OSAKA, Japan – The International Exhibition for Young Inventors (IEYI), showcasing the talents of young innovators from around the globe, has commenced at the Wasse Exhibition Center, part of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. This year, a delegation of Russian schoolchildren is participating, presenting 10 of their most promising technical solutions developed in Moscow and other Russian cities.
Established in 2004 in Tokyo by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII), IEYI has since been hosted in various countries including Vietnam, India, Indonesia, China (including Taiwan), Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Japan. During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023, the exhibition transitioned to an online format. This year`s event gathers students from 13 nations, with Russia among them.
“We are truly nervous before our presentation, as this means a lot to us. But we are also ready! Our prototypes are excellent, and we have handouts that will help people learn even more about our project. We are excited, energized, and ready to win!” stated Anastasia Suchko from Norilsk, a co-developer of a project designed to help visually impaired individuals appreciate art.
Alexander Belyaev, another co-creator, noted that the projects on display demonstrate how many young people “are contemplating issues that are not visible to ordinary passersby.” Anna Rodionova, presenting her coffee sommelier project, emphasized the significance of such events for fostering international communication and project discussion among participants.
Russian young inventors first participated in IEYI in 2017, facilitated by the law firm `Gorodissky and Partners,` which received an invitation from the Japan Institute and coordinated the Russian delegation. The `Technopol` group of companies, the official national delegate for IEYI in Russia, annually organizes the Russian team`s participation. In the 2024 exhibition, Russian schoolchildren achieved considerable success, securing 4 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals.
This year, the IEYI technical solutions were selected from nearly 100 projects submitted from 21 cities across Russia. Following a national selection process, Russian schoolchildren will showcase 10 projects at the international exhibition.
Featured Projects by Russian Innovators
SmartSpray Project
Alexander Sukhotsky from the Center for Technical Education at GBOU `Vorobyovy Gory` in Moscow will present `SmartSpray,` a precise plant spraying system that identifies weeds in real-time and applies herbicides selectively. Nikita Simakov, also from `Vorobyovy Gory,` will showcase his `Autonomous System for Climate Parameter and CO2 Concentration Control in Premises.` This system maintains humidity and carbon dioxide levels by regulating fresh air intake.
SMART `TorfoTrak` and Robotics in Sports
Victoria Kopysheva, Vadim Fesenko, and Ivan Vorontsov from the Abrukov House of Scientific Collaboration in Cheboksary have brought `SMART `TorfoTrak,` an unmanned system for safe peat extraction. Nikita Nazarov from Moscow School No. 354 named after D.M. Karbyshev will introduce his `Table Tennis Robot Coach.` This robot assists athletes in practicing various strokes and serves, tracks statistics, and creates adaptive training sessions.
YONEXBOT and Coffee Innovation
Another sports-related innovation is `YONEXBOT,` presented by Tikhon Palas from `Znayka` private secondary school in Moscow. This robot is designed to collect badminton shuttlecocks on the court.
Coffee enthusiasts may be intrigued by Anna Rodionova`s project from Moscow School No. 444. Her `Automated Device for Creating Individual Coffee Blends` crafts unique beverage tastes for each person by mixing different coffee varieties based on acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and aftertaste.
Accessible Art and Practical Solutions
The `Feel the Art` system, co-developed by Anastasia Suchko and Alexander Belyaev from Norilsk Secondary School No. 1 and Moscow School No. 1554, aims to help visually and hearing-impaired individuals experience art through touch and sound. This project features a dynamic bas-relief with movable tactile elements and touch recognition technology, while software provides an audio description of the touched area.
Oleg Andreychuk and Tikhon Ordinat from Secondary School No. 47 in Chita and Moscow School `Pokrovsky Kvartal` will present `Dry Wind,` an automatic system for contactless shoe sole cleaning.
Ayusha Gotopov from MAOU `Aginskaya Okruzhnaya Gymnasium-Boarding School` in Aginskoye, Zabaykalsky Krai, will display `Cold Engine,` a circulating nanotech cooling system for internal combustion engines.
The final project for this year`s exhibition is `Algae-based Plastic` by Denis Gordeev from MAOU `Samara Medical and Technical Lyceum.` This polymer, developed by the Russian student, primarily consists of carrageenan and zosterin, derived from natural materials, making the resulting plastic biodegradable.
Judging and Exhibition Details
The projects at the exhibition will be evaluated by an international jury based on over 12 criteria, including creativity, functionality, application of physical laws, market demand, patentability, environmental friendliness, and more. Yuri Kuznetsov, a senior partner at `Gorodissky and Partners` and a Russian and Eurasian patent attorney, will serve as an expert on the international jury from Russia. The International Exhibition for Young Inventors in Osaka, Japan, will run until August 8th. A cultural program, featuring a performance by the Russian dance group `DanCo,` will also be held during IEYI.
