Delegation of Trimble Inc. at Kazan University
The team visited on March 1st – 2nd to tour the facilities and find out about cooperation opportunities.
The guests, among other things, were at the Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies where they witnessed the everyday working process at the 3D Geo Center (a KFU-Schlumberger joint project). An agreement was reached to create a similar center with Trimble in 2017, tentatively called "Trimble University".
Rector Ilshat Gafurov told the guests that Tatarstan is known for its hydrocarbon industry. The University is actively engaged in relevant research, and annual financing for this area amounts to 300 million rubles. The recent technology exchange limitations imposed by some countries were actually to the benefit of the University. A new catalyst project was launched, and the factory (managed jointly with NKNK) now produces 2,400 tons of catalysts a year. The plan is to rise to 5,000 tons a year. Thus, NKNK's demand for catalysts is now fully covered, except for polymerization catalysts.
The Rector also touched on the University's general growth strategy. He talked about the planned merger with Almetyevsk State Petroleum Institute, the one that will serve as yet another technology transfer base for the local industry. The most attractive cooperation format, as he said, are joint research centers with industry leaders, the ones like the upcoming Rohde & Schwarz center scheduled for opening in 2017.
Trimble has been on the positioning and navigation market for 36 years. The company started its cooperation with KFU in the early 1990s, its equipment has been in use at the Institute of Physics.
Vice-President of Trimble Chris Gibson, in his turn, said that the company is glad to provide guidance to the KFU students. Trimble has something to offer both in the academic process and in industrial cooperation, specifically in petroleum industry and construction.
The two sides will work on a comprehensive agreement to move further in their contacts. Trimble may also make suggestions in architecture and construction curricula with involvement from KFU IT experts – the company is known for its augmented reality research.
