The decision to establish the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Young Scientist Forum (YSF) was taken at the 2^nd BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting in Brazil in March 2015. The 1^st BRICS YSF was held in Bangalore, India in September 2016. At the 4^th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur, India in October 2016, the BRICS countries agreed to hold the BRICS YSF on a rotational basis. The 2^nd BRICS YSF was held in Hangzhou, China in July 2017. The 3^rd forum was held in Durban, South Africa in June 2018. Moreover, the 4^th BRICS YSF was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2019. The 5^th forum was held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chelyabinsk, Russia in September 2020. The 6^th BRICS YSF was hosted by India in September 2021. The 2022 7^th BRICS YSF (in a hybrid format) was hosted in August in
Xiamen, China.

South Africa assumed the BRICS rotational Presidency on 1 January 2023 and will host the 15^th BRICS Summit in August 2023. In line with the established tradition of previous BRICS Summits, South Africa will host a wide range of BRICS activities leading up to and following the Summit, including the BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting and the BRICS Academies of Sciences meetings.

As part of its BRICS STI activities, South Africa will host the 8^th BRICS YSF in line with the decision taken at the BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting held in October 2016, in Jaipur.

The main goals of the 8^th BRICS YSF are: 

• To provide a platform for talented BRICS young scientists and researchers to exchange perspectives on transformative change and forge sustainable research partnerships, links, and networks;
• To promote youth driven creative solutions to the most pressing socio-economic problems in their societies;
• To promote scientific cooperation/​science diplomacy dialogues amongst the BRICS emerging researchers and countries beyond the summit; and
• To promote the interconnectedness of society through research and innovation for inclusive and sustainable development.

This call is open to early career researchers who are under the age of forty (40) as on 31 July 2023.

• Not have attended a previous BRICS Young Scientist Forum
• Be in possession of at least a Master’s degree
• Have research interests in the thematic areas listed
• Commit to being present for the duration of the conference
• Submit an abstract that will be the basis for a presentation at the conference

The selection of Indian participants for participating in the BRICS-YSF Conclave 2023 shall be made by an Expert Selection Committee to be constituted by DST. The selection shall be based on the assessment of the information provided by the applicant in the application form and the reference letter(s). Up to 20 participants will be selected by the Department of Science and Technology (Govt. of India). 

Submission process:

• Send your application as a single PDF file (named with your full name), that includes the main application, resume, reference letter, and endorsement letter (in the same order)
• Endorsement letter has to be issued by the head of the Institution. Reference letters can be anyone who knows the work.
• Attach the application form and email to Prof D Suba Chandran at bricsysf@​nias.​res.​in, with a cc to subachandran@​nias.​res.​in
• Applications should reach on or before 08 July 2023.

No other form and/​or channel of submission of the application shall be entertained. Hardcopies are not required to be submitted.

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