Smart Reporting: Sberbank and Ural Universities Forge AI Education Partnerships
At Innoprom 2025, Sberbank inked collaboration agreements with the top universities of Russia’s Ural Federal District—bringing AI into classrooms, labs, and beyond to build the next generation of digital‑economy talent
AI in Schools and Universities
At the international “Innoprom 2025” forum, Sberbank signed partnership agreements with Ural Federal University (UrFU), Ural State Pedagogical University, Ural State University of Railway Transport, Ural State University of Architecture and Arts, and the Institute for Education Development. This initiative extends beyond higher education: a network of secondary schools in Sverdlovsk Oblast will also join the program.
For undergraduates, these partnerships mean hands‑on experience with neural networks and AI toolkits; for teachers and schoolchildren, it unlocks remote platforms and interactive learning instruments. In turn, the Ural region positions itself as a magnet for high‑tech investment by showcasing a robust pipeline of engineering, IT, pedagogical, and architectural specialists groomed for the demands of the digital economy.
Technology as a Lifeline
Sberbank’s collaboration isn’t limited to the Urals. Through its AI360 program—launched in partnership with Yandex and implemented at ITMO, MIPT, HSE, and Innopolis University—the bank has already established Russia’s first higher‑education curriculum for aspiring AI architects and researchers.
Meanwhile, SberUniversity and SberDevices are exploring voice‑ and chat‑based AI for educational use cases, and last November Sberbank opened a regional AI research center to support local universities.
In 2024–2025, UrFU began embedding generative AI across its entire curriculum.
Building a Sustainable Talent Pipeline
Looking ahead, the Ural AI initiative plans to launch online master’s programs, pilot AI‑assistant projects, and scale these practices down to secondary education. Over the next three to five years, the region aims to cultivate a qualified talent pool capable of powering a full‑scale digital economy. In the long run, the Ural Federal District could emerge as a global educational hub for AI solutions—exporting methodologies and technologies far beyond Russia’s borders.
