On October 6, a working meeting of the KNRTU leadership with representatives of Yokogawa Electric CIS took place. The topic of the meeting was the prospects for further cooperation. The Japanese company was represented by Aleksey Anokhin, director of the Kazan branch; Denis Ryzhov, director of the Solutions Center; Radik Kayumov, director of the Nizhnekamsk branch. The parties discussed an interesting project - the creation of a new joint laboratory.

KNRTU and Yokogawa have been successfully cooperating for over 20 years. The interaction of partners helps not only to exchange ideas and technologies, but also to implement joint educational projects, to conduct scientific research on the latest equipment. In September 2011, with the participation of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the president of Yokogawa Electric Shuzo Kaihori, the Automation and Control Systems for Technological Processes training laboratory, equipped with a lecture hall with a network of computers for remote simulation of processes using OmegaLand software, was inaugurated at our university. Using laboratory capabilities increased the level of knowledge of students on the principles of construction, composition, hardware and software of automated control systems for technological processes complexes.

Rustam Nurgaliev, director of the Institute of Management, Automation and Information Technologies of KNRTU, outlined the urgent tasks of cooperation. Rustam Nurgaliev said, «It's time to take the next step and bring the existing laboratory to a new level by creating a software and hardware complex on its basis. This is already a new level of knowledge about the functioning of a modern digital enterprise. Not only new software is required, but also competent practice-oriented personnel. We have many talented students who can be carried away by this topic. The task is to continue their research activities at the university after completing their studies».

It is supposed to create a Digital Control Systems laboratory on the basis of the Modern Systems of Automation of Technological Processes existing center, focused on the study of digital control systems of modern technological complexes.

During the meeting, the parties clarified their mutual intentions, agreed on a common vector for further development of cooperation. The next step within the framework of the agreements is the formation of a «road map» and joint development of a project for a new laboratory.

Competitions of automation projects will be held annually for students and graduate students, and refresher courses for academic staff. The university will ensure the implementation of master's programs focused on the study of digital control systems for technological processes; provide the educational process with a material base.

The meeting participants are sure that the creation of a new laboratory should become a major breakthrough, which will significantly increase the competitiveness of KNRTU in terms of training highly qualified specialists for the petrochemical sector of the economy.