Generation of the Bioeconomy: Results of the Year of Work of TechnoLabs "EcoSmart!" with the Support of En+

      June 19, 2026 18:17 Society The winner of the grant competition "Cities with a Plus Sign" En+ summarizes the results of the first year of the TechnoLab project "EcoSmart!". The project fosters a careful attitude among schoolchildren through the creation of innovative hubs that combine waste recycling, electronics, and more. Thus, plastic waste has been transformed into raw materials for the production of school supplies, and high school students have begun to create and conduct innovative lessons themselves. Over the year, a unique ecosystem has been created in the schools of Nizhny Novgorod, where ecology is integrated with robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and biotechnology. Inclusive eco-spaces operate based on three schools, and the winners have also launched a mobile multi-lab for off-site events. The students work with auto-composters, hydroponic farms, bike shredders, and other eco-trainers for recycling major types of waste. The main achievement of the project is that lean technologies have ceased to be just an elective and have transformed into full-fledged interdisciplinary educational modules. "Modern eco-education is no longer just about separate waste collection, but about training personnel for the emerging bioeconomy. Participation in eco-projects gives teenagers real engineering skills," notes Maria Dudoladova, head of the rational nature management and environmental protection service at En+ Teplo Volga. Over the year, students recycled 10 tons of food waste, creating compost and feed additives from it, and grew thousands of trays of microgreens for school bio-laboratories and charitable projects. The project involves 500 schoolchildren. Senior student leaders independently developed and conducted 10 interdisciplinary lessons for 400 younger students. The story of the project began with a home experiment, but it was the partnership with business that allowed it to reach a new level. "Our journey from a local idea to an interregional network began with the first consultations with En+ experts several years ago," shares project leader Ekaterina Leman. "It was En+ that gave us a powerful impetus for scaling, teaching us to package ideas into working social projects. Support within the framework of the grant competition 'Cities with a Plus Sign' allowed us to purchase equipment and integrate lean technologies into the everyday school curriculum. The company acts as a main catalyst, helping to translate high national goals into real daily habits of schoolchildren." Before the grant ends in November 2026, the project team plans to replicate successful practices in new schools and regions. The grant competition "Cities with a Plus Sign" has been held by En+ since 2020. In 2026, the competition started in a new format: for the first time, resources are focused on the development of one municipality - Bratsk in the Irkutsk region. The maximum grant amount has been doubled to up to 10 million rubles. Non-profit, municipal, and state organizations from any region of the country can apply. The application deadline is open until July 31. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+