BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministerial Meeting: Enabling Inclusive, Sustainable Development Through Knowledge Partnerships

The 2023 BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting brought together high-level representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss policy developments, national progress, and priority investments. The gathering aimed to promote cooperation, learning, and initiatives with strategic impact.

South Africa’s Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation

South Africa celebrated a significant milestone with the adoption of its Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership. The Plan emphasizes consensus, coordination, collaboration, and public-private partnerships to place science, technology, and innovation at the core of South Africa’s growth agenda.

Innovation and Skills Compact

The Innovation and Skills Compact, supported by government, business, civil society, and academic leaders, aims to reform regulations, foster closer collaboration between higher education and employers, and fund research and development. The focus is on addressing societal challenges through a multidisciplinary approach, with social sciences and humanities as priority areas.

Key Themes and Priority Areas

The recent BRICS Young Scientist Forum and the Annual BRICS Young Innovators Prize addressed key themes such as climate change, environmental sustainability, and the future of education, reflecting shared priorities among all BRICS countries. South Africa is eager to bolster collaboration in priority areas such as vaccine manufacturing, hydrogen economy, and marine sciences.

Hydrogen Society Roadmap and Blue Economy

South Africa’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap aims to exploit the country’s platinum metals group reserves and develop hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for areas like transport decarbonization and green hydrogen production. South Africa’s commitment to marine sciences and developing a Blue Economy is demonstrated by the Nelson Mandela University’s Ocean Sciences Campus, which serves as a hub for transdisciplinary ocean sciences research.

Science Diplomacy and Multilateralism

Science diplomacy is identified as a cross-cutting strategic priority in the Decadal Plan. Cooperation with Global South partners and strengthening multilateralism through the BRICS partnership is seen as a significant priority. South Africa, as chair of BRICS in 2023, will advance additional initiatives, such as the first BRICS Conference on Technology Foresight and technical exchanges on indigenous knowledge systems.

Joint BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation Partnerships

South Africa’s Minister Blade Nzimande calls for joint BRICS science, technology, and innovation partnerships with other strategic actors in the developing world. He invites all BRICS partners to join South Africa in advancing the Pan-African agenda for science and innovation, with solidarity and a commitment to development at the forefront.

By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among BRICS nations, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting aims to drive inclusive, sustainable development in a rapidly changing world. The BRICS partnership serves as a valuable platform for promoting global cooperation and progress, particularly in the face of unprecedented challenges.