Four hours to solve mathematical problems, 40 finalists and 10 winners — the final of GS Group's III International Mathematics Competition for High School Students from regional cities took place on December 17th and 18th 2016 at the innovation cluster Technopolis GS (the town of Gusev, Kaliningrad region, Russia). Out-of-the-box thinking of gifted children was evaluated by prominent Russian mathematicians. Personal scholarships from GS Group were awarded to five high school students, five more students from grades 9–10 won valuable prizes and a chance to enroll in Saint Petersburg Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum №239 without having to sit the entrance examinations.
GS Group departed from the format of the customary school Olympiads while organizing the annual mathematics competition: gifted kids from all over the world, who had successfully passed the tests in two online stages, meet in person in Technopolis GS to learn new things and demonstrate their knowledge. Not only did the finalists of competition-2016 shaped the future of their education, but they also soaked up the high-tech atmosphere of the cluster and Gusev's rich history. This year, a brilliant lecture on the history of the 1914 Battle of Gumbinnen (today's Gusev) was delivered especially for the finalists by Igor Minin, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, and Rector of the Komi Republican Academy of Civil Service and Public Administration. Young people also examined the GS Nanotech and Digital Television Systems innovative enterprises and a smart city being created on the basis of Technopolis GS, and celebrated the general victory of intelligence at a gala dinner together with the jurymen and special guests of the competition.
In GS Group's III International Mathematics Competition, the winners among students of grades 9–10 were Yuri Arutyunov (Kazan), Aleksandr Tolmachev (Sarov), Stepan Vahrushev (Yekaterinburg), Diana Gaynutdinova (Kazan) and Nikita Kalinin (Chelyabinsk). Among 11-graders, the winners were Mikhail Kidyankin (Saransk), Pavel Petrov (Saransk), Sergey Dolgikh (Rybinsk), Rasul Hakimullin (Naberezhnye Chelny), Darya Zlydneva (Magnitogorsk). The winners from grades 9-10 were presented with Asus laptops, as well as a unique opportunity to enroll in Saint Petersburg Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum №239 without any examinations. Thus, for the first time, the competition held by a private company was equated to the All-Russian School Olympiad. 11-graders will get a personal monthly scholarship from GS Group during their first academic year, if they enter higher education institutions to majors demanded by high-tech manufactures.
The depth of participants' knowledge was evaluated by prominent mathematicians: Sergey Rukshin, Professor of the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs of Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum №239 and Principal of the Municipal Center for Gifted School Students, who had trained the Fields Medal winners Sergey Perelman and Stanislav Smirnov; Sergey Abramov, Professor, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Program Systems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Principal of the Program Systems Institute of the University of Pereslavl named after. A.K.Aylamazyan, head of the SKIF and SKIF-GRID supercomputer programs from Russia; Dmitry Maksimov, Associate Professor of Saint Petersburg National Research Academic University of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, lecturer in the Municipal Mathematical Center at Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum №239, a member of the methodical committee of Saint Petersburg City Olympiad, the International Kangaroo Mathematics Contest, the Festival of Young Mathematicians and the Mathematical Multiathlon international mathematical tournament, author of the tasks for the final test of GS Group's competition, whose students include two winners of an International Mathematics Olympiad.
“The world has come to a technological turning point, where life turns digital. Knowledge that you are getting now, will be in demand in all spheres. Napoleon ranked mathematics above all sciences; people who possess knowledge of mathematics can ensure victory. It is still true. That is why I am very pleased that GS Group, one of the very few companies in Russia that design and manufacture electronics in the territory of our country, organizes the mathematical competition at the highest level. I am thrilled to see that there are companies understanding that the future of Russia depends on the young generation, on a general mathematical culture. It is particularly valuable that today's winners are on the same footing with the winners of All-Russian Olympiads and get an opportunity to enroll in one of the best mathematical schools in Russia — Saint Petersburg Presidential Physics and Mathematics Lyceum №239 — without any examinations. You are truly lucky to take part in the GS Group's competition and make it to the top one percent by outperforming five thousand participants”, said Sergey Abramov who also wished the finalists to become “pure mathematicians” and learn to solve any problems.
“GS Nanotech, which is hosting the final today, was created by several dozens of young engineers, who have by now become brilliant world-class experts. We wish and do everything so that you also become similar “engineering special forces” in a few years being able to create innovative productions, matching ours on a scale”, marked Andrew Bezrukov, Director for Strategic Marketing of GS Group.
Altogether, 40 school students from 27 Russian populated localities and the Republic of Belarus, made it to the final stage of the GS Group's III International Mathematics Competition for High School Students.