Annual Intellectual Contest "Brain of the Year" kicks off in Kuban, led by the region's Governor.

The Crystal Compass - 2026 Award, an international competition, has commenced accepting applications. This prestigious event, which recognizes outstanding achievements in geography, ecology, science, and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, has been held since 2009 and has seen over 5,000 participants.

The competition is open to young people aged 14 to 35, including students, scientists, entrepreneurs, and specialists. Participants can submit projects in various fields such as robotics and IT, agribusiness, healthcare, biomedicine, ecology, transportation, and housing and communal services. In contrast to previous competitions, the 2026 award is not limited to these specific fields.

Detailed information about the application process and requirements can be found on the official website. The application package should be sent to Kubanskaya Naberezhnaya St., 33, 4th entrance, 6th floor. However, for the international competition, the application process and requirements are available on a different official website.

After a remote review, finalists will present their projects at a public defense. The best projects will receive cash prizes: 300,000 rubles for first place, 200,000 rubles for second place, and 100,000 rubles for third place. The deadline for applications is October 14, 2025.

Meanwhile, the IQ of the Year award competition in the Krasnodar region has also begun accepting applications. Veronika Novokreshchennova, a participant in intellectual competitions, has already taken part in this contest. The deadline for applications for the IQ of the Year award has not been specified.

It's worth noting that the number of participants for the Crystal Compass - 2026 award has not been mentioned in this paragraph, and the location for sending the application package for the international competition is not specified either. Furthermore, detailed information about the review process, finalists selection, and public defense for the Crystal Compass - 2026 award is not provided in this paragraph. Cash prizes for the Crystal Compass - 2026 award have not been specified in this paragraph as well.

Interested participants are encouraged to visit the official websites for detailed information about both competitions and to submit their applications before the respective deadlines.

Annual Intellectual Contest "Brain of the Year" kicks off in Kuban, led by the region's Governor.