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Schneider Electric and the Mining University Agreed to Establish the National Center for Digitalization

искусственный интеллект
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The project has already been supported by Alexander Shokhin, the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).

This year, digitalization of the Russian economy has become one of the central themes of SPIEF (Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum). Specific attention was paid to the two cornerstones of the national economy – the fuel and energy and mineral sectors. While some companies have already implemented technological solutions that allowed them to improve work efficiency, there are still only few examples. Therefore, one of the strategic initiatives of the Russian-German Raw Materials Dialogue concerns establishing a National Educational Center for Digitalization in the Raw Materials Sector.

газпром нефть
© Форпост Северо-Запад

Two years ago, an agreement on the initiative in the field of digitalization was signed at SPIEF. The signees of the document are Alexander Shokhin, the head of RSPP, and Roland Busch, a member of the Executive Board of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations. The prospects of combining efforts of these two organizations in relation to digitalization of the Russian economy were discussed at the working meeting with Vladimir Litvinenko, the Principal of the Mining University and Co-Chairman of the Russian-German Raw Materials Dialogue. The meeting itself was held on the zero day of SPIEF 2019.

As Alexander Shokhin comments on the outcome of negotiations, "During our meeting with Vladimir Litvinenko, we managed to find multiple opportunities to join our efforts, since both parties have a lot to offer".

Шохин
© Форпост Северо-Запад / Мария Сулимова

In his answer to the question about the prospects of establishing a National Educational Center for Digitalization in the Raw Materials Sector on the basis of the Mining University, Alexander Shokhin affirmed the reality of this initiative.

According to the President of RSPP, "St. Petersburg Mining University has already developed a few worthy solutions in the field of digitalization of raw materials and mining complex. Moreover, the University has been cooperating in this area with key Russian and foreign companies – such as German, Italian, French, British enterprises. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that this new Center will be based in the Mining University rather than anywhere else".

Шохин и Литвиненко
© Форпост Северо-Запад / Мария Сулимова

It is expected that the National Center for Digitalization will be set up within the scientific training center, which was opened in the Mining University three years ago in cooperation with Schneider Electric. On the zero day of SPIEF, Emmanuel Babo, a Deputy CEO of Schneider Electric, a French multinational corporation, also paid a visit to the Mining University.

As Mr. Babo notes on the prospects of expanding cooperation, "In my opinion, this idea – the establishment of a National Educational Center for Digitalization – is amazing. Now that we are going through a technological revolution, which will transform the whole industry – those who do not participate in this process will end up losing in the competition. Obviously, the mineral sector is not an exception. Schneider Electric, together with the Mining University, may both contribute to the acceleration of the digitalization processes".

Бабо Шнайдер
© Форпост Северо-Запад / Павел Долганов

Emmanuel Babo specifically pointed out that Schneider Electric supplies the Mining University with the best equipment and software solutions developed by the French company. By doing so, the level of educational programs for students as well as of career enhancement training provided for the major mining enterprises are generally increased.

As Mr. Babo concludes, "We are still in the very beginning of exploring the full potential of artificial intelligence, simulations, 3D modeling and forecasting. These are the areas in which our joint work will open up a whole new world of possibilities in the future".