Tatiana Bokova, Intern of the Russian National Committee on BRICS Research – special for InfoBRICS
Modern technologies are not only the source of economic growth but also the basis for the realization of global prosperity. Consequently, many states are seeking to develop science and technology through international cooperation. Currently, BRICS nations focus on strengthening, expanding and deepening cooperation in science and technology (S&T). In this article, we consider Science & Technology cooperation as the direction of BRICS partnership, and trace the results of cooperation in this area among the member countries of the association.
Since the first BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation in 2014, the participating countries have discussed and start organizing cooperation in areas of common interest and adopt several important documents that provide a legal framework for their cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI). The key documents that formalize cooperation in science and technology are the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation (the document that has become the primary tool for developing BRICS cooperation in STI). The BRICS STI Framework adopted by the Moscow Declaration of October 28, 2015, is the second fundamental document after the Memorandum of Understanding. It covers a wide range of issues as part of implementing the BRICS Science and Innovation Initiative and proposals for key areas and programs of cooperation of the group.
Besides the Memorandum, the successful implementation of BRICS S&T initiatives is carried out through implementing the commitments in the following documents, namely the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership, the annual BRICS STI declarations that highlight progress and outline areas for further development, regular meetings in this area, and the 2019-2022 BRICS S&T and Innovation Work Plan.
In addition to these documents, the BRICS Russian Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, which coordinated the activities of various bodies and organizations that determine and implement state policy in international scientific and technological cooperation within BRICS, as well as to implement R&D and innovation of the association, are important mechanisms for regulating the science and technology field. There are other BRICS research and innovation initiatives and mechanisms: Technology Foresight and STI Policy, the BRICS Water Forum, the BRICS Young Scientists Forum, the Meeting of Academies of Science, and others.
Currently, the member countries continue to progress in the S&T area. For example, on November 17, 2020, China announced the establishment of the BRICS Innovation Base in Xiamen, Fujian Province. The members of the association built this base as an important bridge and link for BRICS countries to deepen practical cooperation in the wave of the new industrial revolution, and as an essential platform for China to promote high-level openness and innovation. As a member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and secretary of the Xiamen City Party Committee noted, "Establishing the BRICS Innovation Base is a glorious mission and a great responsibility entrusted to Xiamen by the Party Central Committee".
Subsequently, in July 2021, the members agreed on the BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation (2021-2024) guided by science, technology and innovation (STI), proposed by India at the 12th meeting of the group's steering committee on science and technology. India also initiated the sharing of each other's innovation ecosystem experiences and the creation of networks of innovators and entrepreneurs, which will be elaborated by the BRICS Partnership on Science and Technology and Innovative Entrepreneurship (STIEP) working group.
BRICS member countries pay great attention to collaborative science and technology innovation, which is why the 10th BRICS Ministerial Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation was held in Beijing in September 2022. At the meeting, the parties reviewed the achievements of cooperation in science and technology innovation through video communication, and in-depth exchanges on BRICS policies and practices in science and technology innovation were held. As a result, the participating countries signed documents such as the "Declaration of the Tenth BRICS Ministerial Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation" and the "Work Plan (2022-2023).
The five academies of sciences also contribute greatly to the development of this field, as the academies join forces to create a technological "toolbox" to deal with current global risks and challenges, to jointly accumulate "treasures" of digital development, and to build a "bridge for exchanges and communication among the BRICS countries. For example, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has established the BRICS Sustainable Development Forum. The Big Data Forum aims to further promote scientific and technological cooperation among the BRICS countries in scientific and technological innovation.
The climate issue is also on the agenda of the heads of the five nations. For example, in December 2022, about 100 researchers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated in a BRICS workshop on climate forecasting, marine disaster prevention and mitigation. Besides environment matters, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are establishing partnerships in communication, information and digital technologies. This area is an important area of global development and is a key focus of BRICS cooperation, according to the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy, until 2025.
Participating countries also interact with each other in science and technology. If we consider Russia and India, the parties signed an Integrated Long-Term Programme of Cooperation (ILTP) for Science and Technology cooperation until 2020. This document recognized the growing importance of S&T for the socio-economic development of both nations. Over the 25-year period, ILTP has supported over 500 collaborative R&D projects and the establishment of 9 thematic centers in India and Russia, resulting in over 1500 joint publications and many new products, processes and facilities. In 2021, thanks to joint efforts, Russia and India conducted over 100 joint R&D activities on promising topics, including aviation, to create a solid foundation for the future development of high-tech industries in the two countries.
Russia also actively cooperates with China. In the past three years, the cooperation between the scientific and technological circles of China and Russia has achieved brilliant success. The Chinese Association of Science and Technology and the Russian Federation of Science, Technology and Industry are influential S&T organizations in the two countries. In the future, both sides will coordinate more organizations to support the S&T community in establishing cooperation mechanisms. South Africa and Russia are currently developing new projects in high-tech areas such as telemedicine and satellite technology, and the signed memorandums provide for joint work in such fundamental sectors of the African economy as agriculture, rational use of mineral resources and environmental protection. "We look forward to further expansion of diversified humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Africa, especially in higher education and scientific research," the two sides emphasized.
The BRICS nations are now speeding up their progress in developing emerging technologies and new industries based on their respective technological advantages and future market needs. The countries are striving to expand the field of scientific and technological cooperation and to give new impetus to the interaction. With the steady improvement in the economic and social development of the association's countries, S&T cooperation among members also deepens. Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa are promoting growth and transformation through innovation and are actively taking part in the wave of innovation and growth caused by smart manufacturing, the Internet, the digital economy and the sharing economy, deepening their strategic ties. In addition, BRICS members aim to cooperate in technology transfer and transformation, as well as to create a platform for collaboration between industry, universities, and research.
