The results of the competitive selection for the support of programs for the development of world-class scientific centers, held within the framework of the State Program «Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation», have been summed up.

Stavropol State Agrarian University became the initiator of the creation of such a center and the winner of the competitive selection together with the participants of the consortium. The total amount of funding for the development program of the Agroengineering of the Future scientific center for the period up to 2030 is 2.6 billion rubles, including grant funds of 1.9 billion rubles.

In total, more than 40 leading scientific organizations and universities of the Russian Federation applied for a grant on the priorities of scientific and technological development in Russia, and 10 became the winners of the selection. Among the winners of the selection are such key scientific centers for the Russian research and development sector as the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, MEPhI, MIPT, the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology of the FMBA of the Russian Federation and others.

NCMU «Agroengineering of the Future» is being created on the basis of the SSAU jointly with the Central Research Automobile and Motor Engineering Institute NAMI and the Don State Technical University.

As part of the center's development program, key tasks will be completed for use in the production cycles of the agricultural business.:

— development of unmanned mechanized equipment for field cultivation and horticulture,

as well as a wide-range sowing complex;

— creation of equipment and software for greenhouse complexes, which makes it possible to ensure a high-quality level of plant diagnostics in terms of their nutrition, diseases, light control and other mandatory technological operations;

— development of methods and regulations for the application of plant protection products using unmanned aerial vehicles in relation to various crops.

The tasks of scientific projects are of an applied nature and have passed the in-depth expertise of the leading agricultural business.

Winning the competitive selection is a powerful step for the development of Stavropol State Agrarian University, made possible by the personal participation and support of Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut and Governor Vladimir Vladimirovich.

— The victory in the competition is the result of many years of work by the university's scientific school, strategic planning and comprehensive partnership with leading representatives of agribusiness. The center's program was prepared with the methodological support of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. I am grateful for the personal participation of Oksana Nikolaevna Lut, Minister of Agriculture, and Vladimir Vladimirovich Vladimirovich, Governor of the Stavropol Territory. There is a long and responsible path ahead. We are ready for it, said Vladimir Sitnikov, Rector of SSAU.