HSE GSB Students win Nationwide Case Championship by Gazprom Neft’s Bitumen Division
Gazpromneft – Bituminous Materials is a leading Russian producer of bitumen products used in major national infrastructure projects such as Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg, the WHSD, the Ring Road, and the M-11 and M-12 “Vostok” highways.
This year’s competition, Bitumen Master at KNITU 2.0, challenged participants to solve a complex two-part business case. The first task required developing a new bitumen product to expand the company’s portfolio. The students conducted a deep market analysis of high-tech bitumen-derived materials, identified emerging trends, and proposed innovative solutions incorporating AI methods and domestic digital tools.
The second part focused on creating a strategy to promote the profession of “petroleum road engineer” and raise its visibility. Participants developed a comprehensive marketing campaign aimed at attracting future applicants to this high-potential field.
The winning team from HSE GSB included Yaroslav Makarov and Svetoslav Fadeev, students of the Bachelor’s programme Digital Innovation in Enterprise Management, which has been renamed Digital Product Management as of 2024. The expert jury and organizing committee praised the team for their high-quality solution, innovative thinking, and strong project management skills. Their proposal showcased effective applications of AI and digital technologies in bitumen product development and production.
Ilya Kudryashov, Gazpromneft – Bituminous Materials Research Center:
“Practice-oriented challenges like this are the most effective way to build and solidify new skills. This case championship not only immersed students in industry-specific issues but also helped instill design thinking—an essential skill in developing innovative products. This year’s teams shared many promising ideas, some of which may be adapted for our production needs.”
Nikolay Vodolozsky
Co-head of the ‘Digital Product Management’ programme at HSE GSB
I’m truly proud of our team’s achievement! HSE GSB students, traditionally strong in analytics and management, surprised everyone by excelling in a case requiring knowledge of chemical technology. This is further proof that modern education must break down disciplinary boundaries. Special thanks to Gazpromneft – Bituminous Materials for recognizing the potential of our students.
The championship served as a vital platform for generating new ideas and attracting young talent to the sector. The HSE GSB students’ victory demonstrates how interdisciplinary thinking and unconventional approaches can deliver valuable solutions—even in highly specialized and technologically complex fields such as bitumen production.
