Nearly 200 new professionals join Sber Robotics Center after joint master’s program with ITMO
Nearly 200 new employees are set to become part of the Sber Robotics Center after the success of a joint corporate master’s program with ITMO. The collaboration between Sberbank and ITMO in the field of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence has been active since 2019, forging a steady path toward advanced research and technology development.
The expanded team is expected to push the boundaries of embodied intelligence, which involves applying artificial intelligence to physical machines. The goal is to foster innovation that could open a new high tech market for service robots within the country and beyond.
Commenting on the partnership, Sberbank Robotics Center emphasized the mutual benefits of the collaboration and expressed enthusiasm for further development. The center highlighted the aim of expanding training for the next generation of ITMO specialists, who will join the center both in the near term and in years to come. This initiative supports ongoing skill-building and practical experience for students and graduates while they complete their studies.
The new program envisions opportunities for internships and joint research projects that will involve undergraduates, graduate students, and ITMO faculty and researchers. The intent is to cultivate a steady pipeline of talent ready to contribute to cutting edge robotics research.
Researchers are focused on creating a universal robot brain and a capable robotic body by deploying a software stack compatible with a variety of mobile platforms and manipulators. This work aims to enable flexible, scalable robot systems that can operate across different environments and tasks.
Interdisciplinary efforts will anchor the convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence. Areas of focus include modern robotic system design, sensor technology and computer vision, control algorithms, and machine learning. ITMO has assembled leading teams in these domains, drawing strength from the Biomechatronics and Energy Efficient Robotics Laboratory among others.
To advance the project, the plan is to recruit up to 200 new professionals for the Sber Robotics Center. The hiring pool will include graduates of ITMO and Sber corporate master’s programs who gain in demand skills through intensive hands-on training while still studying. The selection process will also consider current applicants and future students of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence program as potential contributors.
As part of the partnership with ITMO, Sber intends to enhance the collaborative robotics training system through project-based learning driven by research motivations. The framework will emphasize real-world problem solving and applied projects to strengthen practical competencies for tomorrow’s robotics workforce.
In parallel with expansion plans, the collaboration remains a clear example of how academic partnerships can accelerate innovation and build a talent ecosystem. The collaboration aims to deliver practical outcomes that support both Sber’s strategic robotics goals and ITMO’s mission to cultivate highly capable researchers and engineers. Notable contributions will likely include joint research publications, shared facilities, and iterative technology transfer that benefits both industry and academia. The initiative is expected to position the Sber Robotics Center as a leading hub for intelligent automation in North America and Europe, contributing to global competitiveness and local economic growth.
Source attribution is provided by the participating institutions and corporate communications channels covering the partnership and its ongoing activities. These developments reflect a broader trend toward industry-academia alliances that seek to translate theoretical knowledge into scalable, real-world robotics solutions for everyday use.