Kyiv, Ukraine – In a significant move to cultivate the next generation of Ukrainian engineers, global security systems giant Ajax Systems has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Mechanical Design & Robotics Lab. The new facility, opened on September 24th in partnership with the prestigious National Technical University of Ukraine ‘Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute’ (KPI), marks the fifth laboratory established under the company’s “Ajax Next” educational initiative.
Located at KPI’s Faculty of Instrumentation Engineering, the new lab is a cutting-edge space designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice. The 20-workstation facility is split into a design zone equipped with powerful computers for project work and a hands-on workshop for developing and prototyping models.
Students will now have access to an impressive array of equipment, from lathes and milling machines to advanced robotic systems and precision measuring instruments. This will allow them to gain practical skills in design, robotics, and automation that are directly applicable to the modern tech market. Among the educational tools available is a student-developed robotic manipulator, a project from a previous internship, designed to move objects along a programmed trajectory.
Aleksandr Konotopskyi, founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ajax Systems, and a KPI alumnus himself, underscored the personal significance of the launch. “I studied within these walls at KPI, and for me, it is symbolic to open a new laboratory here”, he stated. “We want young people to start creating as early as possible. Invention requires not only knowledge and desire but also resources. At Ajax Systems, we believe there are no limits to development, and we will continue to support young talents so they can realize their potential after graduation. The main thing is to create, no matter what”.
The lab will be managed by a dedicated team of lecturers, engineers, and administrators, with continuous support from Ajax Systems specialists who will provide training on the equipment and mentor student projects.
Mykhailo Bezuhlyi, First Vice-Rector of Igor Sikorsky KPI, hailed the collaboration as a vital contribution to the university’s development. “Ajax Systems is an important partner for Igor Sikorsky KPI, and we greatly appreciate the company’s contribution to the university’s growth; this is not the first Ajax Systems laboratory at KPI”, he noted. “In this particular lab, our students can gain not just professional skills, but a deeper understanding of production processes. It is also important that this laboratory serves as an inter-faculty R&D space”.
The facility is open to all students at the university who are keen to develop their own engineering projects or conduct research. It will host masterclasses on robotics, automation, metrology, and optics, as well as practical classes and internship programs from Ajax Systems. The first program, focusing on Mechanical Engineering, is set to launch as early as November 2025.
The “Ajax Next” initiative has already made a substantial impact, having conducted 10 internship programs and established five modern laboratories. These efforts have provided invaluable experience to over 1,800 students, with 44 of them subsequently joining the Ajax Systems team, demonstrating a clear pathway from education to high-tech employment.
Source: Ajax Systems.
