Published on: 2026-07-23
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
There is a huge gap between fundamental research and mass-produced products. Science seeks truth, while manufacturing focuses on profit. Engineers think in terms of physical processes, managers in terms of budgets and deadlines. And these two worlds hardly intersect. But who can correctly define the task for developers, assess the physical risks of a project, and still stay within budget? Such specialists are almost nonexistent in the labor market, which is why many promising developments remain laboratory prototypes and never become products.
A new master’s program, launched this year at the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications of SPbPU, is designed to bridge this gap: “Organization and Management of Research and Development (R&D) in Engineering Physics” (field of study 16.04.01 “Technical Physics”).
“The program trains a new generation of specialists capable of managing the full cycle of high-tech product creation — from fundamental research to implementation in production and commercialization. This is not just another master’s program, but training specialists who understand the physics of processes and at the same time master project management tools: they know how to calculate project budgets, meet deadlines, forecast market demand, assess risks, and set tasks for developers competently.” — says the Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova.
Graduates of the program integrate fundamental knowledge in engineering physics and nanotechnology with competencies in project management, economics, and industrial marketing. No detachment from reality — only the connection between science and business.
The program is based on the traditions of the St. Petersburg school of instrumentation and technical physics. The key task is to teach you to think like a leader: to keep the physics of processes in mind, to make decisions on which the success of the entire project depends, and to see the connection between laboratory experiments and market products. The program will be equally useful for those who see their future in large industrial corporations and for those who plan to develop in fundamental science. The only difference lies in the scale of the tasks.
“We train specialists who speak the language of fundamental physics and at the same time understand the logic and needs of industrial partners. Our task is to eliminate the gap between science and production. The interest in the program is huge: we are approached not only by graduates from engineering fields but also by theoretical physicists who want to complement their knowledge with managerial competencies.” — comments the head of the master’s program, deputy director for educational activities of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Engineering and Physics Maksim Vinnichenko.
An important advantage of the program is the dual qualification: graduates will receive a master’s degree diploma in technical physics and a professional retraining diploma in project management under the program “High-tech Project Management.”
The managerial component of the program is provided by the Graduate School of Production Management of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade.
“By studying in this program, students gain knowledge on organizational and economic issues necessary for effective management in the high-tech sector. This is a great opportunity to acquire a second qualification for career development”. — emphasizes Olga Kalinina, director of the Higher School of Production Management.
During the course of their studies, master’s students:
- will master advanced methods of the physics of functional materials, technological processes, and diagnostics;
- will study business planning, risk management, industrial marketing, and production logistics;
- will work on real tasks from industry partners;
- will build a project portfolio before obtaining the diploma.
Graduates of the program are in demand for key positions in high-tech companies — from research engineers to heads of R&D projects. They will be able to work in microelectronics, photonics, quantum technologies, and other advanced fields where the future of Russian science and industry is being decided today.
Julia Andzhanovskaya, Chief Technologist for Organic Dielectrics at Elcod, supported the concept of the program and especially emphasized the combination of imparted economic and managerial skills with classical education in technical physics: “We require young specialists who already possess basic management skills and are familiar with the realities of domestic high-tech production. This will serve as a reliable foundation for joint work.”
Detailed information about the program.
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