Business programme 2023

There has recently been intensive rapprochement between Russia and Iran in all areas of life, including scientific and technical cooperation. Russia and Iran regularly hold forums of university rectors. Scientific cooperation between Russian and Iranian universities is intensifying. Student exchanges are on the rise. Russia provided 300 scholarships to Iranian students in April 2023. In Iran, interest in studying the Russian language at schools and universities is growing rapidly. However, not enough consideration has been given to the prospects for Russian-Iranian scientific cooperation and the reasons for insufficient student exchanges. The new challenges that young scientists and students in Russia and Iran face are related to sanctions and the sovereign provision of laboratories with modern equipment. The departure of foreign suppliers of equipment and reagents from the Russian and Iranian markets, complications with global supply chains, and the refusal of other countries to meet their repair and service obligations require new solutions from both the government and scientists. Such issues as equipping scientific laboratories, educational workshops, colleges, and medical centres and ensuring their stable operation are becoming critical for both states, as well as for public associations and scientists. What factors are hindering the growth of student exchange between Russia and Iran? Which sectors are the most promising for scientific cooperation? What is the best way to increase interest in the Persian language and literature among Russian humanities students? How can the two countries strengthen scientific cooperation in producing modern technologies, which is currently a particularly important and significant field? What prospects exist for Russian and Iranian specialists to intensify their joint work in scientific laboratories?

The advancement of Russian-African relations largely depends on fully unlocking their scientific potential. Youth scientific organizations play a special role in this process, since they create conditions for conducting effective research activities and also help to strengthen professional scientific ties between scientists who specialize in African studies. Research into economic, geopolitical, and sociocultural problems of modern societies is a key focus area for young Africanist scholars. What African studies centres currently exist in Russia? How can we build effective mechanisms of cooperation between them? How can the Second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum serve as a catalyst for attracting young scientists to African studies? What topics are of the greatest interest to African studies scholars in Russia today? What attracts young scientists from Africa to come to Russia to conduct their professional activities?

Russia and Belarus have common scientific research interests and are already collaborating in numerous areas, from space to biotechnology. At present, one of Russia’s top priorities in intensifying international cooperation is the creation of a common scientific and technological space with Belarus. Joint breakthrough research could be used for the development of the real sectors of the two countries’ economies and ensure their technological sovereignty and independence, including as part of efforts to further replace imports. What are the current priorities for the development of scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and Belarus? What is the best way to productively organize cooperation between scientists from the two countries? What support measures are needed to create joint projects?

In October 2023, the Perm Territory hosted its first satellite event of the III Young Scientists Congress with Russian scientists and representatives of the executive authorities and industrial companies in the region. Roughly 80 experts from 26 Russian cities immersed themselves in the specifics of the Perm Territory. What technologies have been proposed to eliminate environmental pollution in the Kama River? How can we boost the efficiency of enterprises in the Perm fuel and energy sector? In addition, what will make Perm a leader among smart cities, and how can we increase the number of engineering personnel in the region? How effective are the solutions that have been proposed for the goals set by the region? What is the further action plan for their implementation?

Russian science closely cooperates with the global research community based on the trend of increasing integration processes in scientific and technical matters. Cooperation in this regard is an integral part of effective interaction between states and is conducive to achieving a synergistic effect in economic development. The involvement of young foreign scientists and researchers in the process of conducting joint projects in priority areas of science, technology, and engineering is a key aspect of scientific and technical cooperation. Their direct communication with their Russian colleagues will help achieve the goals of the Strategy for the Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation and the Decade of Science and Technology in terms of increasing the level of Russia’s technological sovereignty and the competitiveness of Russian science through the proper integration of the intellectual resources of different countries. The roundtable participants will present projects in several areas that are currently at the forefront of research not only in their own countries, but throughout the world: climate research, ecology, energy, energy conservation, agrobiotechnology, agriculture, artificial intelligence, and technologies for monitoring the Earth's surface.

At present, cooperation between BRICS countries in science, technology, and innovation (STI) is one of the most rapidly developing and intense areas of interaction between the five member nations. In 2024, the chairmanship of the BRICS association will pass to Russia on a rotational basis. Particular attention will be paid to issues related to STI: more than 15 events are scheduled, which, among other things, aim to bolster collaboration among BRICS scientists, research teams, and innovators in such areas as large research infrastructure; astronomy; biomedicine and biotechnology; information and communication technologies and high-performance computing systems; energy efficiency; materials science and nanotechnology; photonics; oceanic and polar research; and solid-state (LED) light sources. Other noteworthy events include the Young Scientist Forum, the BRICS Young Innovators Competition, as well as the recap of the sixth competition of research competitions as part of the BRICS STI Framework Programme on the climate agenda. During Russia’s chairmanship, ambitious and strategically important flagship research projects are slated to be launched with the mandatory participation of all five countries. The discussion will include an overview of the BRICS STI architecture and existing mechanisms of interaction, as well as a debate about the prospects for cooperation among BRICS countries as part of Russia’s chairmanship, taking into account initiatives that Russia has announced to conduct international land and sea expeditions, as well as organize internship programmes and the exchange of scientists. What impact will the expansion of the BRICS association from 1 January 2024 have on scientific and technical cooperation?