Verkhovna Rada Prize awarded to KPI scientist

Yurii Yavorsky (pictured left), Associate Professor at the Department of Physical Materials Science and Heat Treatment of the Yevhen Paton Institute of Materials Science and Welding affiliated to the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), has received the prize from the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament). The Verkhovna Rada Prize is one of the most prestigious national awards granted to young scientists.

In accordance with Act of Verkhovna Rada No. 4131-IX, dated 5 December 2024, the prize was awarded in December 2025 in recognition of his research, “Modification of Electronic States of Lithium Battery Cathodes”.

The Verkhovna Rada Prize is presented annually to a few select group of young researchers for outstanding achievements in fundamental and applied research that contribute to the innovative development of Ukraine.

Chapeau bas! Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute proudly celebrates the talent and dedication of its scientists.

P.S. The National Technical University of Ukraine, also known as Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, is a public, research-intensive university based in the capital city of Kyiv. Kyiv Polytechnic makes it part of its mission to pursue discoveries and develop new knowledge.

At its founding in 1898, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute was initially a small community of 350 students at four faculties – mechanical, engineering, agricultural and chemical. Today, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has evolved into a research and educational titan, with over 2,000 faculty members and more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Despite many challenges in the context of today’s Ukraine, the university demonstrates resilience in maintaining educational continuity while implementing reforms aligned with European standards.

Currently, Kyiv Polytechnic is organised into 100+ scientific schools. Its priority research areas include mechanical engineering, chemistry, materials science, ICT, energy efficiency, environmental monitoring, nuclear safety, aerospace technologies, prosthetics, robotics, humanitarian demining, and cybersecurity.

Committed to global cooperation, research and innovation, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute endeavours to establish itself as Ukraine’s representative university of technology. Scaling up innovation, it coordinates a national innovation ecosystem of 18 startup schools and 15 innovation clusters. At its core, the Sikorsky Challenge Innovation Ecosystem is dedicated to empowering groundbreaking projects and startups, fostering collaboration, and providing unparalleled growth opportunities.

For Kyiv Polytechnic, knowledge is power. It is the university of ideas and startups. Kyiv Polytechnic boasts more than 70 research labs and centres, alongside three science parks, serving as hubs for technology transfer and startup incubation.

In addition to science and engineering, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute offers students an exciting environment to uncover new interests and talents. Specifically, its Sports and Recreation Centre boasts more than 15 varsity sports sections, over 30 professional coaches, and 12 gyms drawing nearly 10,000 visitors each month.

Creativity and arts culture flow through all the facets of university life as well. Situated on campus, the State Polytechnic Museum is the largest university museum in Ukraine, with 25,000 exhibits at its aviation and cosmonautics section and six halls within a total area of 1,500 square meters, having welcomed more than one million visitors over 27 years. Students participate in performances held at the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Centre for Culture and Arts, contributing to local arts initiatives. The organizational structure of Centre for Culture and Arts includes the Hryhoriy Sinitsa Art Gallery.

The university campus is arranged over 135 acres within Kyiv, and features 21 student residences, as well as five gorgeous gardens and green-space areas. Reflecting its strong ties between industry and research, the university is 220th in Europe and 7th in Ukraine by aggregated alumni prominence. The EduRank directory (https://edurank.org/uni/national-technical-university-of-ukraine-kyiv-polytechnic-institute/alumni/) includes 85 famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.

In fact, the university has a history of turning out prominent figures. Among its top-flight alumni are Yevhen Paton, inventor of electric welding, Igor Sikorsky, Ukrainian-US pioneer in aircraft design, and Serhii Koroliov, designer of guided missiles, particularly the world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), rockets, and spacecraft. The Kyiv Polytechnic Institute was named after Igor Sikorsky on 17 August 2016.

Studying at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute offers a truly global-standard education, shaped by research, fortified by collaboration, and turbocharged by innovation.