Sistema JSFC Acquainted with Products of Boreskov Institute of Catalysis

The representatives of Boreskov Institute of Catalysis and Sistema JSFC discussed the capacities for collaboration. Sistema is interested in the products of the Institute that are close to the phase of introduction into industry.

Artyom Zasurski, Sistema Vice-President on Strategy and Development, noted that in the current situation, when the supply chains in many industries have been broken, to support them it is more important than ever to develop interaction with the scientific community.

“Sistema JSFC is something like a copy of the country, since we are present in nearly any industry, from telecommunications to wheat. For decades we’ve been spoiled by the open trade and possibility to choose where it would be cheaper and simpler. Now the situation has changed. The majority of the problems are solved with the use of high-tech products and solutions, but not all technologies are available and sufficiently developed. Now our task is to understand which domestic technologies are close to the stage of realization, and which of them we can use fast. We are interested in practically everything – pharmaceuticals, hydrogen energetics, electronics”, he noted.

According to his words, Sistema JSFC could become a commercial platform for Boreskov Institute of Catalysis and help to bring its mature products to the final lap. There is a number of directions that are of interest for the company now, including hydrogen energetics.

“Now we begin our tentative steps in this direction, since the market of hydrogen energetics is poorly formed and uses only 5-10% of its capacity”, explained Zasurski.

Director of Boreskov Institute of Catalysis (BIC), Academician Valerii Bukhtiyarov briefly presented the history of the Institute and its affiliated departments, noting that BIC has always seek for industrial introduction of research products.

“Initially our Institute was aimed at the development of practical solutions, although the fundamental research has always been the basic for work of the Institute of Catalysis. We never wanted to stop at the laboratory level”, he said.

According to Valerii Bukhtiyarov, there are always certain difficulties in scaling technologies from laboratory to the industrial level. In this context he noted the importance of such new form of interaction of science and business as complex science and technology project (CSTP) of full innovative cycle.

“CSTP is a new format of collaboration of business and science, which is being developed by the Russian Government. Our first CSTP “Petrochemical cluster” is signed, and we will do it with our industrial partners and research colleagues from Omsk, Moscow, Pskov, and Nalchik”, he said.

Head of the Competence Center of the National Technological Initiative “Hydrogen as Basis for Low-Carbon Economy” established in Boreskov Institute of Catalysis by the end of 2021 Pavel Snytnikov told about the developments of the Center and its capacities.

“The Consortium of the Center unites ten research organizations, 13 universities, and ten industrial companies, including two catalyst plants, PAO “Tatneft”, that is, it presents the developers, manufacturers, and consumers of catalysts. Today the complex program in the area of development of hydrogen technologies in Russia is being corrected due to the changes in geopolitical situation. A certain reset of purposes and tasks is necessary. Nevertheless, we have already launched first projects within the framework of our NTI Center. For example, the project on cryogenic liquefaction of hydrogen with ortho-para-conversion. Besides, we have initiated the work on catalysts for hydrogen production. Now, considering the new demands, we can enhance the program of the NTI Center with new tasks on development of the whole line of catalysts for manufacturing, storage, and transportation of hydrogen”, Pavel Snytnikov said.

Sistema JSFC is a public Russian investment company with diversified portfolio of assets in such industries as telecommunications, high technologies, bank services, retail business, electronic commerce, timber processing, agriculture, real estate, tourism, and medicine services. The company was founded in 1993. Its net sales in 2021 reached 802.4 bln rubles, total assets made 1.8 trln rubles by December 31, 2021.