinished and foil sections.
Thus, we continue working despite the sanctions imposed against us. However, we are taking a break at this moment while waiting for our application to RSF to have been processed. Once there is a final decision on their side, we may continue our research activities. In case of winning the competition our project perspectives will obviously be a lot more tangible. Besides, we will be able to turn into reality our ambitions both in the area of our interest and in the related areas as well.
Is institutional science in Germany as opposed to situation in Russia in a winning position?
Major German companies have strong partnerships with universities. State governs these relations, providing finding along with manufacturers. This type of relations does not exist in our country, which is why it is much easier to implement innovations in the manufacturing sector in cooperation with a foreign partner.
Apart from high alloys area we also collaborate with Germans in respect to coal gasification and high-margin hydrocarbons extraction. These areas are of specific interest to Mining University. The difference is that German or Chinese scientists may rely on strong support in their work involving these technologies, whereas in Russia that is almost impossible. Oil is the main cause of this situation. As analysts forecast, coal-derived liquid fuel will hardly stand the competition in the next 50 years. This is a very specific feauture, native to Russian mineral resources sector.
What kind of interest Germans have for collaborating with Russian scientists? Is there a benefit for Russia from taking a part in this partnership?
I took a part in the discussion at the river Saar. Host country representatives said that they wanted to see Russia as a partner, especially in the area of so called critical technologies development. They also do not want to perceive Russia only as a source of raw materials for their metallurgic plants or energy networks.
Speaking about areas of our interest, use of rare earth metals is actually one of them, as rare metals are required for microalloying steel. At the moment highest priority in extraction and distribution is appointed to China. We are not going to push them out of their position, as this area of work cannot be developed without state support, at least at the start.
In our country there are a lot of rich deposits of rare earth metals. We can mine ingredients for producing master alloys both in non-ferrous and steel industries. Rare materials are also essential for many other sectors, including producing renewable energy resources as well as manufacturing electric cars and smartphones and so on. Germans are in a constant need of new ideas in the field, and we are in turn interested in developing our own technologies.
In the meantime, we export coke, which is a fresh raw material, to Germany. 40 million tons of the highest quality coking coal is annually transferred to German factories for high-level processing and manufacturing rolled products made of steel. If we are able to continue working on our joint scientific projects with Germany, it will enable us to manufacture processing commodities and release the value chains of cooperating companies eventually delivering hi-tech products for direct consumption. In the modern world, the more effective are the aforementioned segments – the more competitive and highly-developed is the country.
Is there an actual possibility to develop strong value chains in Russia?
State policy in relation to mineral commodities resides in the fact that the majority of tasks lie in the intercrossing of different industries. This has been also mentioned by our principal, Vladimir Litvinenko, in his speech at the meetings. Petrochemists, metallurgists, engineering workers, economists – all should join the forces and work for achieving our common strategic goal.
A very specific problem is determined by private capital existence. In Germany, private sector is actively participating in solving problems of state industrial security. In our country, we have an existing system ensuring raw and food safety, but it does not work similar to a German one. Just as before we still rely a lot on importing technologies, but leave our own developments collecting dust.
