From idea to scale: projects in Vyatka State University's acceleration program are transforming the region's industrial tourism

      It all began with a visit to one of the region’s leading enterprises — JSC PF “Lel”, where student-startuppers saw firsthand how modern shoe production is organized, how tours for guests are arranged, and what challenges industrial companies face in interacting with their audience. That trip became not just an excursion, but a living laboratory for future solutions in industrial tourism.

      At the next stage, during an expert meeting, participants had the opportunity to discuss their projects with Diana Rustamovna Akchurina, Deputy General Director of LLC “Vakhrushi Litobuv,” an industrial partner of the program and an expert of the National Technology Initiative (NTI). Diana Rustamovna shared practical insights on which startups can realistically take root in production and which remain, for now, merely attractive ideas. The main focus of the meeting was the question: how to turn a local project into a scalable solution that will be in demand not only at one plant but across an entire industry?

      Participants actively discussed their cases, covering a wide range of directions in industrial tourism development. Among projects dedicated to digitalization and technologies, standouts included “VirtualTour,” “Improving the Technology of Conducting Tours at an Industrial Enterprise Using VR Technologies,” “Neural Networks in Industrial Tourism,” “Industrial Chatbot,” “PromTripBot,” “PromAssistant,” and “TourSystem 4.0” — all proposing smart, automated solutions to improve the guest experience.

      In the field of educational and career-guidance initiatives, teams presented ideas such as “ProfiQuest,” “PromAcademy,” “Industrial Tourist Passport of the Kirov Region,” and “Gamification in Industrial Tourism,” focusing on engaging youth through interactivity and play. A separate group comprised projects aimed at creating a personal connection with the brand: “Along the Routes of Industry,” “Your Personal Industrial Guide,” “Discover Industry,” and “Travel Factory.” These developments are designed to turn every factory visit into a true journey — vivid, meaningful, and unforgettable. Media initiatives were not left out: the SMM autopilot for industry “Factory Lifestyle” offers factories a way to speak to audiences in the language of social networks, while the board game “From Project to Keys” and the “PromTurProfi” project open up new interaction formats — from entertainment to professional support. All these teams received valuable recommendations from the expert on adapting their solutions to real production conditions so that the ideas would not remain on paper but would actually work for the benefit of the industry.

      During the discussion, participants reached important conclusions. Industrial tourism is not just excursions but a living bridge between production and the consumer: it strengthens brand trust, creates an emotional connection, and opens new channels of communication. Digitalization is not a fad but a necessity even for small enterprises, and it can begin with simple solutions such as a mobile guide or online tour booking. Scaling an idea without close cooperation with industrial partners is almost impossible, since only testing on real production shows how viable a solution is. Equally important is the staffing issue: projects in industrial tourism should also be aimed at career guidance for young people, because factories are looking not just for guests but for future specialists.

      Now the teams will continue to refine their projects taking into account the recommendations received. The expert meeting with Diana Akchurina and the immersion in the realities of JSC PF “Lel” became for them not just a stage of the program but a starting point for creating products that will truly change the face of industrial tourism in the Kirov Region and beyond.

      The program is implemented with the support of ANO “NTI Platform” FP “Technologies” and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.