On November 13, 2020 the 8th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, one of the key events under the Russian chairmanship in BRICS, was held. The results of cooperation in science, technology and innovations were summed up, the BRICS STI Declaration 2020 was adopted and the Calendar of BRICS STI Activities for the next year was approved.

The meeting took place on the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the BRICS Memorandum of Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation. The Russian Federation was represented by the head of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov.

“The stability of the dialogue once again testifies to the special importance of interaction between the BRICS countries. Long-term partnership is also confirmed by the successful 5-year implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, which laid the legal basis for the progressive development of scientific and technical cooperation. And, as a result, this year I am pleased to note the productive holding of more than 20 events in the priority areas marked in the document,” said Valery Falkov, opening the meeting.

The 2020 Declaration marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the BRICS Memorandum of Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation and commended the significant progress in cooperation between the BRICS countries achieved in the field of scientific and technical cooperation since 2015. The results of scientific, technical and innovative cooperation within the framework of the BRICS countries for this period are reflected in a specially prepared compendium “BRICS STI Overview”.

The Declaration also emphasizes the successful activities of the STI BRICS Steering Committee, formed in 2019 following the adopted concept of the “New architecture of the STI BRICS”. In terms of pandemics, facing the challenges of 2020, the Steering Committee has proven its effectiveness in coordinating the STI activities.

Photos: Kirill Kallinikov / Host-photo agency brics-russia2020.ru

The 2020 Declaration also highlights the cooperation of BRICS scientists to counter coronavirus infection. In a short time, a call for multilateral research projects of the BRICS countries in 2020 was organized and launched. Prior to the call launch six expert discussions were held with the participation of more than 300 representatives of the scientific and business communities from all countries of the interstate association.

The Calendar of Activities adopted at the Meeting contains events planned in all BRICS countries in such areas as biotechnology and biomedicine, photonics, astronomy, materials science, as well as in the field of technology transfer and innovation, entrepreneurship development and innovative partnership.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil Marcos Pontes, Union Minister, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Science &. Technology, Earth Sciences of India Harsh Vardhan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China Huang Wei, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa Phil Mjwara.

Photos: Kirill Kallinikov / Host-photo agency brics-russia2020.ru

The next meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology and Innovation will take place in India, which will chair in BRICS interstate alliance in 2021.