Business Programme

The Russia–Africa Summits and the Economic and Humanitarian Forum provide a major boost to Russian-African cooperation. Joint scientific research, exchange programmes for specialists, and the practical application of scientific developments obtained through projects with international collaboration are of particular relevance to both sides. The session participants will discuss key trends and challenges facing modern science, as well as practical steps to adapt technologies and developments to the needs of Russia and African countries. Special attention will be paid to the role that young people play in developing Russian-African scientific cooperation and the specific mechanisms used for this purpose, such as: organizing joint youth scientific forums and programmes, supporting academic mobility and internships, improving coordination between associations of young scientists, and supporting joint scientific publications and research. What promising areas of research are being actively developed in Russia and Africa? What support measures for science are currently offered by the government and international development institutions? Which areas have opportunities for the implementation of joint research projects? What scientific diplomacy mechanisms are most effective in establishing strong ties between young scientists from Russia and Africa? How can the Coordinating Council contribute to the practical implementation of joint scientific projects?

For centuries, English has been the generally recognized ‘lingua franca’ for diplomatic, business, and academic interaction. However, changes in global politics and economics are causing societies around the work to ask: what is the future of their own national languages in the emerging multipolar world? The discussion will focus specifically on the fate of the Russian language, which more than 255 million people already speak and regularly use for communication, including world-class scientists, engineers, and technology entrepreneurs. What niche does the Russian language currently occupy and what niche could it occupy in the changing world? What measures and tools are needed to promote the Russian language as a language of diplomacy, soft power, and scientific, educational, and business cooperation? How can we make the most of the richness of the Russian language?

One of Russia’s national goals is to ensure that it is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of the scope of scientific research and development by 2030. The Strategy for the Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation aims to create conditions for constructive and mutually beneficial international cooperation that would help to attract young researchers with high-level scientific achievements to work in Russia in an effort to preserve the identity and enhance the effectiveness of Russian science. The strategic documents include a set of projects that seek to achieve technological sovereignty, boost the competitiveness of the R&D sector, attract foreign scientists to participate in research projects, and create new international research teams with such countries as India, China, Iran, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mongolia. The Russian Science Foundation regularly holds contests jointly with its foreign partners, as well as competitions for research projects by scientific groups led by young scientists. As part of the Mega Grants programme, 345 laboratories have been created and are successfully functioning. In 2024, the first competition was held to attract young foreign scientists to conduct research at Russian scientific and educational organizations. The Open Doors Association’s International Olympiad project was expanded in 2024 by launching a new track – postdocs, which aims to attract talented young foreign researchers with a doctoral degree to positions in research projects at leading Russian universities. What is the best way to choose promising research focuses? How can we predict trends in science? How is leadership established in science? How is global competitiveness in science assessed? How can scientists or the heads of scientific institutions or educational organizations remain at the forefront of science taking into account their personal experience? Having acquired this knowledge, how can they stay at the frontier of this research focus?

International cooperation in space exploration offers new opportunities for the integration of science, technology, and education. One promising trend is the creation and launch of small scientific and educational spacecraft into Earth’s orbit that develop digital services for the economy and social sector. Such projects require the joint efforts of research centres, universities, and technology companies from different countries. What are some of the mechanisms that can be used for international scientific and technical cooperation? How can we get young professionals involved in the development of new-generation space programmes? How do international space projects contribute to the development of digital services and the integration of university research into the economy? What are the most effective formats of international cooperation between universities for training personnel and carrying out space missions? How is the ecosystem taking shape for international cooperation that unites scientific research, industry, and education in the space sector?