Filippov was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. This city is well known as the centre of Ukraine's scientific industry.

When you say the word tungsten to someone, most people would know what it is. Tungsten is a rare naturally occurring element identified in 1781 and isolated as a metal in 1783. This metal is both strong and very useful because of its properties, like its very high melting point. In fact, it has the highest known melting point of all elements besides carbon. It also has the highest boiling points. It is used in very forms and alloys and has applications across most industries with everything from electrical conductors to magnets, and it even has some special applications.One would wonder who the people are and who work with this kind of element? How does one get into the industry and a whole slew of other questions? We had the opportunity to have an online interview with one such person, Filippov Mykola. He is a world-renown expert in copper and tungsten alloys. Alloys are metals that are formed by combining two other elements. Filippov is 68 years old, but you can see he is still as sharp as a tack when you speak to him. His eyes radiate intelligence and kindness. He currently works for the Ningbo Wuzhong Material Science Research Centre Co. LTD. His long work history includes time spent working for the Frantsevich Institute of Material Problems at the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences.

In a way, he is carrying on the family because, as he likes to say, his family was a metallurgical family home. His parents are engaged in the black metallurgical industry. Black metallurgy is also known as ferrous metallurgy. The study of metal production, metallurgy, is divided into two branches, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy (coloured metallurgy). His family background made it easy for him to fall into the work he does now.

He started working in the research industry in 1977. This was after he had finished his graduate and doctoral studies. He finds working with such a beneficial compound highly rewarding because you can see its application in everyday life, in electrical appliances, and it is used by electricians and welders.

Before coming to Ningbo, he had had some experience with Ningbo products because there are many Ningbo products in Ukraine, such as electrical appliances, kitchen utensils and sanitary products. So he was excited to come to Ningbo when his company deployed him here so as to work and corporate with their Chinese counterparts. He landed in Ningbo in May of 2018 and absolutely fell in love with the city and hopes his family will come to visit him one day. Ningbo government provides a great working and living environment.

As this is his fourth time working in China, he has some impressions of Ningbo and believes Ningbo is growing very rapidly and still has a lot of potential. He works in Ninghai and likes its parks, bridges and benches on the side of the road for people to rest. The greenery is also very nice. One of the things he always remembers about being here is when he was in Ninghai, he saw a building completed in three months, and he was astonished at how quickly it was built. However, his favourite place to visit is Mian Niu Mountain in Ninghai, a park near his workplace.

The park gives him time to sit and watch as Ningbo's life transpires around him. The people of Ningbo are friendly and hardworking. The children are adorable and very mature, like miniature adults.

It is very safe in Ningbo, and he has lived in China for many years. He never worries about any problem.