"Chemistry Day" was held for Nizhny Novgorod students and schoolchildren.

      On April 14, 2026, at 17:58 Science About 400 students from Nizhny Novgorod universities, colleges, and high school seniors participated in the event "Chemistry Day: Education, Career, Production," organized by the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation in collaboration with N.N. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University. Since 2025, a national project "Personnel" has been in effect in Russia by the order of President Vladimir Putin. Its goal is to create conditions for the development of human potential and to form a competitive personnel reserve. Also, within the framework of the national project, a federal project "Labor Man" has been launched, aimed at increasing the prestige of working professions. At the same time, the training of qualified specialists in the field of chemistry in specialized universities and technical schools corresponds to the goals of the national project "New Materials and Chemistry."

      The panel discussion "New Materials and Chemistry: Personnel, Technologies, Industry of the Future" featured Deputy Chair of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government Ekaterina Solntseva, General Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation Igor Ishchenko, Rector of N.N. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University Oleg Trofimov, Vice President of the Russian Union of Chemists Dmitry Ogorodtsev, leading research engineer of the company "RusSilica," and N.N. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University graduate Sofia Burova.

      Participants discussed the role of the chemical industry in the technological development of the country, the staffing needs of modern enterprises, issues of forming educational programs, the connection between science and production, as well as the role of the special economic zone (SEZ) "Kulibin" in the region's chemical industry. "The chemical industry is one of the most dynamically developing sectors of the economy, where science and production have always been closely linked. Young specialists now have the opportunity to start their career path in such a prestigious field literally from the student bench, as enterprises and educational institutions in the region create comfortable conditions for combining study and work," noted Ekaterina Solntseva.

      Throughout the day, students could familiarize themselves with vacancies and internships in Nizhny Novgorod chemical companies, with 13 enterprises presenting their stands. A separate block of the SEZ "Kulibin" was also operational, where attendees could learn about resident companies, solve real production cases, and participate in a quiz dedicated to the site. "More than half of the residents of our special economic zone operate in the field of chemistry and petrochemistry, so we closely cooperate with specialized educational institutions in the region. I have no doubt that today's event was beneficial for both students, who were able to meet and communicate with potential employers in person, and for employers who presented their enterprises to promising young specialists," said Igor Ishchenko, General Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation – the managing company of the SEZ "Kulibin."

      In addition, a round table on the topic "Personnel for Chemistry: How to Attract and Retain Youth in the Chemical Industry" was held at the event site. Representatives of Nizhny Novgorod chemical companies and educational institutions, together with students, discussed support measures for young specialists in the region and their development paths, as well as practices for attracting young employees to industrial enterprises. "Chemistry is a history that we rightfully pride ourselves on. It is here in Nizhny Novgorod that the famous school of high-purity chemistry originated. Its founder, Academician Grigory Grigoryevich Devyatykh, headed the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at our university for many years. He and many other outstanding Nizhny Novgorod chemists have shown how fundamental science can and should respond to the challenges of our time. The strong foundation laid by our predecessors has allowed us to make chemistry one of the most important pillars of the university's development. As part of the "Priority-2030" program, we are implementing a strategic project "New Materials for High-Tech Productions." Its goal is to provide the country with the substances on which industry, medicine, electronics, and security depend. We are working on a number of in-demand areas. The largest chemical companies are our partners. Even today, our developments meet about five percent of Russia's needs for critically important materials for microelectronics," emphasized Oleg Trofimov.

      "The chemical industry is a strategically important sector not only for Dzerzhinsk but for the entire Nizhny Novgorod region. Already today, the special economic zone "Kulibin" is a point of attraction for high-tech productions and talented young specialists. It is important that high school students and university students can not only learn about vacancies but also communicate with employers in person and learn about the work from the inside. The task of the regional authorities is to create conditions so that graduates of Nizhny Novgorod universities remain in the region, and enterprises receive qualified chemists, technologists, and engineers. We are doing this through support for targeted training, internships, and building a dialogue between authorities, business, and education. I am confident that Chemistry Day will help many students determine their future profession," noted the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region (United Russia faction) Yevgeny Lyulin.

      For his part, Dmitry Ogorodtsev noted the role of the chemical industry in the technological development of the country and the region. "We need people who can think and do, who are not afraid of difficulties on the way to results. We need a team that understands that technological sovereignty is the foundation of a strong and prosperous state. Chemistry is not just a profession. It is a way of thinking of a person who is changing the world for the better," he concluded.

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