Detailed Meeting Highlights

1. Campinas Declaration

The Campinas Declaration, adopted at this meeting, was a significant outcome. It outlined several key points:

• Reaffirmation of the importance of STI in addressing global challenges
• Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through STI cooperation
• Emphasis on the role of innovation in driving economic growth and social development
• Agreement to enhance people-to-people exchanges in STI fields

2. BRICS STI Work Plan 2019-2022

The ministers approved a comprehensive work plan for the next four years, which included:

• Continuation and enhancement of existing BRICS STI initiatives
• Focus on priority areas such as biomedicine, nanotechnology, photonics, and artificial intelligence
• Plans for joint research projects and shared use of research infrastructure
• Mechanisms for technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes

3. Thematic Areas of Cooperation

The meeting highlighted several key areas for intensified cooperation:

• Bioeconomy: Including agriculture, food security, and biotechnology
• Information Technologies: Focusing on big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity
• Ocean and Polar Science: Addressing climate change and marine resource management
• Material Science: Including nanotechnology and advanced materials
• Photonics: Exploring applications in communications and energy sectors

4. Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The ministers discussed strategies to foster innovation ecosystems within BRICS countries:

• Promotion of start-up exchanges and incubation programs
• Establishment of a BRICS Innovation Launchpad to facilitate cross-border entrepreneurship
• Plans for a BRICS Technology Transfer Center to enhance commercialization of research

5. Research Infrastructure

A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to discussing research infrastructure:

• Agreement to create a BRICS Research Infrastructure Platform
• Plans for shared access to large-scale research facilities
• Discussion on joint funding mechanisms for major research projects

6. Human Capital Development

The meeting emphasized the importance of nurturing talent:

• Expansion of the BRICS Young Scientist Forum
• Plans for joint PhD programs and research internships
• Discussion on reducing barriers to researcher mobility among BRICS countries

7. Digital BRICS

The ministers agreed to enhance digital cooperation:

• Development of a BRICS Digital Platform for STI collaboration
• Plans for joint initiatives in e-science and open access to scientific data
• Exploration of cooperation in emerging fields like quantum computing and blockchain

Outcomes and Future Directions

The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for BRICS STI cooperation over the next few years. The ministers agreed to:

• Hold regular working group meetings to implement the agreed initiatives
• Establish a monitoring mechanism to track progress on the work plan
• Prepare for the next BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting, to be held in Russia in 2020

This expanded view of the 2019 BRICS STI Meeting in Campinas highlights the comprehensive nature of the discussions and the ambitious plans set forth by these emerging economies to collaborate in science, technology, and innovation. The meeting represented a significant step in strengthening the BRICS partnership in these crucial areas, with potential far-reaching impacts on global scientific advancement and economic development.