On 26 April 2022, the BRICS Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development was held online and onsite by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) along with Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), and Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
Zhang Yaping, Vice President of CAS, Jonathan Jansen, President of ASSAf, Luiz Davidovich, President of ABC, Alexander Sergeev, President of RAS, Narinder Kumar Mehra, Vice President of INSA attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
Zhang Yaping, entrusted by CAS President Hou Jianguo, chaired the opening and gave the opening remarks on Prof. Hou’s behalf. Hou pointed out that this forum would provide an important platform for BRICS scientists, engineers, policy-makers and representatives of relevant international organizations to share knowledge, technology and experience. The forum would also be an effective means for the BRICS science community to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in sustainable development and implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He also stressed that the concerted efforts of BRICS Academies would forge a technological toolbox addressing the risks and challenges, promote digital development, and build a bridge for the exchanges and communication of BRICS countries, with a common goal of drawing a blueprint for a community with a shared future for mankind.
Participants from BRICS Academies of Sciences highly appreciated the significance of the forum, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of big data for sustainable development and agreed to advance jointly the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Prof. Guo Huadong, Director General of International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and Prof. Arutyun I. Avetisyan, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Sciences delivered the keynote presentations respectively.
Representatives from UNESCO Beijing Office, Committee on Data of International Science Council (CODATA), World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC), Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research of Finland, and Climate Change Research Strategies Center under the National Research Council of Thailand attended the forum in person or virtually.
During the forum, CBAS released the Data Products for BRICS countries formally. The products will provide data support for BRICS countries to carry out monitoring and research on relevant SDGs.
Five thematic parallel sessions on Big Data for SDGs were held, including food security and poverty alleviation, digital economy, urban development, climate actions and disaster reduction, and biodiversity conservation. The forum attracted more than 400 BRICS scientists, engineers, policy-makers, stakeholders, and representatives from relevant international organizations to communicate and explore the potential solution to global challenges to sustainable development. It also provides impetus to the implementation of UN 2030 Agenda through international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, especially based on big data.
Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences