On December 22, the TASS press center hosted a conference dedicated to the results of the past season of the CASE-IN International Engineering Championship, the implementation of ideas from engineering case studies, and career prospects for project participants at partner companies, as well as the championship's plans for 2026. The event was attended by heads of ministries, project organizers, and partners. The «Russia – Land of Opportunity» project, part of the Presidential Platform, aims to attract talented young people to key economic sectors through practical engineering case studies from leading companies.

For three years in a row, Metropolis has been the initiator and strategic partner of the «Architecture, Design, Construction, and Housing and Utilities» student program, developing it through the championship. Students from leading architecture and construction universities develop promising design solutions, and the authors of the best ideas are given the opportunity to launch their careers at Metropolis offices.

«In 2023, we started with seven universities and four Russian cities. Fifty-two teams and approximately 400 students participated in the competition», – shared Metropolis CEO Alexander Vorozhbitov. «In 2025, the program expanded to include 20 industry-specific universities from 17 Russian cities, from Kaliningrad to Khabarovsk. While 112 teams expressed their intention to compete, only 70% were able to solve the case and participate in the qualifying rounds. Following 12 qualifying rounds, 14 of the best teams from 11 cities across the country advanced to the finals. More than 50 Metropolis experts from various cities and 56 university faculty members participated in all stages».

Metropolis plans to expand its partner pool within this area, emphasized Alexander Vorozhbitov: «The project allows us not only to attract young employees but also to secure the best talent during a period of talent shortage. Currently, approximately 5% of the company's employees are CASE-IN finalists and participants. These young professionals have a significant advantage: they possess a deeper understanding of the company's operations, as well as motivation and initiative, both within Metropolis projects and in external industry projects».

Today, the CASE-IN championship, as part of state policy, helps achieve one of the key objectives: attracting qualified, motivated young professionals to companies, says Mikhail Gusev, Director of Marketing and Analytics for the Presidential Platform «Russia – Land of Opportunity»: «For thirteen seasons, the project has proven its uniqueness and the relevance of its target audiences. Of course, we at the Presidential Platform support projects that deliver high-quality results for those they are designed for – in this case, engineering professions, students, young professionals, and schoolchildren interested in pursuing careers in engineering».

The CASE-IN Championship is an important component of youth outreach and is part of the All-Russian Plan of Youth Events aimed at promoting the fuel and energy sector, energy conservation, construction, and engineering and technical education. As part of this plan, the Russian Ministry of Energy, together with its partners—the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Education, and the Presidential Platform «Russia – Land of Opportunity»—is creating high-quality conditions for career guidance, as well as the professional and career development of the younger generation.

Traditionally, the Student League competitions have become the most popular. Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Petrova noted the scale of university participation in the championship: «Students from more than 150 universities worked on solutions to the Student League cases in 2025. Representatives from 81 universities from Russia and the CIS countries participated in the main season finale, and students from more than 20 universities participated in the Autumn Cup finale. The championship actively collaborates with the higher education system. Thus, 161 universities are willing to award additional Unified State Exam points to School League winners and champions, while 56 Russian universities are offering preferential admissions to master's and doctoral programs to the top participants of the Student League. This university involvement demonstrates CASE-IN's growing popularity among students and recognition of its practical significance».

In 2025, the championship consistently addressed the key objective of engaging talented young people in science and technology, which remains a priority for the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. «The Ministry of Education and Science highly values the CASE-IN championship's contribution to developing young people's professional competencies, shaping the future generation of highly qualified specialists, and promoting engineering education and technical professions. CASE-IN is important not only for the participants but also for the entire industry community. It is at such venues that we develop personnel prepared to implement strategically important projects in key sectors of the Russian economy», emphasized Olga Petrova.

Artem Korolev, Director of the Reliable Shift Foundation and founder of the CASE-IN International Engineering Championship, noted that the championship develops the career and professional trajectories of young people: «In the 13th season of the championship, 20 451 schoolchildren, students, and young professionals solved engineering cases dedicated to the main theme of 'Technological Innovations' and aimed at achieving technological sovereignty and developing the national economy. The tasks for the competitors were developed by industry specialists based on real-life production situations. A total of 271 teams from 10 countries became finalists in the main season and the Autumn Cup».

The main goal for 2026 is to increase these figures and the proportion of young people participating in projects training highly qualified engineering personnel. «We will expand the tools that support the refinement and implementation of innovative solutions in real-life production and regional development strategies», he added.

Artem Korolev announced the main theme of the new 14th season: «Technologies of the Future». According to him, the 2026 championship will be aimed at fulfilling one of the key goals outlined in the Concept of Technological Development of Russia until 2030 – achieving technological sovereignty.

One of the most popular areas of the CASE-IN championship is the electric power industry. With the support of System Operator of the Unified Energy System of Russia JSC, students from 30 universities have participated annually since 2015.

«Every year, a case is developed on a relevant topic, with the participation of our specialists. In 2025, we asked the participants to develop and implement technological innovations in priority areas of the Unified Energy System of Russia's development, assessing the technical and economic impact and the rate at which the proposed solution will strengthen Russia's position in the global market», emphasized Bayrta Perveeva, Member of the Management Board and HR Director of System Operator of the Unified Energy System JSC. «We strongly encourage the participation of students from our external talent pool, who often become winners and runners-up at the championship. This year is no exception: for the second year in a row, students from our partner university, North Caucasus Federal University, have won gold. It is gratifying that these students are considering the System Operator as a future career destination. I am sure that we will definitely see them again both in the Young Professionals League championship and at our scientific conferences».

For ALROSA, participation in CASE-IN is a strategic investment, according to Natalia Petukhova, Head of HR Recruitment and Development. She notes that the championship engages students in solving pressing problems, develops current young professionals, and contributes to the development of Russia's engineering elite.

«We carefully and thoroughly examine every decision made by the championship participants», she added. «If an idea is truly interesting, original, and applicable, we are ready to consider its implementation. We value students' initiative and creativity and strive to support their desire for development».

In 2025, students worked on a case study in the Biotechnology category for the first time. Andrey Glazkov, Head of HR at Tatneft PJSC, noted that the decision to support the championship was driven by the current challenges facing industry and aimed at finding innovative ways to achieve sustainable development.

«The participants were asked to develop a technology for converting carbon dioxide into commercially viable products», Andrey Glazkov explained the case study. «The key requirement was to create a carbon-neutral cycle that would not only reduce environmental impact but also create additional economic value. This assignment helped the students develop comprehensive professional skills. They learned to combine technological solutions with economic calculations and strategic planning. We were positively impressed by the level of preparation and engagement of the participants this season. The teams demonstrated not only a deep understanding of the technical aspects of the issue but also a mature, responsible approach to the solution».

Registration for the 14th season of the CASE-IN International Engineering Championship will open in January 2026 on the project's website.