The Virtual Business Lab as part of the Youth Day of SPIGF 2026 was launched

The opening of the Virtual Business Lab “Energy Megaprojects. Technology. Ecology. Human Resources” took place on 16 July 2026.

Dmitry Vasilenko, Head of the Youth Day of SPIGF 2026, Vice-Rector for International Relations of UNECON, and Natalia Sarakhanova, Academic Director of the Youth Day of SPIGF 2026, Associate Professor of UNECON, addressed the participants with welcoming remarks.

This year, nearly 400 applications for participation in the Youth Day were received from representatives of 50+ universities from 20 countries. Of these, 200 candidates passed the entrance test and began training in the Virtual Business Lab, which will run until 3 August 2026. Representatives from Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Severstal Management, Comita Digital Technologies, MGIMO, and UNECON will hold a series of webinars on the global energy landscape, energy diplomacy, development of the gas industry, green transformation and climate challenges, industry digitalization, and more. Participants will also complete two individual assignments on this year’s topic which is energy megaprojects. Upon completion of the training, up to 50 students will receive an invitation to the Youth Day of St. Petersburg International Gas Forum, which will be held on 6-9 October 2026 in St. Petersburg.