On scientific collaborations in BRICS

Why in the News?

BRICS scientific cooperation has gained renewed attention amid expanding membership and India’s upcoming 2026 presidency, which aims to deepen collaboration in AI, climate tech, and public health.

How has BRICS evolved as a platform for scientific cooperation?

1. Multipolar Vision: Establishes an alternative to Western-dominated global governance; aligns with development-oriented global cooperation.
2. Institutional Expansion: Includes new members (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran), increasing diversity and capacity.
3. Strategic Shift: Moves from basic science to applied domains such as energy, water, health, and environment.
4. Innovation Focus: Integrates STI into economic development frameworks; promotes technology-enabled ecosystems.

What institutional mechanisms support Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) cooperation in BRICS?

1. BRICS STI Framework (2011): Formalises cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.
2. BRICS STI Steering Committee: Coordinates joint calls, project approvals, and implementation.
3. Thematic Working Groups: Focus on priority areas like AI, biotechnology, climate tech, and space.
4. BRICS Young Scientist Forum: Promotes youth engagement and research collaboration.
5. BRICS Institute of Future Networks: Advances ICT and emerging technologies.
6. New Development Bank Linkages: Supports infrastructure and innovation financing.

What are the major achievements in BRICS scientific collaboration?

1. Expanded Research Scope: Moves from fundamental science to applied and socially relevant sectors. Ex: COVID-19 vaccines: From basic biology to applied vaccine development & public health systems
2. Joint Research Projects: Facilitates cross-border innovation through coordinated funding calls.
   1. Ex: BRICS TB Research Network: Enables collaborative innovation in tuberculosis control; e.g., cross-border research on diagnostics, vaccines, and treatment strategies
   2. BRICS energy research cooperation: Structured under the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform (ERCP), it focuses on advancing sustainable, secure, and affordable energy transitions through joint research, technological innovation, and policy exchanges.
3. Artificial Intelligence Integration: 2025 BRICS Leaders’ Declaration (Brazil Summit-Rio de Janeiro) recognised Artificial Intelligence as a central pillar of STI cooperation, prioritising its use in economic development, governance, healthcare, and climate solutions
4. Space and ICT Collaboration: Strengthens partnerships in satellite applications and digital technologies.
   1. BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation: Enables shared satellite data for disaster management, agriculture, and environmental monitoring
   2. BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFN): Promotes ICT cooperation in 5G, AI, and next-gen communication technologies.
5. COVID-19 Response: Enhances cooperation in vaccine research, biosecurity, and public health systems.

What structural limitations hinder effective STI cooperation?

1. Funding Constraints: Maintains limited financial resources compared to European Union’s (EU’s) Horizon programmes.
2. Institutional Weakness: Lacks a permanent secretariat or central coordination mechanism.
3. Uneven Participation: Shows disparities in engagement levels; newer members less integrated.
4. Limited Data Systems: Restricts evidence-based policymaking due to weak monitoring frameworks.
5. Geopolitical Fragmentation: Faces barriers from techno-nationalism and global tensions.

Why is progress uneven across sectors and members?

1. Capacity Asymmetry: Reflects disparities in R&D expenditure; China dominates, others lag.
2. Infrastructure Gaps: Slows progress in mega-science areas like ocean research and polar science.
3. Diverse Priorities: Creates coordination challenges due to heterogeneity in development goals.
4. Weak Commercialisation: Limits scaling of innovations into market-ready technologies.

What are the implications of BRICS expansion for STI cooperation?

1. Increased Diversity: Expands scientific and economic heterogeneity across members.
2. Coordination Complexity: Makes consensus-building and priority alignment more difficult.
3. Opportunity for Scale: Enhances potential for large-scale collaborative innovation networks.
4. South-South Cooperation: Strengthens development-oriented research and knowledge exchange.

What reforms are required to strengthen BRICS STI collaboration?

1. Institutionalisation: Establishes a permanent secretariat for coordination and monitoring.
2. Funding Enhancement: Increases pooled funding mechanisms for large-scale projects.
3. Long-term Projects: Promotes mega-science collaborations (e.g., climate modelling, space research).
4. Governance Integration: Expands STI into treaty negotiations and global governance frameworks.
5. Data Systems: Develops monitoring frameworks for evidence-based decision-making.

Conclusion

BRICS has transitioned into a significant platform for scientific cooperation but remains constrained by weak institutionalisation, limited funding, and uneven participation. Strengthening governance mechanisms, financing, and long-term collaboration frameworks is essential for translating strategic intent into tangible outcomes.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] Critically analyse India’s evolving diplomatic, economic and strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs) highlighting their increasing significance in regional and global geopolitics.

Linkage: The PYQ highlights India’s engagement with regional groupings and extended neighbourhood (like BRICS) in a multipolar geopolitical order. It links to themes of strategic connectivity, energy security, and balancing major powers, core to India’s global partnerships like BRICS.