BRICS Members’ Commitment to Expanding Space Cooperation and Reducing the Technology Gap

During the two-day meeting held in April in Brasília, Brazil, as the host city, heads and representatives of space agencies from BRICS member countries emphasized key issues such as expanding data and technology exchange, strengthening inter-member cooperation, reducing existing technological inequalities among members, promoting sustainable use of space, and developing an Earth observation satellite constellation.

The session also highlighted the vital role of space in developing solutions, particularly in areas such as health, agriculture, and meteorology, addressing challenges, and combating global warming. Considering that BRICS members do not possess equal resources, infrastructure, and expertise in the space sector, planning to reduce this gap is a key objective for many members.

Proposed solutions included collaboration in human resource training, student and researcher exchanges, and sharing research infrastructure. Regarding sustainable use of space, the issue of space debris and the necessity of establishing global space traffic regulations to ensure equitable access were emphasized.

Additionally, Russia proposed establishing a BRICS Space Council as a centralized and permanent decision-making body for space affairs, which received approval from some members but faced opposition from others.