07 November 2018 A Smart Legion of Young Minds The National Library of the Komi Republic will act as a key partner in the implementation of the project for establishing a regional public-access network of information support to young people's intellectual and creative activities - Smart Legion.
The project was initiated by the Komi CHUKOR Corporate Library Network – a non-profit partnership winning the President of the Russian Federation grant for civil society development projects.
The project was endorsed by the panel of experts who had selected it out of almost 10,000 applications and awarded the Smart Legion a sufficient amount of funding.
The project is designed to foster intellectual, creative, and entrepreneurial skills of the younger generation.
The training programmes and events for children, their parents, and teachers will focus on promotion of intellectual and creative thinking and practices.
Based on the partnership organizations, the project will set up public-access co-working centres for the young, creating a universal space for studying, communication, creativity, and free time occupations.
One project stage will include a competition for Entrepreneurship Without Borders Award and will also embrace the regional level of the International Award named School Patent - A Step into the Future.
The award winners will enter the Smart Legion Register of young creative minds to provide a more targeted support for them in the future and give them competitive advantage at similar contests .
The project leaders believe that children taking part in the Smart Legion initiative will acquire experience and practical skills in project management, business planning, entrepreneurship, and patenting. They will also benefit from extensive team work and will not only develop their creative thinking capabilities, but also excel in the art of rhetoric and public debate. | 
