The Brain of Industrial Automation: NSTU Moves Toward Technological Sovereignty

From Prototypes to Real Solutions

Russian science is increasingly demonstrating its ability to move from theoretical research to practical developments demanded by industry. A recent achievement of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University (NSTU) clearly illustrates this: the creation and official registration of a microchip topology for systems based on EtherCAT – one of the leading real-time industrial protocols. This step is not merely an academic milestone but a substantial contribution to the country’s technological sovereignty.

EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) is the “language” through which machines, robots and control systems communicate in modern industrial environments. It ensures ultra-fast data transfer with minimal latency, which is critical for accuracy and reliability in automated processes. Until now, key components for such systems were mainly imported. Russia now has its own patented microchip topology – the foundation for future domestically produced chips for this ecosystem.

Why It Matters Right Now

In the context of sanctions and active import-substitution policies, NSTU’s development takes on strategic importance. Creating a microchip for EtherCAT is not simply a replacement for a foreign analogue. It enables an independent, predictable and controllable supply chain for Russian industry. Enterprises gain an opportunity to lower costs, simplify technical support and avoid risks associated with external constraints.

The one who walks the path will master it. There have been such examples in our history. It is enough to recall the most vivid – the nuclear and space projects. In our country people like to write various concepts and strategies up to year N. Of course, they are necessary, but when it comes specifically to microelectronics, it seems to me that now we must act as quickly as possible: define project participants, establish clear roadmaps, assign specific tasks to each with deadlines and mandatory accountability for execution. Then everything should work out for us

Alexander Stempkovsky

Scientific Director of the Institute for Design Problems in Microelectronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician

Moreover, the domestic microchip may serve as a foundation for controllers, interface modules and other devices compatible with the global standard but produced in Russia. This opens the way for modernizing machinery manufacturing, energy systems, robotics and other high-tech sectors without relying on foreign suppliers.

The University as an Innovation Center

The chip design is not an accidental success but a logical result of NSTU’s systematic work. In recent years, the university has steadily evolved from an educational institution into a technological leader. In July 2025, it received a Eurasian patent for an AI system for monitoring the quality of 3D-printed metal parts. In September of the same year, it secured a patent for a turning block with predictive diagnostics for machine tools. Most recently, it patented a superconducting detector based on hafnium and palladium for high-precision measurements.

This succession of patents indicates that NSTU is establishing a stable trend toward practical, implementation-ready solutions. The university not only generates ideas but also ensures their legal and technological protection – an essential condition for subsequent commercialization.

What Comes Next: From Lab to Production

The new microchip has significant potential for both domestic and international markets. Within Russia, its application may extend across dozens of enterprises pursuing digital transformation. If the topology proves competitive in price and reliability, it may underpin a series of Russian industrial controllers.

Export potential is, of course, limited due to geopolitical factors and strong global competition. Yet with international certifications and strategic positioning (for example, as a solution for “independent automation”), the Russian microchip could find a niche abroad, particularly in friendly countries.

Equally important is the educational effect. NSTU students can now learn not from abstract examples but from real, patent-protected projects and participate in their refinement and deployment. This increases the university’s attractiveness and forms a new generation of engineers who think in terms of products rather than formulas.

Technological Independence Begins with a Microchip

Registering a microchip topology for EtherCAT systems is a symbolic yet substantial step toward Russia’s technological independence. It demonstrates that domestic universities can not only participate in scientific competition but also deliver solutions demanded by industry. At a time when each microchip can become an element of national security, such developments acquire significance that extends far beyond laboratory walls.