BRICS scientific cooperation
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa decided at their meeting in Pretoria that they should draw up a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ which would provide a formal framework for scientific and technological cooperation. This memorandum would cover funding and the creation of guiding protocols for cooperative projects.
The officials identified six themes for cooperative research and development: living systems, nanotechnology and new materials, information and telecommunications technologies, rational wildlife management, power and power savings and global infrastructure. It was also agreed that each of the five countries would designate ‘nodal points’ for each cooperative theme. These nodal points would help establish national research teams and coordinate their activities.
Voluntary and mutually beneficial
At the first Senior Officials Meeting in China last year, it was agreed that science and technology cooperation between the countries would be voluntary, reciprocal, equal and mutually beneficial. However, such cooperation would also be dependent on the resources each country could commit. The Pretoria meeting confirmed these principles, as well as the agreement to share information, discuss policy, exchange researchers, share scientific data and provide access to large science and technology research facilities.
The development of science and technology cooperation between the five countries was proposed at the Third BRICS Leaders Meeting in Sanya, China. The leaders stated: “We intend to explore cooperation in the sphere of science, technology and innovation, including the peaceful use of space.”
