Russia invites young developers to join world’s first international IT Olympiad

PROD, an industrial software-focused online event for English-speaking 8-12th graders, offers insight into how industry leaders work

Russia has launched the first international Olympiad in industrial software development for high school students, opening participation to English speakers from around the world.

The competition, known as PROD, gives 8-12th graders a chance to explore how major IT firms develop software and manage large-scale projects. Most stages are held online, allowing students from any country to take part. Partcipants will tackle real business tasks, study automation systems, and create digital solutions to boost efficiency and cut costs.

Now in its third year, the Olympiad has for the first time gone international, offering participation in both English and Russian. It will be held in several stages between December and March. Finalists will gather in Moscow for the closing team round, with travel and accommodation covered by the organizers.

The contest is run by Central University, one of Russia’s leading practice-oriented universities; T-Technologies Group, a pioneer in global fintech and digital ecosystems; and the Faculty of Computer Science at HSE University. Participants will work under the guidance of mentors who helped build Russia’s fintech sector and continue to develop digital services used by millions worldwide.

In 2024, PROD attracted more than 10,000 applications, with over 4,000 Russian speakers from more than 20 countries – including the UK, Germany, France, Canada, China, and Peru. The Moscow final brought together 235 students from 49 Russian regions and Belarus, with 57 earning top prizes.

Registration for PROD runs until December 2 on the official website. No advanced programming skills – logical thinking and basic computer knowledge are enough.

Winners will receive scholarships, internship offers, and free Russian language and cultural courses.