Nataliia Fandikova, the Head of the Laboratory at the Department of Graphic Arts of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and a renowned Ukrainian artist, won the International Coin Design Competition 2022, staged by the Japan Mint.
Although she was awarded the Most Excellent Work Gold Medal for her design of the coin “Good morning, Ukraine” in 2022, the official award ceremony took place this year because of the impact of the current global situation. The announcement was made by Norio Yamani, Chairman of the Jury and President of the Japan Mint.
For Kyiv Polytechnic, this recognition carries considerable weight: the university is not only about engineering, drones, or chemistry, but also about art, cultural symbols, and cultural diplomacy that bolster Ukraine’s positive image in the world.
Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute takes pride in Nataliia Fandikova’s achievement, a shining example of how Ukrainian talent and inspiration continue to propel national art and culture to the global stage.
Andreas Dreisiebner, member of the board of directors at Solarspar, the Swiss Solar Energy Association, together with representatives of the NGO Ukraine2Power visited the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) to discuss prospects for further cooperation in the energy sector.
Discussions focused on:
• International exchange of knowledge and innovations in energy, particularly in the operation of conventional and vertical solar power plants;
• Expansion of Kyiv Polytechnic’s cooperation in power engineering with Swiss universities;
• Organisation of trips to introduce a Kyiv Polytechnic delegation to Solarspar’s activities;
• Collaborative research and educational initiatives.
During the visit, the guests made a tour of one of the solar power plants at the university, which ensures the uninterrupted operation of the Centre for Collective Use of Scientific Equipment “Materials Science of Refractory Compounds and Composites,” the solar energy laboratory, and the wind energy lecture hall.
There are new steps and challenges ahead for the partners in the realm of green energy, energy efficiency, and rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system.
Solarspar, a member of the Climate Alliance Switzerland, has long been active in the renewable energy sector, supporting projects on energy, climate action, and other related areas.
Ukraine2Power is a Ukrainian non-profit organization founded in response to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system.
The 16th International Scientific and Technical Conference of Young Scientists and Students, Innovations of Youth in Mechanical Engineering, was held in a hybrid format – both in person and online – in the State Polytechnic Museum at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI). The event featured a wide range of reports.
The organisers of this forum, the staff of the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IME), believe that this conference has established itself as a platform for communication among young scientists. It provided space for discussing topical issues in the area of mechanical engineering and supported participants in developing and applying innovative technologies in the manufacture and operation of modern machinery.
The scientific and technical tasks currently tackled by young mechanical engineers include design, technical calculations, technologies for manufacturing engineering products, testing and operation of parts, and units. Young scientists from Kyiv Polytechnic, Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, Sweden’s Karlstad University, the Kyiv Junior Academy of Sciences, and the Polytechnic and Technical Lyceums affiliated to Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute took part in the sessions. The themes of the sessions speak for themselves: “Dynamics and Strength of Machines,” “Mechanical Engineering Technologies,” “Processes and Equipment for Plastic Forming of Structures in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,” “Machine Design,” and “Engineering of Welding, Laser and Related Technologies.” These themes reflect the broad spectrum of research areas engaging young scientists, students, and high school students alike.
At the plenary session, Prof Vitalii Pasichnyk, Chairman of the IME Academic Council, said: “Kyiv Polytechnic is an institution where education, science and innovation are directed toward the further development of Ukraine as a state. I would like to thank the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the opportunity to host such events at our university, where education and science serve the future – for the sake of our Victory over the enemy.”
IME’s business partners also participated in the conference. These included representatives from such companies as Boeing Ukraine LLC, Progresstech Ukraine LLC, Bureau of Special Technical Engineering Standard.T LLC, 3D Metal Tech, SkyFall, Ukrop, and Zbroyar Group. In their addresses, representatives of machine-building and tech implementation companies encouraged young scientists and students to join them in advancing promising areas within their engineering specialisations.
Among schoolchildren participating in the event were pupils from the Kyiv Junior Academy of Sciences: Oleksandr Bihun, Bohdan Koval, Oleksandr Polinchyk, Maksym Prykhodko, Danylo Shtovbonko, and Yehor Matveiev. The scientific interests of the high school students, who gave presentations at the sessions and received relevant certificates, ranged from the modernisation of a mobile depot, research on the friction properties of ball and roller bearings, a train on magnetic cushions, to a system of adaptive spikes for car wheels, and an advance on a technology for building Metro tunnels.
“This event will contribute to the restoration and revival of engineering education,” stated Ihor Hryshko, Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee and IME Director. “In the presentations delivered by young scientists and schoolchildren, I observed many personalities who will lead Ukrainian engineering to new technological heights.”
At present, Ukraine faces a formidable challenge – widespread contamination of land with explosives. Not only does this endanger the lives and health of citizens, but landmines and unexploded shells hinder economic growth and agricultural development, and prevent millions of displaced people from returning to their homes. Humanitarian demining is not merely a logistical task, it is a vital step towards a safe and peaceful future.
That is why TechBridge x Sikorsky Challenge have announced a competition of innovative solutions for humanitarian demining. The organisers are seeking out audacious, efficient, and creative ideas that will help to fast-track and make safer the process of clearing Ukrainian lands of mines and ammunition.
The TechBridge x Sikorsky Innovation Challenge competition is organised by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the UK Government, the Sikorsky Challenge Innovation Holding, the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and the Kyivska Politechnika Science Park.
The competition will take place at Kyiv Polytechnic on 30 September 2025 in a hybrid format (in-person and online).
The purpose of the competition is to cherry-pick and support innovative technologies for humanitarian demining developed by Ukrainian researchers and start-ups. Participation in the competition offers opportunities to:
· Pitch solutions to international stakeholders
· Collaborate with leading demining experts and operators
· Attract investment and form partnerships with British companies
· Win prizes, mentoring support, and the possibility of using engineering developments via viable projects
What solutions are being sought?
The organisers invite concepts or feasible projects in the following areas:
· Use of drones, unmanned ground vehicles, AI-driven data analysis, multi-sensor platforms (GPR, LiDAR, thermal imaging cameras) for accurate and safe detection of landmines and ammunition across large areas
· Development of ground and aerial robotic devices for the automated mine clearing of territories, minimising human involvement and risks to deminers in the field
· Drawing and use of electronic maps of contaminated zones, platforms for collecting and analysing field data, and real-time processing
Why is this vital?
Successful solutions can contribute to the rapid and safe mine clearing of Ukraine’s territories, the return of people to their homes, and the recovery of infrastructure and agriculture. Concerted efforts will speed up recovery and ensure a safer future for thousands of Ukrainian families.
The deadline for applications is 22 September 2025.
The UK-Ukraine TechBridge is a joint initiative undertaken by the UK Government and the Government of Ukraine, starting January 2024. It aims to forge connections between British and Ukrainian tech eco-systems by seeking mutual trade and investment opportunities, supporting innovation, and promoting training to develop technical skills in Ukraine.
In a vital step toward strengthening Ukraine’s energy autonomy, RSE – a manufacturer of modular, flexible cogeneration solutions based on MWM gas engines (Caterpillar Energy Solutions) – has signed a memorandum about strategic partnership with the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) and announced the launch of the equipment of the Energy Resilience Lab.
The new space is supposed to form part of Kyiv Polytechnic’s Centre for Energy Decarbonisation and its Energy Innovation Hub. The lab will become an educational and demonstration centre this autumn, where students, engineers and the representatives of communities will learn to come up with and apply energy sustainability solutions.
Why does it matter?
In the context of war, energy autonomy has become a problem of the survival of cities and communities.
“RSE are modular containerised CHP [Combined Heat and Power] units that keep this country going. We design standalone energy facilities for communities, hospitals and the critical infrastructure – places where they are much needed,” explained Andrii Hrinenko, RSE founder. “Together with Kyiv Polytechnic, we at RSE aspire to train the next generation of power engineers. This is more than an educational project – it is a contribution to Ukraine’s reconstruction and energy independence.”
“Not only should universities provide a high level of theoretical training today, but they must serve as platforms for practical solutions that truly transform the country. And the Energy Resilience Lab exemplifies this mission,” stated Kyiv Polytechnic Rector Anatolii Melnychenko. “Owing to our partnership with RSE, we are creating not just another classroom, but an environment where students will gain experience to work on cutting-edge technologies that are already saving lives and restoring Ukraine’s energy sustainability.”
What will the lab offer?
Once completed, the Energy Resilience Lab will become Ukraine’s first training platform where it will be possible to:
· Learn how to operate modular cogeneration plants
· Master the principles of decentralised and backup energy
· Study the best cases of real-world RSE application in frontline cities, hospitals and logistics hubs
· Work with demonstration stands built on MWM/Caterpillar technologies.
What comes next?
Construction and maintenance are well underway, with the laboratory set to open its doors to the first cohort of students in autumn 2025. A team of teachers and mentors is being organised, training modules developed, and demonstration equipment prepared.
Through this partnership, RSE and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute are not only building a lab — they are building the future of energy resilience in Ukraine.
About RSE
RSE is a Czech engineering and manufacturing company established by Ukrainian specialists during the war. It produces modular cogeneration plants based on MWM/Caterpillar Energy Solutions. More than 200 RSE modular plants are already in operation across Ukraine and Europe, ensuring the energy sustainability of communities, hospitals, and the critical infrastructure.
An inaugural meeting with representatives of the Turkish high-tech company, ASPILSAN Enerji, took place at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI). ASPILSAN Enerji, whose products are exported across the globe, expressed a keen interest in joint initiatives with Kyiv Polytechnic.
During the first working meeting, the potential areas of cooperation were under discussion, including:
· Engineering developments in the sphere of energy for aerospace programmes, radio engineering and communication systems;
· Joint energy projects with Kyiv Polytechnic’s departments – particularly with the Institute of Energy Saving and Energy Management, the Institute of Aerospace Technologies, the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics, the Faculty of Chemical Technology, and the Faculty of Chemical Engineering – to create innovative materials for batteries;
· Cooperation between ASPILSAN Enerji R&D centres and Kyiv Polytechnic’s research subdivisions;
· Retraining programmes for specialists, as well as student exchange opportunities for internships at company’s manufacturing facilities;
· Development of the university’s stand-alone energy infrastructure, particularly the expansion of the network of solar power plants.
ASPILSAN Enerji develops batteries and energy storage systems for various industries, ranging from aviation to the construction sector and civil infrastructure, and is the largest battery manufacturer in Turkey.
The meeting reflected a shared commitment to innovation, energy efficiency, and academic-industry cooperation — laying the groundwork for a promising partnership.
The 10th anniversary HR Wisdom Summit brought together more than 6,000 participants, including CEOs and HR leaders of large companies. This year’s agenda placed a particular emphasis on education and the professional training of future specialists.
During the panel discussion “Interaction of Educational Institutions and Real Business,”Anatolii Melnychenko (pictured right), Rector of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), joined representatives from leading companies – Ajax Systems, Metinvest, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Philip Morris International, and Kormotech – to reflect on the importance of the relationship between educators and employers.
In his remarks, Anatolii Melnychenko emphasised the need to expand and deepen cooperation between Kyiv Polytechnic and big businesses. He outlined the spectrum of formats for effective cooperation, including:
· Equipment of laboratories
· Software provision
· Scholarship programmes supported by companies
· Dual education
· Certificate programmes.
These interaction formats enable an improvement in the quality of training and help to meet the needs of companies for specialists in accordance with the type of their business.
The panel also explored the relevance of higher engineering education and the future of engineering specialisations – an area where Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, with its deep-rooted tradition and innovative drive, continues to stand in the forefront.
On 1 August 2025, the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute took an important step towards the digital future by signing a memorandum on cooperation with Ericsson’s subsidiary in Ukraine, as well as a memorandum about joining the Ericsson Educate: 5G University program.
Through this partnership, Kyiv Polytechnic students will get access to advanced learning materials provided by the world’s leading developer of 5G technology. The program is targeted specifically at students of the Institute of Telecommunication Systems and the Faculty of Radio Engineering to achieve professional competency in the fast-evolving domain of telecommunications.
Importantly, this program offers Kyiv Polytechnic students a career shaping opportunity to gain the necessary 5G knowledge, while enabling industry experts to contribute towards educating a new generation of specialists equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s digital landscape.
The Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute will cooperate with Japanese companies and organisations on the remote control of construction equipment, and will conduct an experiment on the use of systems developed by the Japanese company Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd. The company’s name, “Yachiyo,” is taken from a Japanese phrase that can be translated as “contributing to human society for all eternity.”
The key advantages of the technology are safety for employees, the capability of controlling multiple units of machinery through a single system, inclusivity for the workforce, and the high precision of technological processes.
Japanese delegation included:
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (Director for International Cooperation and Head of the Overseas Projects Division)
• Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd (Executive General Manager, General Manager, Executive Director of Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe B.V.)
• Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd (manager, associate employee from the Ukrainian side)
• Manager of Kowatech Co., Ltd
• Soliton Systems K.K. (Senior Vice President, Global Business Manager) – the leading Japanese technology company with a clear emphasis on Research & Development, including remote control and teleoperation.
Participants in the meeting from Ukraine:
• Kyiv Polytechnic (headed by Rector Anatolii Melnychenko)
• State Labor Service of Ukraine (led by the Head of the Service)
• Director of the Kyiv Regional Employment Centre
• Deputy Director of the General Energy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The visit also included a tour of the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Ukraine-Japan Centre, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations.
The delegation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by Senior Vice President Kenichi Kawamura, visited the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
A key part of the visit was an introduction to the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Ukraine-Japan Centre and its wide-ranging activities – from courses in the Japanese language and traditional arts to a rich calendar of events, among others.
The Japanese guests also toured the university campus, learning about Kyiv Polytechnic’s achievements, and visited the Borys Paton State Polytechnic Museum, where many exhibits aroused their keen and genuine interest.
Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and JICA share a long history of fruitful cooperation, steadily expanding areas of partnership, particularly within the framework of the five-year JICA technical cooperation project at the Ukraine-Japan Centre.
JICA, with its partners, takes the lead in forging bonds of trust across the globe, aspiring to a free, peaceful and prosperous world where people can hope for a better future and explore their diverse potential.
