PORA supported the business game «BRICS+ Model: Arctic Track» at the Presidential Academy in St. Petersburg

In early November 2026, the business game «BRICS+ Model: Arctic Track» took place in the «Boiling Point» space of the Presidential Academy in St. Petersburg. The event was organized by the Student Scientific Society of the Department of International Relations together with the Center for Arctic Research and Projects (CARI) of RANEPA, with grant support from the Expert Center «Project Office for Arctic Development» (PORA). Methodological preparation was provided by participants of the Russian Science Foundation project No. 25-18-00379 «Modeling Arctic Cooperation within BRICS.»

The game brought together 50 participants from the Presidential Academy in St. Petersburg, HSE University, St. Petersburg State University, RSUH, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. Over five hours, delegates modeled the work of a BRICS summit, discussed the Arctic agenda, and proposed new initiatives and forms of cooperation among BRICS+ states in the region. The result of the work was the agreement on a draft framework document on the Arctic, which incorporated the participants’ own initiatives.

The work of the young diplomats was evaluated by an expert jury, which included Anton Vasiliev, Director of the CARI Project at RANEPA and a PORA expert. The experts noted the high level of preparation of the participants, the substantive nature of the proposed initiatives, and the maturity of the negotiating solutions. Following the game, winners were determined in the nominations «Best Delegation,» «Best Diplomat,» and «Best Editorial Team.»

«The BRICS+ Model was held at the highest level: thoughtful organization, a strong expert lineup, and a truly lively atmosphere of negotiations. I am very glad that I had the chance to be part of this event,» shared Eva Mikheeva, a student at HSE University in St. Petersburg. «Perhaps what I liked most were the free negotiations. That’s where all the most interesting things happened,» noted Karina Ageeva, a student at the Presidential Academy in St. Petersburg.

Support for the business game at the Presidential Academy is part of the Project Office for Arctic Development’s systematic work to involve young people in the Arctic agenda, emphasized Maxim Dankin, Director General of PORA and a member of the Public Chamber of Russia.

Earlier, in October 2026, the PORA Expert Center and the Scientific Student Society of MGIMO under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the Arctic Youth Project Laboratory BRICS Project Lab Arctic 3.0. The laboratory brought together young participants from Russia, India, and other countries who were to work on project tasks from industrial partners: in addition to PORA, cases were provided to participants by PJSC Gazprom, FSUE State Trust Arktikugol, the FESCO transport group, and LLC Payment Center V ALTER. A total of 480 applications were submitted for participation.

And on November 9, Maxim Dankin took part in the first meeting of the council of the scientific and educational cluster «Arctic,» held at Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia in St. Petersburg. The head of the PORA Expert Center presented the organization’s key areas of activity, with particular attention to cooperation with the university, international projects, and support for the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North.