Development and Digitalization: Helping Students Launch Innovative Agri-Businesses
Novosibirsk State Agrarian University is running the “InfoBioTech” accelerator program, preparing teams of specialists for Russia’s fast-growing high-tech agrifood sector and turning research ideas into market-ready solutions.
Supporting Teams and Initiatives
Novosibirsk State Agrarian University (NSAU) is tackling one of the most urgent challenges: training the workforce for Russia’s rapidly expanding high-tech agribusiness sector. The university has launched the fourth season of the “InfoBioTech” accelerator, an innovation program that helps transform scientific ideas into competitive technological solutions.
The program supports technical teams and initiatives in advanced agri-biotech, digital tools, and solutions for farming. A key component is a series of educational courses designed to enhance entrepreneurial skills and business competencies of university graduates.
Running from September to December 2025, “InfoBioTech” combines lectures and hands-on sessions based on the Lean Startup methodology—“Build-Measure-Learn.” Participants continuously test their hypotheses and refine prototypes with real user feedback, ensuring that new products address genuine market needs and reducing wasted time and resources on unviable projects.
Learning Through Practice
The training emphasizes practical experience from agrifood leaders. Participants analyze real business cases, compete in applied problem-solving, and engage in R&D projects. Experienced mentors deliver workshops on economic development and intellectual property rights protection.
The program covers a broad spectrum of modern agrifood technologies:
— digital and high-efficiency farming;
— sustainable and organic crop production;
— drones for agriculture;
— plant and animal breeding and genetics;
— veterinary innovations and functional food development.
From Ideas to Marketable Products
Each team receives personalized support through regular mentoring sessions, engineering workshops, and discussions with industry experts.
Leading partners—including the Skolkovo Foundation, Akademgorodok Tech Park, and the Novosibirsk State University Student Innovation Hub—are collaborating with the accelerator.
By the program’s conclusion, participants will present their projects to the agribusiness market. Some may deliver minimum viable products (MVPs), attracting early users and competing in Russia’s “Student Startup” contest. This offers access to funding from the Novosibirsk Innovation Fund and the world-class Siberian Biotech Research and Education Center (SibBioREC).
The Startup Journey
In just three months, participants in “InfoBioTech” complete the full startup cycle—from concept to prototype. Importantly, they gain not only knowledge and prizes but also a real opportunity to launch their own high-tech agri-startup with the support of leading Russian experts.
Similar programs are already embedded in Russia’s innovation ecosystem. Skolkovo Tech Park runs a pre-accelerator for early-stage startups in AI, industrial design, robotics, biomedicine, and IT. Meanwhile, the Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) operates one of Russia’s largest accelerators for tech startups and online businesses.
Novosibirsk is becoming a focal point for attracting innovation and entrepreneurial talent, while building agritech ecosystems. The region benefits from new high-tech jobs, advanced competencies, and technologies that spill over into multiple industries across the economy.
In the long term, programs like “InfoBioTech” are proving to be vital instruments for fostering regional innovation and supporting the growth of Russia’s agrifood sector.
