22 February 2019 A Step into the Future 20 February the National Library of Komi held the award ceremony for the regional stage of the international children's competition, School Patent - A Step into the Future. This award is part of the project initiated by the libraries of the Komi Republic supporting creativity and invention among children.
School Patent - a Step into the Future Award was established in the Komi Republic in 2016. The regional stage of the international competition in inventions among school children was launched 1 October 2018. The participants of the competition are young inventors aged 7 to 18. The total of 287 works applied for a list of nominations: Best Invention, Best School Presentation, Make the World a Brighter Place, Best Thematic Drawing, Best Thematic Essay, Best Architecture and Landscape Project, Best Industrial Design, and Regional Brands Through the Youth's Eyes.
The event was attended by representatives of three Komi government authorities. Deputy minister of the Komi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Archives Konstantin Baranov greeted the participants of the competition calling the children record breakers in invention activities and wishing them good luck in the final competition. Deputy minister of the Komi Ministry of Education, Science and Youth Policy Maksim Ganov expressed his admiration with the children's creative minds and said he hoped they would all be able to patent inventions. Tatyana Abramova greeted the award winners on behalf of the Komi Ministry of Investment, Industry and Transport and reminded them of the brilliant achievements demonstrated by their peers at the regional stage of the competition last year and encouraged everyone to be persistent with their creative goals.
Three Syktyvkar colleges were represented at the award ceremony acting as partners for the project and providing their special gifts for individual nominations. Syktyvkar State University, Forest Institute and the Komi Republic Academy of Civil Service and Management promised the 11-graders not only preferential treatment at the entrance exams to their colleges, but also counselling assistance and access to research facilities.
Olga Sotnikova, rector of the Syktyvkar State University, said she would be happy to welcome the young inventors as university students. Director of the Forest Institute Liubov Guryeva urged the children to work for the wellbeing of the republic and enhance its intellectual property. The award winners of the regional stage will take part in the final international competition that will be held in Saint-Petersburg in April 2019. In addition, the winners will be listed in the register for talented young people of the Komi Republic - The Smart Legion. The place on the register will ensure the young people such advantages as targeted consultations from specialists on intellectual property, entrepreneurship and grant activities and promotion of their creative work. | 
