How October BRICS+ Initiatives in Culture and Education Create New Business Opportunities?

In early October, the BRICS+ cultural and creative agenda in Russia moved to specific platforms and tools: from October 24 to 26, Karachay-Cherkessia will host the "Crossroads of Civilizations" international film festival, with participation from 13 countries and partnership with the BRICS TV channel. The organizers received over 150 submissions, including from Brazil, South Africa, and India, as reported by TASS. Concurrently, the "Russian Creative Week — 2025" concluded with over 5,000 participants, 516 speakers from 7 countries, and 15 signed agreements, including collaborations with the Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the "Khudozhniki.RF" platform, and JSC "National Register of Intellectual Property," as emphasized by Komsomolskaya Pravda.

What events catalyzed the "stitching together" of the BRICS+ cultural and creative agenda in early October?

The catalyst was a package of diverse events simultaneously covering content production, education, and B2B communications. At the Moscow Startup Summit on October 1–2, an application was launched providing access to the entire guest database for scheduling meetings with entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations—a tool for converting short contacts into deals, as reported by Lenta.ru. From October 5 to 12, the 12th International Festival of Children's and Family Cinema "Zero Plus" will take place in Tyumen, featuring 200 films from over 30 countries and a separate "Film Pedagogy" forum with participants from BRICS countries, as informed by URA.Ru.

The Youth BRICS Festival in Kazan, uniting schoolchildren from 32 countries, also strengthens the talent pipeline. Ural teams excelled in robotics, mathematics, and informatics, earning the right to enroll in Kazan University, as noted by "Vesti Ural."

Collectively, this forms a dense October calendar focused on youth, education, and rapid business connections.

How are key BRICS+ institutions responding and expanding interaction infrastructure?

The direct response involves launching targeted programs and expanding presence. The international "Woman Leader. BRICS+" track has opened for participants aged 25+ from BRICS countries and partners, with applications accepted until October 21 on the "Russia — A Land of Opportunities" platform. The in-person module will be held in late November 2025 at the "Senezh" Management Workshop, as reported by SenatInform. Simultaneously, Purnima Anand, President of the International Forum of BRICS Countries, visited Dagestan and announced plans to include the region and Caucasian peoples in BRICS interaction programs, as reported by IslamNews.

The institutional framework is supported by G20 parliamentarians: Valentina Matviyenko affirmed the course towards equal access for developing countries to resources and noted the work of the New Development Bank and the establishment of the SCO Development Bank as support mechanisms. She also stated the continuation of food supplies to needy countries, as indicated in her address at the Summit of Chairpersons of Parliaments (P20) in Cape Town.

What systemic shifts is this cultural and educational impulse leading to?

The main trend is the convergence of content, education, and deals: festivals and forums create a sustainable funnel for talent and IP, while monetization tools are simultaneously being developed, from networking applications for meetings to intellectual property turnover agreements.

"Our Russian model is unique. It emphasizes development not only in megacities and clusters but also a distributed development system in small towns and even villages—focusing not only on economic success but also on social significance and values in creative products."

This framework was outlined by Marina Mongush, President of ANO "Creative Economy." At the "Russian Creative Week — 2025" platform, 15 agreements were signed, including with the Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, "Khudozhniki.RF," and the National Register of Intellectual Property, as summarized by Komsomolskaya Pravda.

What tactical opportunities and risks are opening up for companies from BRICS+ countries right now?

The short answer: October offers a rare density of entry points—from networking to educational collaborations and festival presence—but competition for attention and program slots is high.

• Networking and Deals: The Moscow Startup Summit app already provides access to the guest database and meeting requests (organizers: Moscow Government and Sber; dates: Oct. 1–2; SberCity).
• Content and Distribution: The "Crossroads of Civilizations" festival (Oct. 24–26, Karachay-Cherkessia) is partnered with BRICS TV, featuring four categories (short film, documentary, feature film, animation) and a public choice award.
• Education and Talent: "Crossroads of Civilizations" has an educational program planned at the College of Arts (School of Creative Industries); "Zero Plus" is hosting the "Film Pedagogy" forum with experts, including educators from BRICS countries.
• Youth Pipeline: The results of the Youth BRICS Festival in Kazan confirm STEM competencies and offer enrollment benefits—an opportunity for early recruitment and mentorship.
• Leadership and DEI: The international "Woman Leader. BRICS+" track is open until October 21—an opportunity for professional development and international connections.
• Competition Risk: Over 150 applications were submitted for "Crossroads of Civilizations" from 13 countries, with limited selection slots; alternative formats of participation (masterclasses, pitch sessions, jury meetings) should be prepared.
• Timing: Key events are concentrated in the first half of October; for maximum impact, prompt coordination between marketing, HR, and BD teams is necessary.

What should companies and institutions do: a practical plan for the next two weeks?

• Book B2B slots and meetings through the Moscow Startup Summit application and prepare a one-pager in advance tailored to the interests of investors and corporations.
• Synchronize participation in festivals with educational activities: offer case sessions and workshops within the programs of "Crossroads of Civilizations" and "Film Pedagogy."
• For creative economy teams: track the agreements from "Russian Creative Week — 2025" (Research Financial Institute of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, "Khudozhniki.RF," National Register of IP) and correlate them with their own IP and monetization roadmaps.
• Nominate women leaders for the international "Woman Leader. BRICS+" track (deadline October 21) with a set of recommendation letters and cases of international cooperation.
• In the North Caucasus regions: utilize the visit of the President of the International Forum of BRICS Countries to establish direct contacts and integrate projects into future interaction programs.

Conclusion: The October "assembly" of BRICS+ cultural, educational, and business platforms in Russia creates a window for accelerated access to talent, content, and partners—provided there is rapid organizational presence and focused use of available tools.