BRICS Project 2.0 is a direct continuation of BRICS Project 1.0, building on its research foundation, institutional partnerships, and knowledge production outcomes. The second phase expands the focus and scope to deepen South–South cooperation and address shared development challenges across BRICS nations through knowledge sharing, innovation, and governance.

The BRICS research project of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) (now BRICS Research Institute – [BRICS-RI]) was funded by the NIHSS, which is responsible for the South African BRICS Think Tank. The project leader is Prof Fulufhelo Netswera (Executive Dean: Management Sciences at DUT), assisted by the institute’s team, i.e., Dr Ndivhuho Tshikovhi (Postgraduate Fellow at the Faculty of Management Sciences), Mrs Lucille August (Faculty Financial Officer), Ms Aifani Tahulela (PhD student at the Faculty), Ms Zamaswazi Cele (Recently Graduated Masters Student) and Ms Lillie Ferriol Prat (Masters Student at the Faculty) working together with eleven (11) other project team members from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations. The commencement date for this NIHSS funded project was 1 November 2022 and ends on 31 October 2024. The focus of the funded project (BRICS Project 2.0) was “Political and Economic Governance and Achieving Progress by Sharing Knowledge and Innovation.”

The obligatory project deliverables are:

• 20 journal articles,
• 2 conference papers,
• 4 books with the NIHSS acknowledgement,
• 3 hosted conferences,
• 2 hosted postgraduate forums,
• 1 BRICS summer school,
• 1 BRICS dialogue, and
• 1 workshop

The funding obligations include conducting fieldwork data collection and capacity building of postgraduate students (Master and Doctoral) in the BRICS nations, with a particular preference given to South Africa/South African citizens.

RESEARCH THEMES

The project team identified four themes for research in the BRICS Research Institute for the academic year 2023/4 and they are follows.

• Entrepreneurship and development research,
• New Development   Bank:   A     Catalyst  for    the    BRICS   Economic  Growth and Development,
• Climate emergency and challenges for BRICS countries, and
• BRICS people-to-people exchange and cultural integration through tourism and air

 Key Activities – BRICS Project 2.0

1. Project Coordination and Institutional Setup
• Established the BRICS Research Institute (BRICS-RI) at Durban University of Technology as the formal host of the project.
• Assembled a multidisciplinary core team across DUT and partner BRICS institutions.
2. Research and Knowledge Production
• Advanced four thematic research streams:
  • Entrepreneurship and Development
  • The New Development Bank as a Catalyst for BRICS Growth
  • Climate Change and Resilience
  • Cultural Integration through Tourism and Air Transport
• Supported the development of academic publications, including journal articles and edited books.
3. Capacity Building
• Conducted fieldwork and provided direct research support to Master’s and PhD students across BRICS nations, prioritizing South African citizens.
• Provided mentorship and supervision within thematic research areas.
4. Conferences and Forums
• Organized and hosted conferences, postgraduate research forums, a summer school, and workshops, creating platforms for academic exchange and collaboration.
5. International Collaboration
• Facilitated partnerships with institutions across BRICS countries through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
• Strengthened global South–South academic networks and policy dialogue through the BRICS Think Tank and NIHSS coordination.
6. Monitoring and Reporting
• Delivered progress reports to NIHSS, detailing achievements against agreed deliverables, including publications, events, and student development milestones

Dr Ndivhuho Tshikovhi – Project lead

Prof Elton Fernandes – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Prof Bruno de Conti – University of Campinas, Brazil

Prof Andrea Santos– Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Prof Maria Apanovich– Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Russia

Prof Sergei Smirnov– Saint Petersburg State University, Russia

Prof Sriram Divi– Pandit Deendayal Energy University, India

Prof Xiaolong Zou– Jilin University, China