Over 650 People Apply for BRICS Project Lab Arctic 2.0
February 11, 2026
The application period for the BRICS Project Lab Arctic 2.0 youth project laboratory has closed. A total of 656 applications were received, confirming high interest in the project among students and young professionals from Russia and other countries.
The competition’s geography spanned over 20 countries, including Belarus, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Morocco, Somalia, and others.
The average competition across all tracks was 21 people per place, and for in-person participation, it was nearly 28 people per place. Students from leading Russian and foreign universities took part in the competition. The highest number of applications came from students of MGIMO University, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), RUDN University, HSE University, RANEPA, and the Russian Foreign Trade Academy (RFTA).
The most popular track among participants was the one from the Project Office for Arctic Development (PORA), dedicated to issues of financing Arctic municipalities. The team of participants will analyse the international experience of European, North American, and Asian countries and assess which financial instruments are used at the municipal level and demonstrate the greatest practical effectiveness.
The BRICS Project Lab Arctic 2.0, organized by MGIMO University and the PORA Expert Center, is an international collaborative initiative. Participants will engage in addressing practical case studies provided by industry partners such as Gazprom Neft PJSC, PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, Arktikugol trust, and PORA. The project’s methodology involves analysing authentic data to develop solutions aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Arctic region across various domains including economics, law, and international relations.
«The in-person stage of the project laboratory will take place in Moscow at the end of February. Participants will gather at a single venue, work together on projects over several days, and then present the results of their work. Winners will be determined based on the presentations. The participants will gain valuable experience in practical work on real cases, and will also be able to personally communicate with Arctic experts, ask questions, and discuss practical aspects of the development of the macro-region,»
— noted Maksim Dankin, General Director of PORA Expert Center
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