The institutes take pride in creating value by hosting the South Africa BRICS Think Tank (SABTT), and representing South Africa on the BRICS Think Tank Council (BTTC), a structure that coordinates intellectual developmental issues for member states including development policies and plans. In assuming the role of South African BRICS Think Tank custodian, the NIHSS convenes opportunities for research cooperation among BRICS partners in the Global South. The Institute also advances proactive engagement of policy makers and non-state actors in dialogue and discussion on BRICS-related matters, thereby playing its part in advising government and civil society on development. Key activities in realising the full value of the South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT) are international research collaborations, seminars, workshops and conferences and, ultimately, the research outputs delivered, and the conversion of these into policy advice furthermore to pursue its mandate of developing initiatives that contribute towards a better and safer world order through peaceful diplomacy and multilateralism. One of the programmes of the SABTT is the BRICS Research Cluster Projects, which allows the NIHSS to play a vital role in organising joint-research, networking, and exchange programs with a view of addressing the five-research thematic outlined in the BRICS Long-Term Strategy. The SABTT seeks to establish research institutes within existing research institutes residing within public higher education institutions, as well as within research institutes to promote cooperation within and among BRICS countries on various issues. For more information visit the SABTT website