Midrand, Johannesburg, 1 October 2018 - YOUNG innovators and entrepreneurs from across the globe will converge on Midrand in Johannesburg this week to participate in the inaugural BRICS 2018 Future Skills Challenge.

The event is an offshoot of the BRICS Business Council and will see hundreds of international and global delegates participate in key challenges while also exhibiting the very latest in cutting edge technology.

Also, in attendance will be members of the diplomatic corp as well as several South African innovation agencies and state-owned entities and multinational companies from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The countries represent the BRICS block of nations formed to foster greater economic and developmental ties among emerging economies.The future skills challenge, meanwhile, is designed primarily as a competition for young innovators and entrepreneurs ranging from ages 18 to 35 from the BRICS countries.

Over three days, starting tomorrow (Tuesday) they will put their skills against each other in fields such as cyber security, data analytics, automation, industrial robotics, 3D printing and drone technology as well as other future skills in the engineering, transport, ICT and manufacturing sectors.

The primary aim of the BRICS 2018 Future Skills Challenge is to highlight and promote future technologies and the changing skills required as the world prepares for the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (commonly known as 4IR).

It is hosted by the Department of Higher Education and Training, the BRICS Business Council - which is currently chaired by South Africa - and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (merSETA).A media briefing will be held this afternoon by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, which will be followed by a cocktail function.The actual event runs from tomorrow (Tuesday) until Thursday at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, during which an exhibition will also be held boasting the very latest in technological advances by representatives from all BRICS countries.

On Friday afternoon another media briefing will be held by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Naledi Pandor, and which will be followed by a gala dinner. During the week several of the Ministers colleagues are expected to attend. They include the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, the Minister of Science and Technology, Mamoloko Kubayi, as well as several Mayors from Gauteng and Ambassadors and Consul-Generals from the BRICS countries Speaking about the relevance of such a global initiative, Deputy Higher Education and Training Minister, Buti Manamela, said: “The collaboration of young people in skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship has a potential to provide solutions to many of our development challenges.

But, for the collaboration to be effective, it has to be sustained.”Chairman of the BRICS Business Council, Dr Iqbal Surve, said the initiative provided a platform to showcase the talents of the youth as well as promote the skills required to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He said: “It has become increasingly important to skill-up our young people. In particular, to participate in an economic system which is being promulgated by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”-ENDS-

Issued By: Cheryl Naidu: PR Liaison (At Vogue Communications)
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