Vitebsk businessmen want to create an innovation project bank
Owners of private manufacturing companies in Vitebsk, members of the Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs, discussed the possibility of creating a bank of innovative projects.
The necessity of its establishment is not in doubt. Firstly, today, without new developments that allow improving the production process, saving costs, and competing, it is difficult to make a name for oneself. Secondly, it is necessary to give way to young minds who are capable of innovative thinking, looking at things with a fresh perspective, and creating interesting projects. However, sometimes business ideas remain unrealized due to a lack of support, or even because thinking youth simply do not know which doors to knock on. In short, representatives of the Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs tried to solve this problem by focusing on supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
The algorithm for joint actions was discussed at a meeting of manufacturers, which took place at the private enterprise "Machine-building company "Vitebskiye Podemniki". This enterprise is successfully engaged in the production of truck-mounted aerial platforms and lifting equipment. They produce both serial and custom-made machines according to special orders. On average, the team produces 15 units of equipment per month, which are used in the construction industry, housing and communal services, mining industry, and several others. Currently, mechanics are implementing a new development by designers – a truck-mounted aerial platform with a height of 32 meters, which customers are already ready to put into operation.
The discussion of the main issue was attended by the owners of Vitebsk companies that have proven themselves not only in the domestic but also in foreign markets: the head of the enterprise that hosted the guests, Andrey Sidorov, directors of LLC "Alliance-plast" Nikolay Silinov, UP "Polymerkonstruktsiya" Sergey Ivanov, NPC "Spetssistema" Anna Grigoryeva, CJSC "Belpromavtomatika" Grigory Afanasyev, and others.
Igor Alekseev, a lecturer at VSTU invited to the event, proposed supplementing the process of forming an innovation project bank with the organization of a scientific and technical implementation center and involving students in its work to create developments. Talented young people study at the Vitebsk university, and their course and diploma projects are used in many enterprises of the Vitebsk region. The meeting participants supported the initiative, noting that it would be a good support in training future personnel for production.
– In our work, human resources are the most important, but we do not educate youth in the right direction, we do not take schoolchildren on excursions to production, although everything starts with what is seen and impressed, – noted Andrey Sidorov. – I am ready to provide the enterprise as a platform for visits and developments.
The same opinion was expressed by the chairman of the Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs, director of LLC "Allianceplast" Nikolay Silinov:
– Seven years ago, a student from VSTU was sent to me for an internship, today he is the chief engineer. But, unfortunately, there are few such examples. Therefore, students need to cooperate more actively with production workers and gain knowledge not only in the classroom, but also directly in the workshop, design bureau, and marketing department, including in private companies.
The participants were introduced to the production of truck-mounted aerial platforms and lifting equipment organized at the enterprise, and to the activities of the local training center, which retrains workers in such professions as auto mechanic, fitter, welder, mechanic, and others. Association members noted the need to more actively expand cooperative ties and organize more frequent meetings at enterprises for the purpose of experience exchange.
Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"