The topic of cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and innovation has been discussed in the BRICS group since 2014, with the memorandum of understanding signed by member countries in March 2015. Initially, cooperation focused on areas such as water and biotechnology through specialized workshops. However, with the new presidency and after 2019, new activities including scientific and technical collaborations under the new BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) structure were implemented, marking the beginning of a structured framework for cooperation in science, technology, and innovation within BRICS.
Numerous events in the field of science, technology, and innovation are organized under this new BRICS structure in host countries according to the requests of member states. Interactions between countries are defined at three levels: strategic, technical, and operational, with ministerial meetings taking place at the strategic level.
BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology, and Innovation meet once a year to sign and approve documents and memoranda. Issues proposed at the ministerial meeting must first be reviewed and approved by expert committees before final endorsement.
Expert committees hold monthly meetings to review and evaluate topics scheduled for discussion at the upcoming ministerial meetings. In essence, every program or plan is analyzed by the relevant working groups before final approval by the ministers.
Scientists, experts, and specialists from universities, industries, and government institutions are appointed as members of the working groups by BRICS governments. These members possess domain-specific expertise and act as contact persons representing their respective countries.
Experts from other countries may also participate without restrictions on the number of members. The number of participants in each working group is determined based on agreements between the host country and other member states.
The format of working group meetings is decided by member countries and can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. All topics related to BRICS science and technology and relevant institutions are publicly available on the official website of this structure.
On the BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) website, working groups are introduced, and information such as event schedules, host countries, registration links, official documents, reports, and statements are published.
