Import of Personnel? Career Trajectories of Scientists in the BRICS Countries / N.Yu.Silaev, R.R.Tukumbetova, M.S.Ulizko. — Moscow: MGIMO-University Press, 2024. — 26 pages.

The potential for scientific collaboration among BRICS countries has long been discussed by researchers. The growing international tensions and uncertainty, which manifest themselves in both armed conflicts and sanction wars, raise questions about their technological sovereignty and resilience. All BRICS countries are making efforts toward scientific and technological development, at least by setting ambitious goals and energetically reforming their innovation systems.

Researchers have long discussed the prospects for scientific and technical cooperation among BRICS countries. Their innovation systems and science and technology policies, as well as advanced research and development directions, have been studied in detail. Scientometric databases allow for assessment of the publication activity of scientists from BRICS and BRICS+ countries and the potential for their cooperation. Analyzing the comparative advantages of BRICS countries in various research areas, alongside their high-tech import needs, helps identify the most promising areas for their cooperation.

But who are the people embodying the scientific and technological potential of BRICS countries? What are the sources of human potential for the intended innovative breakthroughs?

In this report, the authors attempt to explore the scientific potential of Russia’s BRICS partners, focusing not on academic articles published by their scientists or patents registered by their companies, but on the human potential of their academic communities.

The study was conducted as part of a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia for establishing a World-Class Research Center (agreement No. 075-15-2022-327).