MGIMO and PORA Join Forces for Arctic Development

On July 2, 2026, a working meeting was held at MGIMO University of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following which the parties signed a cooperation agreement. The meeting was attended by Maksim Dankin, Director General of PORA; Ekaterina Serova, Head of the International Department of the PORA Expert Center; Anton Podshivalov, Advisor to the Rector’s Office — Deputy Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy at MGIMO; and Anastasia Voitsitskaya, Head of the Student and Alumni Affairs Department at MGIMO.

The parties discussed opportunities for exchanging experts, lecturers, and specialists to participate in educational, scientific, and outreach events; organizing practical training and internships for MGIMO students at the PORA Expert Center’s platform; and implementing joint expert, research, and educational projects on Arctic development, international humanitarian cooperation, and sustainable development.

The meeting participants paid special attention to scaling up and making regular the successful practice of the BRICS LAB Youth Arctic Laboratory — an initiative implemented with the support of MGIMO and with the participation of industrial partners of the PORA Expert Center. In late February – early March 2026, the laboratory’s work was held at the PORA Moscow venue. The laboratory will focus on solving applied business challenges in the Arctic Zone, analyzing mechanisms for attracting foreign capital to Russian projects, evaluating advanced international practices, and subsequently preparing analytical products.

«The agreement with MGIMO is a strategic step in developing the human resources and scientific potential of Russia’s Arctic Zone. Combining our efforts will make it possible to train specialists with a deep understanding of the specifics of Arctic business. We are placing particular emphasis on strengthening the BRICS Arctic Laboratory: today, more than ever, it is crucial to find mechanisms for attracting foreign investment into Arctic projects and to disseminate best international practices to Russian companies,» noted Maksim Dankin.

«The integration of MGIMO’s academic foundation and the practical experience of the PORA Expert Center opens up new opportunities for solving business challenges in the Arctic. Engaging students in real-world cases in climate, logistics, and resource extraction, as well as developing dialogue with a number of foreign counterparts, will allow us to create sought-after applied solutions and strengthen the position of Russian businesses in foreign markets,» said Ekaterina Serova.