The scientific school "Ensuring the competitiveness of entrepreneurial structures in construction on an innovative basis" at the St Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering has been included in the updated Register of Leading Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Schools of St Petersburg.

The school was founded in 2017 under the leadership of DSc in Economics, Professor Veronika Asaul at the Department of Construction Economics and Housing and Utility Infrastructure (CE&HU).

Today, the school counts 15 researchers from St Petersburg, Moscow, and Norilsk, eight of whom are young scientists.

The scientific school is distinguished by its high research activity and highlights the following key areas of work, which play an important role in the development of the construction industry with an emphasis on innovation and the digital economy:

• Competitiveness in the construction sector in a digital economy;
• Digital transformation of the construction industry and entrepreneurship development;
• Public-private partnerships, self-regulation, and competitive public procurement methods;
• Risk mitigation mechanisms for investment and construction projects.

Over the course of the school's existence, its participants have published dozens of scientific articles in leading peer-reviewed domestic and international journals, as well as monographs on key research topics.

Research are being implemented into:

• the educational process;
• the real sector of the economy.

The team of authors develop teaching aids and electronic courses on specialized educational programs.

Active collaboration is underway with commercial and non-profit organizations in the construction sector, as well as with government agencies. The Housing Committee under the Government of St Petersburg serves as the industry-supported department for this collaboration.

In 2018, the scientific school won a grant from the President of the Russian Federation for the project "Intensifying Russia's economic growth by creating developed competitive advantages in the construction sector based on elements of the digital economy."

In addition, members of the scientific school have won the following prestigious competitions:

• the St Petersburg Government grant competition for undergraduate and postgraduate students;
• the St Petersburg Government prize competition for scientific and teaching activities;
• the Russian Presidential grant competition for state support of young Russian PhD scientists.

Members of the group have been awarded a number of honorary titles and awards:

• Veronika Asaul, Head of the Department, received the title of "Honored Worker in Education." She also serves as Chair of the Scientific and Technical Council for Housing and Utilities in St Petersburg under the Housing Committee of the Government of St Petersburg and is a member of the public council for the committee.
• Elena Aleksandrova, Associate Professor at the Department and Head of the SPbGASU Division for Curriculum Development and Academic Work, received a letter of gratitude from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation "For significant achievements in education and long-term conscientious work." She was also awarded the Medal "For Impeccable Work and Distinction," 3rd Class, from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
• Timur Ablyazov, Associate Professor at the Department, received the "Young Scientist" badge from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

The scientific school's achievements confirm its importance for the innovative development of the construction industry and the regional economy, opening up new opportunities for scientific research and collaboration with industry and the scientific community of the Northern Capital.