HSE Students Represent Russia at BRICS+ Youth Innovation Summit in Pretoria
In May 2024, Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, hosted the BRICS+ Youth Innovation Summit, where students from HSE University represented Russia. They successfully defended their business projects and were among the top 15 speakers, winning the event. The summit was organised by the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA).
The goal of the summit was to unite young researchers and entrepreneurs from BRICS+ countries to exchange knowledge and experience, develop innovative scientific solutions, and discuss prospects for youth cooperation within the bloc. The organisers noted that over 400 young researchers applied, with 70 being selected to present their projects to an international audience.
The Russian delegation included HSE students:
Elizaveta Fadeeva, International Relations bachelor’s programme;
Kirill Medvedev, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology bachelor’s programme;
Yana Kozhaga, Law bachelor’s programme;
Anna Sukhanova, Business Management bachelor’s programme;
Lidia Nikitina, Southeast Asia: Languages, History, Cultures bachelor’s programme.
The delegation was led by Nikita Makshanov, Chief Expert of the HSE Foreign Affairs Analytical Support Centre and Editor of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia.
Each participant prepared and defended an individual business project in one of five sections. As a result of the summit, Elizaveta Fadeeva took first place in the ‘Inclusive Innovation’ section, Kirill Medvedev took second place in the ‘Health Tech and Biotechnology’ section, and Yana Kozhaga took third place in the ‘Education Technology (EdTech)’ section. The students shared their impressions of the event and the trip as a whole.
Elizaveta Fadeeva presented a project dedicated to developing a special AI-based service that helps companies employ people with disabilities.
‘At the summit, I managed to present my project on inclusive employment. I had nurtured this idea for quite some time but lacked the resources and motivation to bring it to life,’ she said. ‘However, after receiving positive feedback from South African representatives, I realised that now might be the right time and place to introduce something new to the world. We agreed with South African representatives to partner in implementing this project—and now I will give it a try! In addition to the summit, the safari trip evoked a ton of emotions. Seeing The Lion King heroes in real life was an unforgettable experience.’
Kirill Medvedev focused on a phage cocktail for the prevention of mastitis in cows and the development of an ML platform for assembling effective phage cocktails. ‘This trip allowed me to present my project internationally and learn that the solutions I proposed are relevant for South Africa and the region as a whole,’ he said. ‘I encountered a completely new culture, including in terms of business, and made many new acquaintances from African countries and BRICS. I am also very glad I went on the safari and saw the truly unique nature of South Africa.’
Yana Kozhaga presented the Ekii app, which helps in the study and preservation of rare and endangered minority languages in BRICS countries.
‘This was an amazing experience of public speaking practice in English, especially in front of BRICS representatives. Moreover, I am very glad that I managed not only to present my project but also to get much-needed feedback,’ she noted. ‘It was clear how deeply my topic touched African colleagues; they actively asked questions, supported me, and gave advice. Now I know in which direction to develop; I have many friends and like-minded people from around the world, and I am motivated to return and explore the rest of Africa. I am in love with this hospitable country and its kind and open people! The safari thrilled me, fulfilling my dream of seeing giraffes, lions, antelopes, and famous African landscapes from movies in real life, up close. I am grateful to HSE University and SABYA for such an incredible opportunity!’
Anna Sukhanova talked about the Mental Buddy app with a built-in virtual assistant (neural network) that can consult patients on mental health issues. ‘The trip to South Africa for the BRICS+ Youth Innovation Summit was an unforgettable experience filled with new impressions and opportunities,’ she emphasised. ‘The first thing that struck me in this country was its diversity and natural beauty. Participation in the summit allowed me to meet representatives from different countries, exchange experiences and ideas, and discuss current global issues. What I remember most is pitching my project for the first time. The safari trip also left unforgettable impressions, seeing elephants, lions, and giraffes in the wild was incredible!’
In her report, Lidia Nikitina proposed a way to solve the global problem of food waste while involving as many people as possible and ensuring everyone receives material rewards.
‘The summit is primarily memorable for the people, as there was a lot of amazing networking; I made friends with people from Brazil, South Africa, Lesotho, and China, with whom I stay in touch and will definitely meet again. All the projects presented at the summit addressed relevant global issues, so attending the pitches was equally interesting,’ she said. ‘I also managed to travel a bit around the country and see both cultural attractions and the wildlife of Africa. It was unforgettable!’
The top six winners of the BRICS+ Youth Innovation Summit received support from SABYA and partners and an invitation to participate in other international entrepreneurship and business programmes. In June 2024, they attended the 27th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
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