The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, or Skoltech, is a private institute located in Moscow, Russia.[1] Skoltech was established in 2011 as part of a multi-year partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)[2] Globally, the university in 2023 was ranked # 702 in the world by US News & World Report.[3] It was among the number 65 young university in the world according to Nature Index in 2021.[4][5][6] That same year Skoltech entered the subject ranking in physics among young universities for the first time (35th place),[7] and named a rapidly rising university (21st place among young universities).[8] In February 2022 MIT ended its partnership with Skoltech in protest of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[9]
 | |
| Type | Private research university |
|---|---|
| Established | 2011 |
| President | Alexander Kuleshov |
Administrative staff | 1500 |
| Students | 1028 |
| Location | Moscow , Russia |
| Website | https://www.skoltech.ru/en/ |
History
Skoltech began as a joint effort with a curriculum designed by MIT and financial backing from the Russian government. The school offers graduate degrees only, and teaching is in English. It serves as the centerpiece of a $2.7 billion innovation hub funded by the Russian Finance Ministry.[10] By 2013, the university had hired 30 to 35 professors and established a campus 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the Red Square near Odintsovo. In 2018, it inaugurated a new campus designed by Herzog & de Meuron with an area of 130,000 square metres (1,400,000 sq ft).[11] It is the first work in Russia for the Swiss practice and the result of an international competition.[12] In 2019, the university won the first prize for the Prix Versailles in the "University Campus" category.[13]
The university is also known for designing and operating a petaflop supercomputer, Zhores, considered one of the largest in Russia.[14] In 2020, twenty-three researchers landed on the global top 2% list by citation impact.[15] As a result, by 2021, the university had entered the QS World University Rankings by subject.[16]
MIT terminated the partnership in February 2022 as a response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[17]
Degree programs
Skoltech offers Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in several different areas.[18]
The list of MSc degree programs includes:
| Awarded degree | MSc Program |
| Master of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science | Data Science[19] with two tracks available, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and Math of Machine Learning.[20] |
| Master of Science in Advanced Computational Science | Advanced Computational Science[21] |
| Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering | Petroleum Engineering[22] |
| Master of Science in Applied Mathematics and Physics | Photonics and Quantum Materials[23] |
| Mathematical and Theoretical Physics[24] | |
| Master of Science in Biotechnology | Biotechnology[25] |
| Master of Science in Information Systems and Technologies | Space and Engineering Systems[26] |
| Energy Systems[27] | |
| Advanced and Digital Engineering Technologies[28] | |
| Master of Science in Materials Science and Technology of Materials | Materials Science[29] |
| Master of Science in Information Technology and Engineering | Computational Science and Engineering[30] |
| Master of Science in the Internet of Things & Wireless Technologies | Internet of Things and Wireless Technologies[31] |
PhD degree programs include:
- Mathematics and Mechanics[32]
- Physics[33]
- Materials Science and Engineering[34]
- Life Sciences[35]
- Computational and Data Science and Engineering[36]
- Engineering Systems[37]
- Petroleum Engineering[38]
Centers for Research, Education and Innovation (CREIs)
The institute's education, research, and innovation activities revolve around Centers for Research, Education and Innovation (CREIs), 5 Project Centers and 1 Center.[39] These centers were developed to advance the aims of pursuing innovative research, delivering scientific growth, and generating world-class educational programs.
- Center for Artificial Intelligence Technology (AI Center)[40]
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology (Bio Center)[41]
- Vladimir Zelman Center for Neurobiology and Brain Rehabilitation (Neuro Center)[42]
- Center for Digital Engineering (Engineering Center)[43]
- Center for Petroleum Science and Engineering (Petroleum Center)[44]
- Center for Materials Technologies (Materials Center)[45]
- Center for Photonics Science and Engineering (Photonics Center)[46]
- Center for Engineering Physics (Physics Center)[47]
- Project Center for Next Generation Wireless and IoT (Wireless Center)[48]
- Project Center for Agro Technologies (Agro Center) [49]
- Project Center for Energy Transition and ESG (ESG Center)[50]
- Center for Energy Science and Technology (Energy Center) [51]
- Research Center in artificial intelligence in the direction of optimization of management decisions to reduce the carbon footprint (Applied AI Center)[52]
- Advanced Studies[53]
Notable faculty[54]
Leadership
- Alexander Kuleshov, President
Notable alumni
- * Natalia Berloff, former professor of Photonics, Currently Professor at University of Cambridge
- Edward F. Crawley first President of Skoltech.[55] Currently Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.