The 9th BRICS Young Scientist Forum took place in Sochi

On 25-29 November 2024, Sochi hosted key events of the Russian BRICS Chairmanship in Science, Technology and Innovation – the 9th BRICS Young Scientist Forum, including the 7th BRICS Young Innovator Prize.

The BRICS Young Scientist Forum is a unique platform of interaction between talented young people aimed at facing common social challenges and strengthening the position of the BRICS countries in the field of science, technology and innovation.

In 2024 Russia, being the Chair of the BRICS, established the following key topics of the Forum:

  • artificial intelligence
  • digital humanities
  • environmental climate technologies
  • nature-like and convergent technologies as drivers for sustainable future.

The Forum has traditionally hosted the BRICS Young Innovator Prize, which aims to encourage talented young researchers from the BRICS countries, identify and promote new products, services, production and market launch methods, as well as stimulate innovation entrepreneurial activities among young generations of the BRICS countries.

This year, application selection was carried out in the following areas:

  • green technologies for the chemical industry
  • green technologies for the food industry
  • green technologies for the agricultural industry
  • artificial intelligence technologies.

This year’s Prize was marked by the establishment of a special nomination “Palladium in Future Technologies” (awarded separately). The total prize fund of the BRICS Young Innovator Prize reached 60 000 US dollars. Evaluation of the innovative projects was conducted by an expert panel of judges from the BRICS countries.

Following the results of the Prize, Thiago Edwiges, professor at the Federal Technological University of Parana (Brazil), took the first place for his project on the utilization of waste from the sugar and alcohol chain. Second place went to Yuan Wu, professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, with a project on the application of single-atomic zinc oxide in the rubber industry. Third place was given to Dmitry Shadrin from Russia, head of the research group at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, who presented a project on the system for natural fire forecasting. Xin Cai from China with a project on the development of the Palladium-based catalysts for hydrogen energy became the winner of the special nomination “Palladium in future technologies”.

This year, the BRICS Young Scientist Forum was partially held on the margins of the IV Young Scientists Congress, a key annual event of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia. Bringing together two important events, representatives of the BRICS countries had an opportunity to participate in the Congress’ agenda and establish new professional contacts with young researchers from Russia.

Apart from the official agenda, intense scientific and cultural programs were organized within the event. BRICS delegates participated in interviews with representatives of the key Russian companies that supported the Prize, such as Nornickel, SIBUR, Vyzov Foundation, PhosAgro and EFKO. They also visited Sirius Educational center, toured various laboratories, attended an Atomic Tea Ceremony hosted by Rosatom and enjoyed watching and discussing Russian scientific films about future food, research infrastructures and the history of exploring Russia.

More than 170 talented young researchers and innovators from the BRICS countries participated in the event. In 2024, the BRICS Young Scientist Forum was held for the first time in an expanded format, bringing together representatives from nine BRICS nations: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, the UAE, Russia, and South Africa.

The next BRICS Young Scientist Forum and the BRICS Young Innovator Prize are to be held in 2025 in Brazil.