13 November 2020, Russian Federation

1. In line with the BRICS Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation signed in Brazil in March 2015 and the Brasilia Declaration, adopted at the XI BRICS Summit, held in Brazil on 14 November 2019, we, the Ministers of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, met virtually on 13 November 2020 under the chairmanship of the Russian Federation at the 8th Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting.

2. Based on the theme of the Russian BRICS Presidency in 2020: “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth,” we reaffirm our commitment to advance sustainable development and ensure the further promotion of innovation and technology for enhancing welfare of people in BRICS countries.

3. We mark the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the BRICS Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation. We positively acknowledge the great progress of BRICS cooperation achieved in science, technology and innovation since 2015, which is described in the released booklet “BRICS STI OVERVIEW.”

4. We note with appreciation the crucial work of the BRICS STI Steering Committee aimed at managing and coordinating the New BRICS STI Architecture and further steps to develop four pillars of our cooperation: Research Collaboration, Research Infrastructure, Innovation Collaboration, and Sustainability (long-term cooperation).

5. We express deep concerns about the new challenges caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. We are witnessing losses and sufferings of humanity worldwide. In response to emerging infectious diseases, we emphasize the need for our collaborative efforts in building a long-term partnership of BRICS scientific and innovation communities. We welcome urgent measures taken by launching “Response to COVID-19 pandemic” coordinated call for BRICS multilateral projects 2020 under the BRICS STI Framework Programme. We believe the results of these researches will provide scientific guidance for BRICS governments to find solutions to overcome the consequences of the pandemic in the field of health, economics, social sciences, and other areas of human life. We also acknowledge the successful organization of the six virtual meetings called “BRICS networking for research organizations and relevant BRICS WGs for exchanging the information and collaboration on COVID-19,” which gathered more than 300 specialists and government officials to discuss R&D topics for the joint call, such as diagnoses, vaccines, drugs, genomic sequencing, AI, ICT, and HPC oriented research for COVID-19 and the overlap of SARS-CoV-2 and comorbidities.

6. Given the range of current global limitations aimed at overcoming the coronavirus pandemic, we appreciate the opportunity of keeping our cooperation dynamic in the video conference format.

7. We reiterate our continuous support to the young scientific community and welcome Russia holding the 5th BRICS Young Scientist Forum being one of the most advanced platforms to develop scientific, innovation, educational, cultural, and friendship links. Besides interacting in science, exchanging best practice and knowledge, the event also gave positive impetus to build new contacts for future joint scientific efforts both for common prosperity of our countries and global social development. We are pleased with the results of the BRICS Young Innovator Prize contest and call for its continuity to encourage young talented generation to make profound impact on the socio-economic environment in BRICS societies.

8. We welcome Russia hosting the 6th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Astronomy via videoconference on 24-25 September 2020 and take note of formulation of the flagship project entitled “BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN).” We are also satisfied with the outcomes of Russia hosting via video conference the 4th Meeting of Working Group on ICT and High Performance Computing on 8-9 October 2020 and take note of the flagship projects proposed by the Working Group; the 2nd Meeting of BRICS Working Group on Photonics on 13-15 October 2020 and endorse the Concept of the BRICS Virtual Institute of Photonics; the 2nd Meeting of the Working Group on New and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on 14-15 October 2020 and the 4th BRICS STIEP Working Group on 15-16 October 2020.

9. Pursuant to the implementation of the BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation (2017-2020), adopted in Xiamen, in September 2017, we endorse the “Enabling Framework for the BRICS Network for Technology Transfer Cooperation (‘BRICS Techtransfer’),” proposed by Brazil and agreed by the STIEP WG. We emphasize the importance of encouraging technology transfer among the BRICS countries in order to increase the competitiveness and innovation outputs of the BRICS nations. Thus,  we call on each BRICS country to nominate technology transfer organizations to form the network.

10. We welcome India hosting virtually the 3rd Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology on 23 September 2020 and the 2nd BRICS Working Group on Materials Science and Nanotechnology on 1-2 October 2020. We support and promote further steps under the endorsed Concept of the BRICS Virtual Network Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology.

11. We welcome China hosting virtually the 7th Meeting of BRICS Solid State Lighting Collaboration Working Group on 14-15 July 2020 and iBRICS Network Training Workshop on Incubators on 5/12/19/26 September 2020. We also welcome the progress made by the ICT and HPC Working Group on the Integrated Hub for BRICS Innovation Collaboration on ICT and HPC, including the development of the interactive website.

12. We reaffirm our commitment to the BRICS STI Framework Programme as an effective cooperation mechanism in the area of joint research on priority areas. We recognize the outcomes of the 6th Meeting of BRICS STI Funding Working Group held by Russia virtually on 10 November 2020. We support the 2nd cycle of BRICS STI Framework Programme for implementation of BRICS STI calls and improved mechanism aimed at further strengthening BRICS research cooperation and raising the efficiency of operational activities.

13. We acknowledge the efforts of the BRICS STI Steering Committee as the main mechanism to manage and coordinate BRICS STI activities. Faced with challenges of 2020 requiring our cooperative efforts, the BRICS STI Steering Committee held eight meetings (1 face-to-face meeting in Moscow and 7 meetings via videoconference) and proved its efficiency and necessity.

14. We endorse the BRICS STI Calendar of activities 2020-2021, in complement of the BRICS STI Work Plan 2019-2022.

15. Brazil, India, China, and South Africa extend their warm appreciation to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for hosting virtually the 10th STI Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and the 8th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting on 12th-13th November 2020.

16. Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa convey their appreciation to the Republic of India for its offer to host the 9th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting and the 11th BRICS STI Senior Officials Meeting in 2021 and extend their full support to that end.

Done virtually on 13 November 2020.