U.S. Department of Energy and Moscow-based LUXOFT Announce Successful Partnership Aimed at Harnessing Former Soviet Scientists Talent
Sep 23, 2002
SEATTLE - September 23, 2002 -LUXOFT, a leading Russian software development company and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy announce the continuation of their partnership under the framework of the Russian Transition Initiatives (RTI) program, launched to reduce the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Today LUXOFT announces the successful completion of the first NNSA-RTI project and the start of a second project together. The partnership was originally announced in October 2001, when LUXOFT began working with the NNSA to train Russian nuclear research engineers in commercial software applications to enable them to apply their unique skills and knowledge in non-military areas. LUXOFT, a member company of the IBS Group, is the first major Russian IT company to partner with NNSA's RTI program in a cooperative project to train Russian nuclear weapons scientists in non-military, commercial software applications.
During the first project, 17 engineers from the Kurchatov Nuclear Research Center passed intensive training in software development, project management and quality management and gained the knowledge and skill base necessary for commercial IT employment. Upon the completion of the project, 100 percent of the participants have found jobs with various Russian IT companies.
"We are very pleased with the results of this project so far," said Ambassador Linton Brooks, Acting NNSA Administrator. "In the short run, the immediate goal of the project was achieved - technical experts found non-military applications for their unique weapons-oriented knowledge. LUXOFT did a great job performing its mission by providing strong project management and making available important educational and internship opportunities. We are looking forward to the next step in the process."
The second project of the NNSA-RTI series involves conversion training of 30 weapons scientists from Kurchatov and other Russian research facilities previously involved in the military industry. In particular, the group of 30 scientists who will take the conversion training course will include representatives of Sarov, Russia's largest nuclear center.
The project is identical to its predecessor and will be realized in three stages: students selection in accordance with the criteria set by the RTI program, external base training including certified Microsoft, Oracle and other courses and an internal training course developed and implemented by LUXOFT with internships to follow. Each stage will last three months.
The training program, both external and LUXOFT-based, has been modified in line with the results of the first project and feedback from the first-tier trainees. The internship cycle will now help hone in individual fields of expertise for the students.
Upon completion of the program, LUXOFT will assist the trainees with employment opportunities within the Russian IT market.
"We are aware of the degree of responsibility we have taken by entering this project. Scientists once fully challenged in military projects now face the difficulty of trying to adapt their skills in the civilian market," said Dmitry Loschinin, CEO of LUXOFT. "It is a priority for Russia and LUXOFT to give these scientists the opportunity to apply their knowledge toward the growing IT industry."
About LUXOFT
LUXOFT (www.luxoft.com) is a member of the leading Russian IT group IBS, which employs over 2,000 specialists. LUXOFT was founded as a separate entity in April 2000. Today, LUXOFT takes part in the most complicated projects for the leading Fortune 500 companies, among which are the Boeing Company, IBM, BMC Software, Citibank, Dell, Zurich Insurance and others, utilizing its broad experience and huge potential of Russian professionals. LUXOFT is targeting its services to the leading international companies, moving closer to its clients by opening local support and development offices in the United States and Europe. LUXOFT is one of the first Russian SW development companies assessed at Level 4 of the Capability Maturity Model- (CMM).
About the NNSA's "Russian Transition Initiatives"
The NNSA-RTI program grew out of the new priorities that emerged following the end of the Cold War. On one hand, arms reductions put huge numbers of highly qualified weapons specialists out of work. On the other hand, knowledge and expertise previously locked up in military sectors became available for commercial development. Ensuring nonproliferation of WMD technologies has posed a significant global challenge. Since 1994, the program has engaged thousands of former Soviet scientists and engineers in technology development for peaceful purposes. The NNSA-RTI program is designed to help redirect scientists and engineers in former Soviet weapons of mass destruction facilities to development of commercial technologies for peaceful purposes. Targeted training of nuclear weapons professionals is a key goal of the program.
Today LUXOFT announces the successful completion of the first NNSA-RTI project and the start of a second project together. The partnership was originally announced in October 2001, when LUXOFT began working with the NNSA to train Russian nuclear research engineers in commercial software applications to enable them to apply their unique skills and knowledge in non-military areas. LUXOFT, a member company of the IBS Group, is the first major Russian IT company to partner with NNSA's RTI program in a cooperative project to train Russian nuclear weapons scientists in non-military, commercial software applications.
During the first project, 17 engineers from the Kurchatov Nuclear Research Center passed intensive training in software development, project management and quality management and gained the knowledge and skill base necessary for commercial IT employment. Upon the completion of the project, 100 percent of the participants have found jobs with various Russian IT companies.
"We are very pleased with the results of this project so far," said Ambassador Linton Brooks, Acting NNSA Administrator. "In the short run, the immediate goal of the project was achieved - technical experts found non-military applications for their unique weapons-oriented knowledge. LUXOFT did a great job performing its mission by providing strong project management and making available important educational and internship opportunities. We are looking forward to the next step in the process."
The second project of the NNSA-RTI series involves conversion training of 30 weapons scientists from Kurchatov and other Russian research facilities previously involved in the military industry. In particular, the group of 30 scientists who will take the conversion training course will include representatives of Sarov, Russia's largest nuclear center.
The project is identical to its predecessor and will be realized in three stages: students selection in accordance with the criteria set by the RTI program, external base training including certified Microsoft, Oracle and other courses and an internal training course developed and implemented by LUXOFT with internships to follow. Each stage will last three months.
The training program, both external and LUXOFT-based, has been modified in line with the results of the first project and feedback from the first-tier trainees. The internship cycle will now help hone in individual fields of expertise for the students.
Upon completion of the program, LUXOFT will assist the trainees with employment opportunities within the Russian IT market.
"We are aware of the degree of responsibility we have taken by entering this project. Scientists once fully challenged in military projects now face the difficulty of trying to adapt their skills in the civilian market," said Dmitry Loschinin, CEO of LUXOFT. "It is a priority for Russia and LUXOFT to give these scientists the opportunity to apply their knowledge toward the growing IT industry."
About LUXOFT
LUXOFT (www.luxoft.com) is a member of the leading Russian IT group IBS, which employs over 2,000 specialists. LUXOFT was founded as a separate entity in April 2000. Today, LUXOFT takes part in the most complicated projects for the leading Fortune 500 companies, among which are the Boeing Company, IBM, BMC Software, Citibank, Dell, Zurich Insurance and others, utilizing its broad experience and huge potential of Russian professionals. LUXOFT is targeting its services to the leading international companies, moving closer to its clients by opening local support and development offices in the United States and Europe. LUXOFT is one of the first Russian SW development companies assessed at Level 4 of the Capability Maturity Model- (CMM).
About the NNSA's "Russian Transition Initiatives"
The NNSA-RTI program grew out of the new priorities that emerged following the end of the Cold War. On one hand, arms reductions put huge numbers of highly qualified weapons specialists out of work. On the other hand, knowledge and expertise previously locked up in military sectors became available for commercial development. Ensuring nonproliferation of WMD technologies has posed a significant global challenge. Since 1994, the program has engaged thousands of former Soviet scientists and engineers in technology development for peaceful purposes. The NNSA-RTI program is designed to help redirect scientists and engineers in former Soviet weapons of mass destruction facilities to development of commercial technologies for peaceful purposes. Targeted training of nuclear weapons professionals is a key goal of the program.