Improving the well-being of local communities

School Break educational project

Goal: bringing together all parties involved in the educational process (children, parents, and teachers) to promote development of local communities, and to support student and teacher initiatives.

In 2023, the programme sought to integrate the school into the SchoolUniversity-Business educational cluster and to significantly raise awareness about urban professions and opportunities in the region:

• as part of the School Break.Urban marathon, school teams developed project ideas for social and urban design and community development, visited non‑profit organisations, and communicated with corporate volunteers and the Company’s employees ;
• the teams presented their ideas during the summer course of the School Break.Urban Academy. The schoolchildren could participate in the business game Battle of Professions, visit Gipronickel Institute and environmental hubs, and  see the creative spaces of St Petersburg;
• teachers from the Murmansk Region were offered an opportunity to do an internship in Moscow.

We Are the City! social engineering workshop

Goal: taking participants all the way through from idea generation to project implementation.

In 2023, the Company invited residents of the villages of Lovozero and Krasnoshchelye to take part in the social engineering workshop. During the training session, they learned about the theory of social design, and assessed the efficiency and relevance of social projects developed to address pressing local issues. At the festival of social campaigns (the closing event of the workshop), participants presented projects such as literary promenade, motor vehicle exhibition, safe driving workshop, and the first rural karaoke tournament.

Socially Responsible Initiatives Competition

Goal: supporting public init iatives and facilitating sustainable development across the Company’s geographies.

In 2023, the winners of 2022 began implementing relevant public initiatives, with children’s groups, career guidance laboratories and classrooms opened, GEOpark launched, and a fire‑fighting station equipped on the shores of Lake Lama.

Additionally, in September 2023, we announced a new cycle of the competition and expanded its geography, with non‑profit organisations from Lovozero (Murmansk Region) taking part in the competition for the first time. The expert review board examined 371 applications and selected 194 finalists.

Travel Grant Competition

Goal: implementing new social technologies and public initiatives in Russian regions, strengthening social partnerships and interregional ties, enhancing professional competencies.

In 2023, participants of the Travel Grant Competition:

• completed internships and further training courses in Moscow, St Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk;
• attended conferences and forums in Suzdal, Salekhard, Yuzhno‑Sakhalinsk, St Petersburg and Moscow.

LIGA IMAKE engineering marathon

Goal: fostering and promoting engineering solutions and projects, unlocking research and creative potential in children and teenagers, shaping up a community of aspiring engineers and scientists.

In 2023, the engineering marathon was held for the fifth time, offering its participants the traditional competition for young inventors, on‑site camp shifts in Skolkovo and Vladivostok, invention exhibition IN’HUB Junior. Inventors of the Future, IMAKE mentor competition for graduates of the Inventors League, and the IMAKE.Mayevka festival of family inventions staged for the first time in Snezhnogorsk and at the Company’s Head Office in Moscow for the children of employees. At the end of the reporting year, an IMAKE PRO online course was launched for participants to submit their ideas to the  Socially Responsible Initiatives Competition .

Winners of the IMAKE young inventors competition are offered an opportunity to participate in national and international exhibitions and contests. In 2023, young engineers and scientists participating on an individual basis and as part of teams won prizes of the International Young Inventors Awards and PowerTech.

Business Projects Accelerator

Goal: boosting entrepreneurial initiative, accelerating development of business projects in the regions of operation, and enhancing entrepreneurs’ management skills.

For the past ten years, businesses have benefited from educational courses made available to them in various formats, as well as loans issued for small business development.

In December 2022, the Company and the Business School of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs launched a five‑month educational programme for entrepreneurs and non‑profit organisations. 15 business projects made it to the final investment session in April 2023, with nine selected as winners. RUB 49 mln and RUB 20 mln worth of interest‑free loans were issued to support nine projects in Norilsk and eight projects in the Murmansk Region, respectively. These funds will be used to implement initiatives in the fields of healthcare (aesthetics clinic, dental centre), tourism (local tourism agency, expansion of tourism services), and service provision (equipment and machinery repairs, barbershop, catering establishment).

In November 2023, Nornickel’s Polar Division launched an acceleration programme for the school and university students of Norilsk. The programme includes theoretical and hands‑on training courses, which are held from November 2023 to April 2024. The best startup projects will receive financial support in the form of grants from Nornickel’s Polar Division.

Developing the Concept of Sustainable Waste Management in Norilsk and Taimyr

In 2023, Norilsk Development Agency engaged scientists and experts to draft a Concept of Sustainable Waste Management in the Taimyr and Norilsk hi‑tech zones of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The concept sets out measures for environmental awareness‑raising campaigns, process solutions for building an eco‑industrial park in 2025–2026, and draft regulations and expert recommendations. A prospective land plot for the eco‑industrial park was agreed with the local authorities, with engineering surveys required for further project completed.

Promoting tech entrepreneurship among youth

In 2023, the Polar State University and IT‑cube.Norilsk partnered to establish a Centre for Digital Competencies at the Norilsk Industrial Engineering and Service College. 500 people joined the Polar State University’s Tech Entrepreneurship Accelerator, with a total of 50 projects developed. IT‑cube.Norilsk’s startup school for children was attended by 30 kids.

Catering Development Strategy for Norilsk

In partnership with the Gastronomy Institute of the Siberian Federal University and Norilsk’s culinary community, the Agency drafted a Catering Development Strategy for Norilsk to identify promising restaurant business concepts, effective models for the transfer of educational technologies, and approaches to building a local gastronomic brand. In the reporting year , the Gastronomy Institute provided training to 15 restaurant teams (56 people ), with restaurateurs starting to develop five new projects. There are plans to create a gastronomic hub at the Norilsk Industrial Engineering and Service College.

Supporting entrepreneurship in Norilsk

In 2023, 470 people took part in  People Who Do Their Business, a business forum hosted by the city of Norilsk. As part of this business event, 308 entrepreneurs attended training workshops and master classes, 17 investors from Krasnoyarsk gathered for a business mission to discuss investment proposals on the development of Norilsk and the Taimyrsky Dolgano‑Nenetsky Municipal District, and 10 designers contributed to a creative hackathon organised for Norilsk entrepreneurs.

Tower public and culture space

Norilsk Development Agency exercises designer control over the concept and design documents of the Tower public and culture space slated to open in 2024. In 2023, a series of training sessions on managing public spaces were held to build the Tower team and select space management formats. As part of the trainings, participants could visit creative and public spaces across Russia. Once the sessions were completed, 20 participants prepared and submitted their final presentations to the competition commission, which selected seven people who would join the Tower team.

Launching Norilsk 2035, an interactive platform on Norilsk renovation

Driving urban improvements in Norilsk

In 2023, the Agency supported the following projects:

• development of a concept and cost estimates for upgrading the architectural lighting and landscape facilities of October Square and the adjacent area, and for beautifying the embankment of Lake Gorodskoye;
• renovation of buildings and installation of architectural lighting on Mira Street; bringing 12 entrances in line with a uniform design code (in collaboration with partners);
• installation of the Arctic Sun mosaic panel in celebration of Norilsk’s 70th anniversary (winner of the Best for Life Design Awards in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Preservation category);
• development of sketches and a project for the beautification of Kayerkan’s Youth Centre in collaboration with local schoolchildren and youth;
• completion of a project to modify courtyard spacing on Talnakhskaya and Veteranov streets.

Holding At the Heart of Taimyr, a domestic tourism exhibition

Holding Arctic Tourism Week forum

Launching the Discover Taimyr digital platform

In 2023, the Discover Taimyr digital platform was unveiled to the public. This online resource provides insights into the unique natural locations of the Arctic tourist cluster, the flora and fauna of the Taimyr Peninsula, and local attractions. The platform aggregates useful contacts and presents all the leisure activities Taimyr has to offer, providing tourists with an online builder to create customised itineraries and get in direct touch with suitable tour operators and guides.

Promoting sports tourism and healthy lifestyle

Sports events held in summer 2023 include X‑WATERS Yenisey extreme open water swimming series (80 participants from nine cities, over 3,000 spectators from Norilsk and Dudinka), Norilsk Trail mass run across the rugged terrain and spurs of the Putoranà Plateau and the Kharaelakh Mountains (150 participants from 19 cities, over 800 residents of Norilsk and Dudinka), and  Depth of Putorana, freediving challenge organised in partnership with the Freediving Federation (this challenge set a new Russian record on Lake Lama with a 100 m dive beyond the Arctic Circle in the CWT discipline). In 2023, the Agency engaged sports professionals to organise educational courses and training sessions for members of sports communities.

Fostering industrial tourism

In 2023, ongoing collaboration with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives helped provide training for representatives of local industrial facilities under the Open Industry countrywide accelerator. Seven industrial tour guides were licensed in Norilsk, and eight industrial tours were developed. Information about these tours was featured in new episodes of the TV show Travel Ventures. Special attention was paid to creating modern formats for presenting information about local industries. To that end, experts started developing dedicated concepts of information and museum spaces, with initial concepts prepared for Anhydrite mine, Medvezhy Ruchey open pit, and Talnakh Concentrator.

Developing the Schmidt Mountain tourist and recreation area

To deliver on the master plan for the Arctic tourism and recreation cluster, the mayor of Norilsk approved the Concept for Development of the Schmidt Mountain Tourist and Recreation Area. The construction of the longest tourist staircase in Russia (5.6 km) is planned with three covered viewing platforms at different heights. The route includes three thematic areas: palaeontological, historical and sports sections. Artefacts and historical objects are delicately integrated into the route. In 2023, an engineering survey was completed for the prospective tourist and recreation area.

Academy of Creative Industries

As part of the Academy of Creative Industries project, in 2023 the creative space of Norilsk hosted training sessions (with over 50 people trained in creating short films and object design techniques), intensive creativity courses, and presentations of finished works. The platform accommodates 33 residents of the creative community who are not only involved in the manufacturing of local products, but also contribute to the space’s agenda by conducting workshops in related areas (ceramics, painting, fashion design, videography). 2023 saw the opening of a coffee shop offering bespoke drink recipes and a showroom exhibiting works of local artisans and designers. In addition to this, the creative space hosted cultural events, festivals and exhibitions. In total, in 2023 the creative space organised over 200 events in 2023, with attendance exceeding 8,000 people .

High Latitude Forum

Norilsk hosted the first High Latitude Forum attended by the leaders and faculty of educational establishments, representatives of the city administration, cultural institutions, Nornickel, parental communities, and experts. The Forum focused on the positioning and development of Norilsk’s pedagogical community, conscious parenting practices and involvement of families in the educational process, communications, and school environment. During the event, Norilsk Development Agency presented its concept for Dolgikh lyceum, an educational and sociocultural centre of advanced educational practices (currently at design stage).

Arts

Moscow’s Cube.Moscow contemporary art centre hosted an exhibition of works by Norilsk residents titled “Urban Polar Explorers” (5,000 visitors), while GROUND Solyanka, a gallery and a workshop in Moscow, presented 30 limited edition publications by 11 Norilsk authors. Furthermore, the ARcTic street art gallery in Norilsk added three new murals

MDA Academy

Arctic Investor

To attract external investments, Monchegorsk Development Agency developed 40 promising business projects to be discussed with potential investors during roadshows and presentations at forums and exhibitions. By the end of 2023, 7 investment agreements were signed, with investments totalling RUB  331  mln (including creation of 70 new jobs).

Business club

Monchegorsk has built a community of active entrepreneurs from the Murmansk Region who seek to develop horizontal ties, create joint initiatives, and enhance their skills. Members of the business club enjoy a wide range of privileges, including reimbursement of certain expenses during offsite club meetings, access to events with a limited number of participants, and additional brand promotion. In 2023, the club was relaunched with a focus on informal meetings and cross‑links among its members. The club has more than 100 members, with over 10 meetings held and 2 cross‑partnerships established.

Business House online show

The show aims to develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills in the youth of Monchegorsk and the Murmansk Region, to create a community of young entrepreneurs, and to encourage new business projects.

Viewers follow participants in their journey from idea generation to the first profit made, as the show’s protagonists compete for an opportunity to choose the right support for their personal business from several options.

As the first season of the show came to an end, Monchegorsk noted growing interest in business among its young people : in 2022, no applicants in the Business and Investment category were under 25 years old, while in 2023 the situation changed dramatically, with more than 15 applicants coming from the specified age group, including 10 who applied for financial support and four who received grants to pursue their business projects.

Design code for Monchegorsk

The design code based on the city brand developed by Monchegorsk Development Agency serves as a tool for regulating the visual aspect of the urban environment. In 2023, regulations were developed for introducing the design code, including new landscaping rules and the architectural and artistic concept. All design code regulations were approved by the Ministry of Urban Development and Improvement of the Murmansk Region and the Council of Deputies of Monchegorsk.

City Dweller School in Monchegorsk

As part of support provided to the City Dweller School’s projects for the creation and improvement of public and courtyard spaces, Monchegorsk Development Agency offers methodological and informational assistance in fundraising for the initiatives of local communities. In 2023, the focus was on the preparation of competition and grant applications, with some projects receiving extensive informational coverage and support from local residents. For example, Kolsky Foundation won a grant for the construction of a new playground near the children’s clinic in 2024. Furthermore, in 2023 significant improvements were made to the design solutions for the beautification of Sergey Brovtsev city park.

Bus route scheme of Monchegorsk

To streamline municipal transit in Monchegorsk, a new bus route scheme was presented. Kola MMC provided assistance in installing six smart heated bus stops, which serve as the testing ground for the new scheme. In 2024, the scheme is planned to be rolled out to the entire public transit system of Monchegorsk. This is partly due to the reconstruction of Revolution Square, which gives priority to the expansion of pedestrian spaces, greening initiatives, and transformation of car traffic.

Imandra tourist and recreation cluster

The cluster aims to foster and promote the tourist community in Monchegorsk, while also delivering on infrastructure and tourism projects designed to create a network of waterway routes across Imandra Lake offering a variety of combined use options, including hiking, car, and mountaineering itineraries. Highlights of 2023 included continued implementation of the master plan, making new partnerships (Imandra tours were included in the programmes of regional and federal tour operators), and promotion of Monchegorsk and Imandra as attractive tourist destinations through the Visit Imandra website , loyalty programmes, brochures, and dedicated tours for photographers, journalists and bloggers.

Imandra Fest umbrella brand

The brand is designed to bring together events staged by locals, while also providing them with informational and organisational support to raise awareness among tourists and local residents and take these events to a brand new level. In 2023, the Imandra Fest umbrella brand promoted 16 events of local, regional and federal partners with attendance in excess of 34,200 people. Those events included family festival of Nordic culture Imandra Viking Fest (20,000 participants over 2 days), and X-WATERS Imandra cold-water swimming series (1,200 people at the event’s venue). To promote winter tourism in Monchegorsk, the first ever Zimandra Festival was held in 2023, bringing together 107 local entrepreneurs from the gastronomic and active pastime sectors and attracting over 6,000 guests.

RuTrail marked routes

Development of hiking and walking infrastructure gives tourists an opportunity to plan an independent week-long trip in the area surrounding Monchegorsk. In 2023, the first tourist rest stop was equipped on the existing Viking Trail, along with four art objects and two hardscape elements. The trail was visited by over 10,000 people.

Implementing the Development Strategy for the Monchegorsk Polytechnic College

In 2023, efforts under the Strategy focused on the launch of two flagship educational programmes and e‑sports classes, reshuffle of the management team, competence assessment of 75 college employees , audit of digital processes, and organising a series of strategic sessions, educational programmes and trainings.

Implementing the management strategy for the development of School No.  5 in Monchegorsk

In a bid to build a modern educational institution, by the end of 2023 we had completed research on the school’s social capital, opened a medical class, added natural science hours to the curriculum, and introduced interactive methods of teaching, goal‑setting, planning, motivating and monitoring of preparation for general/unified state exams. The social impact of the project is evident in improved exam performance and increased motivation among students. Additionally, we developed cost estimates for the overhaul of the school building seeking to improve the efficiency of school facilities and to shore up public satisfaction with the quality of schools and situation in the city in general.

Implementing the concept for developing a creative cluster in Monchegorsk

In 2023, in an attempt to give a boost to the creative industry, a digital space was established for the residents of Monchegorsk’s creative cluster. This space offers opportunities for scaling, collaboration and building new competencies, with support provided to 24 new initiatives. Additionally, the reporting year saw the development of 13 team projects, some of which were presented at five events of various levels.

The ArtArctica residence contributed to several workshops and the first happening held on the island, while also helping to install new art objects throughout the city. The ArtArctica AR Park mobile app added new modules to enhance customer experience. Furthermore, MDA Academy provided assistance to projects related to the film industry, stand‑up, and collaboration with non‑profit organisations seeking to obtain grants.

Business Residence

Business Goes to School

As part of the project, in 2023, 41 high school students from the Pechengsky District underwent training to develop leadership and communication skills, and 20 teachers got insights into using modern devices in the educational process.

Metallurgist Square (Festival Square)

In 2023, efforts continued to beautify the square, with new entrances, an industrial art object (underground load‑haul dumper), and recycled plastic benches installed. For the second time, the square hosted the Gastro Industry Fest.

Second School Yard

In 2023, a significant part of the yard beautification works were completed, with pedestrian pathways were arranged, recreational areas put in place, and recycled plastic benches and swings installed. The project is slated for completion in 2024

Programme for Social and Economic Development of the Pechengsky District

The Second School Centre acts as the operator of local development projects under the Programme for Social and Economic Development of the Pechengsky District.

Gastro Industry Fest

In 2023, the Gastro Industry Fest became part of the Weekend of Mine celebrations, which included Miner’s Day festivities in Zapolyarny, and a festival in Nickel with attendance of over 10,000 people from more than 70 cities and towns. The Gastro Industry event hosted première of the film “Pechengsky District from A to Z”.

Volunteer Campus

Northern Hospitality Volunteers

During a series of meetings involving 61 teenagers from the Pechengsky District, four training sessions were held to raise awareness about various aspects of volunteering and environmental and event tourism practices.

Nikel2Art

Woman of the North. Path to Your True Self

In 2023, the forum was held for the second time, with 80 women attending design, fashion, inner well‑being, and communication workshops.