NIX received three awards from Kharkiv IT Cluster. This public organization honored NIX’s contribution to the city’s air defense, assistance in arranging a safe educational space at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, and active participation in local IT community projects.
NIX received three awards from Kharkiv IT Cluster. This public organization honored NIX’s contribution to the city’s air defense, assistance in arranging a safe educational space at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, and active participation in local IT community projects.
The most large-scale initiative for which NIX was awarded an award is the «Kupol» project. It involves the creation of a system for protecting the sky from enemy drones in Kharkiv: both reconnaissance drones and strike «shaheeds». This air defense complex should detect, track and neutralize any threats over the city and within the Kharkiv region in the early stages. According to Kharkiv IT Cluster, «Kupol» has already been tested, and equipment installation is currently underway. The system is expensive — just one sensor costs over $36,000, and a lot of them are needed. However, with the support of business, including the contribution of the Nixes, the development became possible and continues. This team invested over 1.5 million hryvnias in the project.
Another important program of the Cluster is «Offline Education». To support it, NIX transferred 700 thousand hryvnias to Karazin University for the technical equipment of a safe space. The premises are currently undergoing renovation. It is planned that this will not just be a shelter with the possibility of holding classes there, but a full-fledged educational hub for students, scientists and specialists of IT companies.
Rooms for various activities are being set up on an area of over 300 m². According to Dmitry Uzlov, director of the Institute of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence of the Karazin KhNU, students will be able to study and practice in several IT areas here.
Dmytro Uzlov, Director of the Institute of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence of the V.N. Karazin KhNU: «In teaching technical disciplines, we at the university follow the STEAM concept — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics. This involves project-oriented learning, when first-year students are involved in practical tasks and at the university they get acquainted with advanced IT technologies. For example, by creating websites and databases for internal use. This is exactly what the new space will help with. Here, students will be able to clearly see how a startup is formed from an idea, how it can grow into a project and even an IT product. It is difficult to implement all this online: involvement is not at all the same as from direct communication between students, teachers and IT specialists. In our space, we hope that we will create real synergy from communication and cooperation.»
Karazinsky has many plans for the new space: they want to hold lectures, workshops, hackathons, idea fairs, meetings with the city’s business and IT community, etc. The latest equipment of the hub, according to Dmytro Uzlov, will allow organizing high-quality online broadcasts for mixed-format events (online and offline). Thus, the future educational space will become the center of digital transformation of the entire university.
Students are also involved in its arrangement: they can offer any ideas regarding the design, equipment of the premises, and events in which they would like to participate. In terms of safety, the premises meet all the parameters of a shelter, have an air filtration system, autonomous heating, and power supply.
Viktor Shalnev, CEO of NIX: «Of course, our team is pleased to receive awards. But the main thing is the positive result of joint support for urgent projects for the city. We started and continue to work in Kharkiv. We cannot stay away from the problems of our hometown. Our team supports both the military and the civilian population. This is part of social responsibility, without which business cannot exist. This resonates with our principles: to help and develop. First of all, those areas that are impossible without modern technologies. And this is both education and the defense industry. So we are always ready to help such projects. Whether expertly or financially. This is not only a response to the challenges of the time, but also an investment in the development of the technological future of the country.»
As for the third NIX award, it is the highest «diamond» award of the Kharkiv IT Cluster. It was awarded to Kharkiv IT workers for their active participation and support of social and other projects of this NGO. Among the hundreds of companies participating in the Cluster, only a few are involved in the development of the local community. According to the head of the Kharkiv IT Cluster, Olga Shapoval, NIX has repeatedly made and continued to make some of the largest charitable contributions to the Cluster’s initiatives this year.
Olga Shapoval, Executive Director of Kharkiv IT Cluster: «Cooperation between business, public organizations and authorities is exactly the mechanism that allows us to implement the most large-scale and important projects. Thanks to the active position of companies like NIX, we are not only building an ecosystem for technology business, but also ensuring the city’s resilience in the face of challenges. In 2024, NIX joined the key initiatives of Kharkiv IT Cluster, aimed at both the development of the industry and increasing the level of security in Kharkiv. Such support allows us to launch projects that change life here and now, providing a foundation for the future. NIX’s participation is a contribution to the restoration, development and protection of our common home. We thank this team for their leadership and responsibility to the city and the entire country!»
