SMIRNOV Vladimir Alexeyevich (born in 1957 in Pskov) graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrumentation with a degree in electrical engineering in 1980. From 1980 to 1989, he worked as an engineer and a junior researcher at the Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrumentation. In 1988, he was honored with the State Prize for Young Scientists for exceptional contributions to science and technology.