Nizhny Novgorod IT University has won a grant from the Russian Science Foundation for the first time.

      April 8, 2026 21:32 ScienceNizhny Novgorod IT University "Neimark" has become the first winner of the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) competition.

      Support was received for the project of Senior Researcher at the Center for Neuromorphic Computing Nikita Grigoryev titled "Studying the Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Brain Neural Networks for Cognitive Aging Rehabilitation Systems."

      An IT campus is being created in the Nizhny Novgorod region as part of the federal project "Creating a Network of Modern Campuses" of the national project "Youth and Children." The national project is being implemented in Russia at the direction of President Vladimir Putin.

      This is the first RSF grant in the history of the university. The project is dedicated to studying how non-invasive effects on specific areas of the brain can be used to support cognitive functions and reaction speed with age. The grant support amounts to 21 million rubles, along with additional funding of 14 million rubles.

      "Support for such projects is of great importance for the development of the scientific and technological agenda of the region. It is especially important when serious research results emerge from a young university that is forming its own scientific teams and developing promising directions at the intersection of science, technology, and education," emphasized Deputy Chair of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Ekaterina Solntseva.

      "The competitions of the Russian Science Foundation are characterized by serious expertise and high competition, so the support for our application is a significant achievement for the IT University in Nizhny Novgorod. This grant will provide additional opportunities for research development, equipment procurement, and student involvement in scientific work," noted the Director of Science at the IT University Alexander Petukhov.

      The research is a continuation of the scientific group's work in the field of neurointerfaces and decision-making processes. Within the framework of the project, scientists will analyze brain activity in people of different ages and assess whether transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used to achieve a sustainable effect in tasks related to cognitive aging.

      "This project for our team is a continuation of significant research work. We hope to clarify how decision-making processes change with age and test whether the developed method can become a basis for supporting cognitive functions in older adults," said Senior Researcher at the Center for Neuromorphic Computing of the Nizhny Novgorod IT University, project leader Nikita Grigoryev.

      In the first phase, researchers will compare brain activity in three age groups during decision-making processes. The second phase will involve stimulating selected brain areas to assess the effect. The third phase will focus on studying the duration of this effect and its potential application in cognitive aging rehabilitation systems.

      Let us remind you that President of Russia Vladimir Putin declared 2022–2031 as the Decade of Science and Technology. Among the main tasks are attracting talented youth to the field of research and development, supporting researchers, and increasing the accessibility of information about the achievements of Russian science.

      Earlier, other Nizhny Novgorod researchers also received RSF grant support. In March 2026, it was reported that two developments by Nizhny Novgorod scientists received support from the foundation totaling 46 million rubles. The research is planned for a three-year cycle — from 2026 to 2028.

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