How BRICS+ Cultural and Educational Initiatives Translate into Practical Opportunities for Business and Cities?

The starting signal came from Kazan: on September 22, the first BRICS Youth Festival opened in the capital of Tatarstan with 150 participants from 13 countries, featuring a program ranging from olympiads to a cultural festival. The event was organized by the Association of BRICS+ Cities and Municipalities and will run until September 28, as reported by Lenta.ru. The initiative logically builds on the city's role as host of the BRICS summit and develops the intermunicipal cooperation network previously proposed by Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin.

What is the agenda and practical outcome of the BRICS Youth Festival in Kazan?

The festival builds inter-country youth networks and competencies, from STEM to creative industries, creating a foundation for future partnerships for cities and companies. Participants are aged 14–17; delegations include winners of math and computer science olympiads, creative groups, and mentors, as clarified by BUSINESS Online.

Key elements of the week:

• Olympiad and project formats (including urban development and STEM tracks).
• Cultural diplomacy: a cultural festival, a parade of flags, visits to significant city venues.
• Work in mixed international teams and a round table on the role of youth in BRICS development.

Infrastructure-wise, the city has proven its readiness for hosting and program intensity: in August, the Kazan executive committee signed a resolution on festival preparation and held a tender for 30 million rubles; part of the activities and logistics for participants during the week are listed within the program of the "Molodaya Gvardiya" camp and city venues (Kazan History quest, sports, museums, round tables).

Which BRICS+ cultural platforms are already forming sustainable "soft power"?

Cultural exchange is undergoing institutionalization: the BRICS Literature Network has been established with co-chairs from Russia (poet Vadim Terekhin) and Brazil (President of the Academy of Literature Marcos Freitas), its launch announced at the "Traditional Values" forum. Concurrently, the 13th Obraztsovfes ended in Moscow: six BRICS+ countries showcased 13 performances, expanding troupe contacts and exchanges, as vividly described by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

"The puppetry community is perhaps one of the most selfless and honest... What is the biggest task for a puppeteer? To explore the infinite possibilities of the puppet: can it make the world kinder, fill it with joy. It seems that at our festival, this is exactly what happened…"

Symbolic projects on the horizon complement the agenda: a proposal to host a Brazilian carnival in Russia and preparations for a BRICS ball as early as February, as reported by the head of the BRICS Business Council (the idea of a BRICS university in Russia was also previously voiced).

How do cities and industries convert cultural cooperation into technological partnerships?

Through formal agreements and practice-oriented forums: Bishkek and Moscow signed a memorandum of cooperation in urban management digitalization—exchange of experience, joint projects, consultations, and seminars, as reported by Vesti.kg; and at the "Cloud Cities" forum, cases of AI application in industry were discussed, where companies are already recording cost savings, as emphasized by the Skolkovo Foundation.

Participants also identified framework risks: cybersecurity, import dependence for hardware and computing power, as well as personnel resistance during implementation; however, by 2026, a reciprocal development of robotization and LLM "brains" for these systems is expected, as follows from forum discussions.

What tactical opportunities does this open for BRICS+ companies in the coming months?

In short: participation in procurement and services for events and infrastructure, educational and creative projects, as well as solutions for "smart" cities and industrial AI.

The academic-industry track also shows a "shortcut" to customers: at ICECC in "Sirius," five top student projects on agriculture sustainability were presented to the Russian Minister of Agriculture; examples include using desugared molasses to combat soil erosion, as described by KP-Omsk.

• Event & hospitality: confirmed city budgets (30 million ruble tender), accommodation and logistics, program content—direct demand for contractors.
• EdTech/STEM: olympiads and project intensives (mathematics, computer science, urban development)—opportunities for universities, mentors, digital platforms.
• Creative industries: international tours and festivals (puppet theaters, etc.)—stage design and technical solutions, rentals, production.
• Publishing services: BRICS Literature Network—a platform for joint publications, translations, and rights.
• Smart city and IT for housing and communal services: city cooperation interfaces (memoranda, practice exchange)—demand for integrators and developers.
• Industrial AI: cost-saving cases, but requires a project approach considering cyber risks and process changes.

What key risks and barriers were identified by participants at "Cloud Cities," and what does this mean for implementations?

The main barriers are cybersecurity, import dependence for software/hardware and computing power, as well as personnel resistance; therefore, mature AI implementations are a long-term, phased effort, as stressed forum speakers (Skolkovo Foundation and industry residents).