The 3rd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting took place in Moscow, Russia in October 2015. This meeting was a follow-up to the 2nd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting held in Brasília, Brazil on March 18, 2015.Key points about the BRICS STI cooperation and the 2015 meetings:

1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): At the Brasília meeting in March 2015, the BRICS countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation. This MoU established a strategic framework for cooperation in priority areas among the BRICS nations.
2. Work Plan 2015-2018: The countries agreed to develop and negotiate a Work Plan for 2015-2018 based on the Brazilian proposal. This plan was to be approved at the next BRICS STI Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and signed at the subsequent Ministerial Meeting.
3. Priority Areas: The Work Plan focused on five priority areas, each led by a different BRICS country:
   a) Prevention and mitigation of natural disasters
   b) Water resources and pollution treatment
   c) Geospatial technology and its applications
   d) New and renewable energy, and energy efficiency
   e) Astronomy
4. Governance Structure: The BRICS STI cooperation is governed by three levels of meetings:
   • Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meetings
   • Senior Officials Meetings (SOM)
   • Working Group (WG) level meetings Moscow Declaration: At the Moscow meeting in October 2015, the BRICS science ministers adopted the Moscow Declaration, which encouraged cooperation in several areas, particularly highlighting “Biotechnology and Biomedicine including Human Health and Neuroscience”.
5. Increased Participation: The ministers encouraged increased participation of business, academia, and other relevant stakeholders in science, technology, and innovation development among BRICS countries.
6. BRICS Research and Innovation Initiative: The Work Plan 2015-2018 included the launch of the BRICS Research and Innovation Initiative, covering actions such as cooperation in major research infrastructures, coordination of existing large-scale national programs, and establishing a framework for funding multilateral joint projects.
7. Young Scientist Forum: The BRICS Young Scientist Forum/Conclave was established as a platform to network young creative talent, coordinated by India as the Secretariat.

These meetings and initiatives in 2015 were part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation among the BRICS nations, aiming to address common global and regional socio-economic challenges and promote sustainable development.