Entries open for 8th Brics Young Innovator Prize
Section
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has launched Brics Young Innovator Prize with the objective to stimulate, intensify and exploit technological innovation to improve economic growth and the quality of life for all South Africans.
The planned thematic area of the contest is: Artificial Intelligence applied to Public Service Solutions. How can emerging technologies improve the lives of citizens in BRICS countries? Projects on other topics will not be considered.
The 8th BRICS Young Innovator Prize will be a part of the 10th BRICS Young Scientist Forum (Forum) that will take place on September 15th -17th, 2025 in Brasilia, Brazil, under the Brazilian presidency in the BRICS group.
Funding Information
- Successful participants will receive the following prizes after applicable verification and subject to compliance with the rules and conditions of the BRICS Young Innovator Prize:
- First Prize: twenty-five thousand dollars (USD 25,000).
- Second Prize: fifteen thousand dollars (USD 15,000).
- Third Prize: ten thousand dollars (USD 10,000).
Eligible Projects
- Requirements for the Projects:
- The submitted projects must be innovative.
- Projects must be in the pre-market stage, meaning they are not available for widespread consumer acquisition and are not offered to the public, even in local markets. They accept projects that are in the phases of limited product testing, non-serial production, certification, or preparation for market launch.
- The BRICS Young Innovator Prize focuses on projects that should/could be used to improve their respective sectors/ industries. The projects should address significant social, economic, developmental or environmental challenges and offer innovative solutions designed to improve the quality of life in contemporary BRICS societies.
- Corporate innovations are not accepted (e.g. projects developed by the employees of a technology Company). Also, the project should not be merged with any other technology company and not be in the process of being merged at the time of participation in the Prize.
Eligibility Criteria
- Requirements for the Participants:
- Candidates must be under the age of forty (40) by Dec 31st, 2025.
- Affiliation Candidates must be affiliated with BRICS countries by nationality (born or naturalized) or residency (permanent residency visa).
- Only one project may be submitted per candidate.
- Candidates must be the initial authors of the submitted project.
Application Requirements
- Submissions must Contain the Following Documents:
- Application form (completed, signed and dated).
- Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae/Biography.
- Photo of the nominee (image must be larger than 250*300 pixels).
- Information and research data pertaining to the submitted innovative project (may be provided in various formats, including Microsoft Word Documents, PowerPoint presentations, as well as photo and video materials).
- The Application Form must contain the Following Information:
- Nominee’s details/information.
- Nomination Statement (up to 300 words).
- Innovative Project Statement (up to 300 words).
- Information on the participation in innovation awards/competitions/achievements.
- All personal and project information must be submitted in English.
- The application form cannot be changed in its respective contents after being sent to the Ministry.
