Skills Development Agency, with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Government of Sverdlovsk Region, and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, is pleased to announce the BRICS Hi-Tech Future Skills Competition "Hi-Tech: Skills of the Future" (hereinafter the Competition).

The Competition will take place from 9 to 13 November 2026 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, bringing together more than 1,000 competitors, experts, technology companies, educational institutions and industry representatives from around the world.

The Competition serves as an effective mechanism for advancing digital skills and emerging technologies, building on the outcomes and recommendations of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Project implemented under the auspices of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Competition is a large-scale international initiative aimed at developing technological cooperation and human resource potential of enterprises to jointly address technological challenges. Its objectives include identifying and implementing advanced technologies in industrial production, improving staff qualifications, optimising production processes, and exchanging breakthrough solutions and skills.

As a preparatory stage for the Competition, the Qualification Selection will be held in September 2026 in the format of intensive online programs (hereinafter Skills Camps) delivered by leading international experts in advanced technology fields. Based on BRICS Hi-Tech standards, the Skills Camps combine practical training with skill assessment, enabling participants to benchmark their skills internationally, and qualify for participation in the final stage of the Competition.

Skills Camps will be of great interest and benefit to a wide range of professionals, including employees of industrial enterprises, engineers and technologists, educators and students from specialised educational institutions, as well as representatives of technology companies and startups who are eager to develop hi-tech skills and build international professional connections.

Participating in the Qualification Selection gives participants a host of unique opportunities:

• to join practical online training sessions led by top international experts in cutting-edge technology fields (Skills Camps);
• to get an official Certificate of Participation that verifies their professional skills;
• to share professional experience with colleagues from around the world and grow their international professional network;
• to qualify for the Competition Final in Yekaterinburg - provided they successfully complete the Qualification Selection.

Participants who successfully complete the Qualification Selection will be eligible to participate in the Competition Final in Yekaterinburg. For participants demonstrating the highest results the host party will fully cover travel and participation expenses in the Competition Final, including flights, accommodation, and meals.

We invite you and representatives of your organisation to take part in the Qualification Selection of the BRICS Hi-Tech Future Skills Competition.

The program is delivered online and comprises approximately 14 hours of training over three days. More detailed information on the schedule, timeline, and program of Skills Camps is provided in the attachment of this letter (attachment 1).

For more detailed information about the Competition please visit the official website: https://inpdp.org/en/hi_tech2026/.

Contact person: Alina Bugaeva, Head of Direction, the Department of International Cooperation at Skills Development Agency (e-mail: a.bugaeva@arpm.pro, tel.: +7 (915) 126-24-11).

Attachment: 1. Schedule of Skills Camps