Moscow Hosts Regional Finals of the Global Competition on Design for Futures: Winners from Russia and Kyrgyzstan Will Head to Beijing
Teams from Russia and Kyrgyzstan will present their innovative projects at the World Finals of the Global Competition on Design for Futures in Beijing, China, this October. They emerged as the winners of the Regional Stage, which saw student teams from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia — specifically Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (the EECA region) — compete for the top spots.
Over 400 students formed teams and pitched projects leveraging artificial intelligence technologies. During the qualifying round, submissions were evaluated against a broad range of criteria, including problem understanding, innovative spirit, technology for good, application potential, presentation quality, and overall expressiveness. In the "AI for Education" track, for instance, participants proposed creating personalized learning environments and student development pathways that integrate pedagogy while placing a strong emphasis on data ethics. In the "AI for Science" track, AI was positioned as a foundational infrastructure tool, automating routine tasks and supporting the entire research lifecycle with a focus on practical implementation. Projects in the "AI for Society" track explored technologies for inclusivity and improved quality of life, designed to assist — not replace — human decision-making, with trust and safety as top priorities.
"This competition reaffirms that at the heart of all transformation is the individual and their knowledge: AI for education creates a personalized environment for that individual; for science, it frees them from routine to pursue new discoveries; and for society, it helps them make sound decisions where trust and safety are paramount. The Investment in the Future Charitable Foundation supports such initiatives because we believe it is these very students who will build the knowledge economy of tomorrow. Their projects demonstrate mature thinking and a readiness to take responsibility for the world around them."
Petr Polozhevets Executive Director of the Investment in the Future Charitable Foundation
Voices of the Winners: The Energy of Creation
Twenty-three teams advanced to the Regional Finals, with 15 presenting solutions in AI for Education, five in AI for Society, and three in AI for Science.
Winner from Russia SixDots
The winning team from Russia is SixDots (Saratov National Research State University named after N. G. Chernyshevsky) with their project "Point of View: An Autonomous Recognition and Translation System of National Braille Standards for Inclusive Education."
Team members:
- Alexandra Shilova (Captain)
- Gnouyarou Kedessina
- Daniil Konin
- Alexander Naumov
- Ksenia Shishkina
The team presented their project in the "AI for Education" track. Their solution addresses a key challenge in pedagogy: it assists teachers and parents working with visually impaired children by converting Braille into standard text. This streamlines a teacher's workflow and allows them to focus on other aspects of instruction. The jury and experts highlighted the project's relevance and meticulous attention to detail.
The SixDots team shared their secret to success:
"Our project is about using Braille in pedagogy. The hardest part was gathering the data, but the most inspiring part was seeing how our model could be used in practice. Participating in the World Finals is our chance to prove that our ideas deserve to win and can be used by millions of people around the world. We're going to win!"
Winner from Kyrgyzstan UMI_TEAM
The second winning team is UMI_TEAM from Kyrgyzstan. Students from the Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University proposed using AI technologies for Society. They developed an online platform called "UMI Navigator" to create convenient and accessible routes for people with mobility impairments, the elderly, and parents with strollers. The platform uses city maps, accounts for challenging road sections, and identifies priority areas for urban infrastructure repairs. Real-time data is provided by users and volunteers who photograph points on the city map, while an integrated AI agent processes the data to generate optimal routes.
Team members:
- Liubov Evseeva (Captain)
- Elina Dumanaeva
- Samuil Ostapiuk
- Veronica Ponomareva
- Mukhammadaziz Zalimov
UMI_TEAM spoke about their collaboration: "We worked on solving the problem of improving urban routes and making them safer for people with limited mobility. It was important for us to create not just an algorithm, but a socially significant product. We thank every team member for their seamless teamwork and our shared belief in victory! We are grateful to the organizers for this initiative and the invitation. The competition shows that the student voice will be heard and that our knowledge is valued and needed by the world."
"The true success of the competition cannot be measured by awards alone. We see how it ignites creativity in participants, fosters collaboration, promotes cultural exchange..." | Prof. GUANGJU CHEN
Special Awards
- Best Design Award — Team Phoenix Factor (Russia) with project AI Career Adviser Ecosystem Project (AI for Education). Team members: Bogdan Fomichev (Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation), Timofey Frolov (HSE University), Nomina Norzhilova (Bauman Moscow State Technical University), Aleksandr Pechul (RTU MIREA), Nikita Silin (Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation).
- Best Practice Award — Team Innovators (Uzbekistan) with project AdaptIES (AI for Education), Jizzakh State Pedagogical University. Team members: Gulro’y Donisheva, Malohat Hasanova, Malika Shavkatjonova.
- Best Presentation Award — Team GAV (Russia) with project GAV - Global Law AI Validator (AI for Society). Team members: Sumbel Abdullina (HSE University – St. Petersburg), Kamila Gubaidullina (HSE University), Arina Vasilyeva (St. Petersburg State University).
- Best Creativity Award — Team Ouatrix (Russia) with project A probabilistic decision support platform for oncology research (AI for Science), Siberian State University of Engineering and Technologies. Team members: Kirill Alekseev, Semyon Bleskin, Dilyara Miklashevich, Dmitry Romanyuta, Daria Shiltsova.
- Most Technologically Impressive Award — Team BULBASHY (Belarus) with project StudyLink (AI for Education), Belarusian State University of Foreign Languages. Team members: Katsiaryna Chypurka, Aliaksei Dubrouka, Aleksei Talash, Kseniya Zemakova.
In the additional special nomination "Will to Win," the following teams were recognized:
- Team Team Nexus IV (Turkmenistan) with project Cross-Pollinate AI (The Synthesis Engine) (AI for Education), International Oil and Gas University. Team members: Meret Begliyev, Vepa Berdiyev, Gorkutata Ovliyakulyyev, Batyr Sazakov.
- Team Nomad Scholars (Kazakhstan) with project Human-Centered AI Ecosystem for Preventive Mental Health in Educational, Work, and Social Environments (AI for Education). Team members: Madina Akitaeva (Kazakh National Women's Teacher Training University), Balbobek Aralova (Yessenov University), Daniya Koshamet (Moscow Financial and Industrial University «Synergy»).
Expert Assessment: A Glimpse into the Global Tomorrow
All jury members praised the high caliber of the submissions, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in education, science, and society.
Elena Gevorkyan, Acting Rector of Moscow City University (MCU), emphasized the pedagogical aspect:
"We are proud that Moscow City University is a partner of this competition. It's crucial to recognize that behind every project is not just technology, but also the tremendous work of mentors. The regional finals have shown that we have a generation capable of critical and project-based thinking."
Mentors, including AI experts from Sberbank, played a significant role in the competition's success. Their mission was to help young professionals unlock their potential and bring their boldest ideas to life. Among those providing technological expertise was Dmitry Bugaychenko, Chief Data Scientist B2C, Sberbank:
"I sincerely thank the organizers for the opportunity to be part of this event. The incredible concentration of young talent, their boundless energy, and enthusiasm were truly contagious. I deeply hope that the participants' ideas will not only receive high praise but will also make their way into the world, changing how we see education and science and creating even more opportunities for a sustainable future."
Ivan Kuzmin, Vice President, Head of Data and Recommendation Platform, Sberbank:
"The most valuable aspect of such competitions is witnessing the moment of transformation when an abstract idea takes on a concrete form and structure, becoming a real technology. It's striking to see the participants' willingness to tackle complex topics and find bold AI-driven solutions. I am confident that many of these ideas will soon become a reality."
International Scope
The Global Competition on Design for Futures (GCD4F) has been held annually since 2018. It is an international educational initiative launched by Beijing Normal University in partnership with UNESCO IITE to empower young talents to explore, design, and shape a sustainable future through technology, creativity, and collaboration. The EECA Regional Phase was held for the first time in 2026. It was organized by the Investment in the Future Charitable Foundation, with Moscow City University as a partner. The competition served as a unique platform for young talent from across Eurasia, uniting them in their shared goal of building a sustainable future by integrating technology into education, science, and society.
Prof. Guangju Chen, Vice Dean of the Smart Learning Institute of BNU, Chair of the GCD4F Steering Committee: "The true success of the competition cannot be measured by awards alone. We see how it ignites creativity in participants, fosters collaboration, promotes cultural exchange, and provides the tools — professional knowledge, technology, and design thinking — to build the future."
The final competition will take place in Beijing in October. Stay tuned for updates on the Foundation's website and the project's VKontakte social media page.
About the Foundation
The Investment in the Future Charitable Foundation is dedicated to fostering the development of the social sphere in response to contemporary challenges. Its programs and projects create opportunities and conditions for developing personal potential, 21st-century skills, and new literacies among young people and educators across Russia. The Foundation also works to ensure an effective and sustainable support system in Russia for practices that help children with orphanage experience and developmental disabilities acquire the skills necessary for an independent and dignified life.
About MCU
Moscow City University (MCU) is a leading pedagogical university in Russia, a long-standing and reliable partner of the Investment in the Future Charitable Foundation, and a participant in the Priority-2030 strategic academic leadership program. At the end of 2025, MCU entered the top 20 universities in the main track, becoming the only pedagogical university in the country to improve its ranking. MCU consistently ranks first among Russian public universities in terms of admission quality and is featured in the QS, Forbes, and RAEX rankings. The university has significant experience in implementing international educational and research projects, including those in the field of artificial intelligence, and is actively developing academic mobility and programs for international students.
About the Competition
The Global Competition on Design for Futures (GCD4F) has been held annually since 2018 by Beijing Normal University in partnership with UNESCO IITE and leading international organizations, academic institutions, and technology companies.
*Some of the links provided are available only in Russian, from either internal or external sources.