⚡️ Continuing our look at the winning projects of the Innovation Workshop 2026! Today we'll tell you about the next team that became winners — SKUBOX. This is an experimental prototype of a modular storage system that tracks remaining consumables and is controlled via an app. From idea to prototype "Initially, each team member came with their own ideas, and we discussed each one very thoroughly. In the end, we didn't like any of them, and for a while we walked around with no idea at all. And then Andrey [Andrey Malyshev, a master's student in the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies program] brought a problem from his work experience — the problem was solvable with our efforts and competencies, so we settled on this option fairly quickly," the team says. At the intersection of disciplines The project turned out to be truly interdisciplinary. From an implementation standpoint, the team was very lucky: Andrey is the chief designer — the design and printing of the housing are entirely his achievement (just 2 versions of the housing, which differed in minor refinements — according to the team, this is an incredible result). Artyom [Artyom Ryavkin, a master's student in the Next Generation Communication Technologies program)] is the circuit designer — the entire component base and the operation of the electronics came about thanks to him. Vitya [Viktor Novoseltsev, a master's student in the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning program)] built the web application and connected it to the experimental prototype, so in the final week of IW the team was showing a fully working system to potential clients. Maxim [Maxim Ramensky, the Math of Machine Learning program] handled all cold communication, and Varvara [Varvara Sachenko, the Applied Photonics and Optical Information Systems program] handled branding, promotional materials, and presentation scripts. Who the project will be of interest to During IW, the team focused mainly on design bureaus and developers of new equipment — companies that have a storage system for expensive components and a need for transparent accounting. More broadly, they talked to a wider range of companies: auto repair shops, resellers, furniture services — and so on down the list of anyone dealing with weighted goods. The path to a working prototype "Work on the prototype went surprisingly smoothly and steadily. Probably the most labor-intensive part was CustDev — not so much in time as in feedback. Working with a cold audience is terribly unpleasant," the team shares. Was there a moment when it seemed like "nothing would work out"? "Actually, there wasn't. We really are incredibly lucky people," the team laughs. The main thing is the team "We are proud of our ability to communicate with each other and to quickly get involved in the work. This showed up during the idea discussion stage and was no less noticeable in the final week. We were immersed in the context and kept picking each other up when needed." Plans for the future "First of all, we want to reach the commercial stage — sell the first sample. And then it will be interesting to make new configurations, improve the app, think about how to technologically improve production, and so on." We wish the team good luck and will keep following their successes! ✨ Skoltech is part of the VEB.RF group.