Arctic Servers: 'Smart Campus' Project Unveiled in Arkhangelsk
At the 'Arctic – Regions' forum, Sitronics Group introduced a unified digital platform designed to transform the educational environment through smart infrastructure.
Infrastructure for the 21st Century
The presentation took place on August 1, 2025, in Arkhangelsk. The 'Smart Campus' initiative goes beyond just assembling modern tools—it’s a fully-fledged digital ecosystem that brings together hardware, IT systems, digital services, and integrated platforms into a cohesive and secure educational space.
The project is aligned with Russia’s new Federal Standard for Innovative Campus Infrastructure, which was approved on May 8, 2024. This standard serves as the backbone for sweeping digital transformations in universities and research institutions across the country.
Implemented in partnership with the Etalon Concessions Alliance, the Smart Campus project is already underway in several pilot cities, including Arkhangelsk, Perm, Tyumen, and Ufa. These cities are laying the foundation for a 21st-century infrastructure.
Each Smart Campus design, including the flagship site in Arkhangelsk, incorporates key features such as situational monitoring centers, advanced networking, video surveillance systems, and multimedia equipment for classrooms and laboratories. A dedicated data center provides the computational power needed for scientific research.
Equally important is the development of services that support collaboration between campus residents. These include enhanced lab services, commercialization of scientific work, and mechanisms to attract external funding.
A Nationwide Network
Over the next few years, the Smart Campus platform is expected to scale nationwide as part of the federal initiative to build a modern campus network. The success of pilot sites in Arkhangelsk, Perm, Ufa, and Tyumen underscores the platform’s effectiveness and its potential for rapid replication in other regions. Global expansion is also on the table, particularly in CIS countries, Africa, and Asia, pending local adaptation.
Looking ahead, artificial intelligence will play a pivotal role. According to Maxim Buynovsky, Project Director at Sitronics Group, “One of our key development goals is implementing AI-based recommendation systems built on synchronized data and integrated with research databases and neural networks. This will significantly enhance the efficiency of research and education, personalize learning paths, and accelerate knowledge discovery.”
Future applications of AI will include predictive analytics, adaptive learning programs, automated research workflows, and support for innovation ecosystems. The vision includes integration with broader smart infrastructure—ranging from smart city platforms to EV charging stations, data centers, and sports complexes.
Toward Full Integration
Sitronics Group has evolved from offering isolated digital tools to developing a comprehensive, integrated ecosystem. At the 2024 Infotech Expo in Tyumen, the company showcased AI-based solutions for urban infrastructure, covering both education and sports facilities. That same year, at the Smart City forum in Perm, Sitronics unveiled models and digital portfolios for future campuses.
Since early 2024, a number of projects have taken shape under the new federal standard. These include orientation services for students, shared scheduling systems, innovation marketplaces, and other tools aimed at improving educational efficiency. At the same time, smart city infrastructure—video surveillance, drone ports, charging stations, and transit hubs—has been developing in parallel as part of the broader ecosystem.
The Smart Campus initiative stands as a testament to the maturity of Russia’s digital ecosystem. It unites domestic hardware, software, services, and integration technologies into a single solution, demonstrating the country’s capacity to create complex digital products with broad societal impact.
