On scientific collaborations in BRICS

Scientific Collaborations in BRICS

UPSC Study Note | GS-II & GS-III | International Relations + Science & Technology

1. At a Glance

• BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is a major grouping representing a significant share of global GDP, population, and scientific capacity; Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) cooperation is a formal pillar of its agenda. [S1]
• The BRICS STI Framework Programme coordinates multilateral research across member states, with India's Department of Science & Technology (DST) as the nodal agency for India. [S2]
• At a time of techno-nationalism, sanctions, and export controls restricting Western-led scientific collaboration, BRICS offers an alternative platform for Global South–centric R&D. [S4]
• Relevant to UPSC: straddles GS-II (multilateral institutions, India's foreign policy) and GS-III (S&T, innovation ecosystem).

2. Why in the News

• The 17th BRICS Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6, 2025, where world leaders including India's PM participated; science cooperation featured on the agenda. [S4]
• The BRICS Action Plan for Innovation 2025–2030 was welcomed at this summit, and the 7th Joint Call for Research Projects and the 1st Joint Call for Innovation Projects were formally launched. [S2] [S3]
• The article by Krishna Ravi Srinivas and Sneha Sinha (The Hindu, 18 March 2026) brought renewed attention to the less-publicised depth of BRICS STI cooperation. [S4]
• The Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025), titled "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance," was adopted at the summit. [S5]

3. Background & Evolution

• 2006: BRIC (without South Africa) informally constituted after the Goldman Sachs "BRIC" concept; first BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting.
• 2009: First formal BRIC Summit, Yekaterinburg; STI not yet a standalone pillar.
• 2011: South Africa joins → BRICS formed; Sanya Declaration.
• 2014: New Development Bank (NDB) agreed upon at Fortaleza Summit; NDB becomes the key multilateral financing arm, including for sustainable development projects with STI components. [S6]
• 2015: NDB formally established, headquartered in Shanghai.
• 2017 (China Presidency): BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting institutionalised; thematic priority areas formally defined.
• 2021: India proposed the BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan 2021–2024 at the 12th BRICS S&T Steering Committee Meeting; all members agreed unanimously. [S8]
• 2021: India called for BRICS to work towards its rightful place in the Global Innovation Index. [S9]
• 2023: 6th Coordinated Call for BRICS Multilateral Projects issued. [S10]
• 2025: BRICS Action Plan for Innovation 2025–2030 adopted; 7th Coordinated Call launched. [S3]

4. Core Static Facts

Priority Thematic Areas (BRICS STI Framework): - Transient Astronomical Events & Deep Survey Science [S7] - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Diagnosis & Treatment technologies - Big Data Analytics for Precision Medicine & Public Healthcare - HPC (High-Performance Computing) & Big Data for Sustainable Development - Photonic Innovation & Nanotechnology - Materials Science - Renewable Energy - Ocean & Polar Science - Aeronautics & Aerospace [S2]

Socially Relevant Expansions (per article): - Energy, Water, Health, Environment [S4]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic

• BRICS STI cooperation is explicitly framed as an alternative to Western-dominated scientific order; geopolitical tensions (Ukraine war, US-China rivalry) have accelerated its relevance. [S4]
• Techno-nationalism and export controls (e.g., US chip export restrictions on China, sanctions on Russia) are actively pushing BRICS members toward intra-bloc S&T self-reliance. [S4]
• The grouping now includes BRICS+ expansion (UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia accepted/invited, 2023–24), enlarging the STI network beyond original five.
• India uses BRICS STI platforms to project soft power and demonstrate leadership in multilateral science diplomacy. [S8]

Scientific / Technological

• The BRICS STI Framework Programme is the principal instrument: multilateral research consortia with minimum 3-country participation mandatory. [S2]
• India's proposal of the Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (unanimously adopted) demonstrates India's proactive role in shaping the STI agenda. [S8]
• Priority areas chosen reflect dual-use and development-relevant research: AMR, HPC, renewable energy, astronomy — bridging basic science and societal application.
• The 7th Call (2026) and the inaugural Joint Call for Innovation Projects signal a shift from pure research to translational/applied innovation. [S3]
• BRICS Young Scientists Forum: emphasises cooperation, collaboration, and connections as three pillars of intra-BRICS scientific culture. [S11]

Economic

• The NDB (initial subscribed capital: $50 billion) finances infrastructure and sustainable development across BRICS; STI-linked projects benefit from NDB funding. [S6]
• Collective BRICS GDP (~26% of global GDP by PPP) provides a large home market for joint technological products.
• HPC and Big Data cooperation has direct productivity and industrial competitiveness implications for member economies.

Environmental

• Renewable Energy and Ocean & Polar Science are explicitly listed STI priority areas, aligning BRICS STI with SDG 7 (Clean Energy) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). [S2]
• The Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025) underlines "Inclusive and Sustainable Governance" — embedding environmental sustainability in BRICS political commitments. [S5]

Administrative / Governance

• BRICS S&T Steering Committee is the apex inter-governmental body coordinating STI cooperation; meets under rotating BRICS Presidency.
• India's DST is the implementing agency; coordinates with Indian academic institutions and research labs for project submissions under each Call.
• Each "Call for Proposals" is open, competitive, and multilateral — unlike bilateral MoUs, this creates systematic joint research infrastructure.

Social

• The BRICS Young Scientists Forum is specifically designed for early-career researchers, aiming to build a future generation of scientists with intra-BRICS networks. [S11]
• Health-relevant areas (AMR, precision medicine) directly address disease burdens disproportionately affecting Global South populations.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• July 6, 2025: 17th BRICS Summit, Rio de Janeiro; world leaders adopt the Rio de Janeiro Declaration on inclusive and sustainable global governance. [S5]
• 2025: BRICS Action Plan for Innovation 2025–2030 formally welcomed and adopted at the Summit. [S3]
• 2025: First-ever Joint Call for Innovation Projects launched alongside the 7th Joint Call for Research Projects — marks expansion from pure research to applied innovation. [S3]
• 2026: 7th Coordinated Call for BRICS Multilateral Projects 2026 issued by DST; open for proposals from Indian researchers. [S3]
• March 2026: Scholarly article by Krishna Ravi Srinivas & Sneha Sinha in The Hindu highlights the strategic importance of BRICS STI amid geopolitical fragmentation of global science. [S4]

7. Prelims Hooks (high-density factual bullets)

1. The nodal ministry for India's participation in the BRICS STI Framework Programme is the Department of Science & Technology (DST), under Ministry of Science & Technology. [S2]
2. The BRICS STI Framework Programme requires project consortia to include partners from at least 3 BRICS countries. [S2]
3. The BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan 2021–2024 was proposed by India and adopted unanimously at the 12th BRICS S&T Steering Committee Meeting. [S8]
4. The current BRICS Innovation Action Plan covers the period 2025–2030. [S3]
5. The 7th Coordinated Call for BRICS Multilateral Projects was issued in 2026. [S3]
6. The New Development Bank (NDB), the BRICS multilateral development bank, is headquartered in Shanghai, China. [S6]
7. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) technologies figure as an explicit thematic priority under the BRICS STI Framework Programme. [S2]
8. The 17th BRICS Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6, 2025. [S4]
9. The Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025) is titled "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance." [S5]
10. The BRICS Young Scientists Forum promotes cooperation, collaboration, and connections among early-career scientists across BRICS nations. [S11]
11. The first Joint Call for Innovation Projects (distinct from research projects) was launched in 2025 — a new mechanism under BRICS STI cooperation. [S3]
12. Priority areas under BRICS STI include Ocean & Polar Science, Aeronautics & Aerospace, and HPC & Big Data. [S2]
13. BRICS was formed in its current five-member form after South Africa joined in 2011 (Sanya Summit). [Background]

8. Mains Relevance

GS Papers: - GS-II: International institutions — BRICS, NDB; India's foreign policy; multilateral cooperation. - GS-III: Science & Technology — innovation ecosystems, R&D cooperation, techno-nationalism.

Syllabus headings: - GS-II: Bilateral, regional, and global groupings involving India and/or affecting India's interests. - GS-III: Awareness in the fields of IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Plausible Mains question stems: 1. "How has BRICS evolved as a platform for Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) cooperation? Analyse India's role in shaping the BRICS STI agenda." (GS-II / GS-III, 15 marks) 2. "In the context of rising techno-nationalism and geopolitical fragmentation of global science, critically examine the relevance of BRICS STI cooperation for India's innovation ambitions." (GS-II + GS-III, 15 marks) 3. "Discuss the institutional mechanisms underpinning BRICS STI cooperation. How does the New Development Bank complement the BRICS research collaboration agenda?" (GS-II, 10 marks)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. Confusing NDB with IMF/World Bank: The NDB is a BRICS-specific institution headquartered in Shanghai, not a UN body; it is NOT the same as the IMF or World Bank (though it has an MoU with the World Bank). [S6]
2. Wrong nodal ministry: BRICS STI cooperation in India is coordinated by DST (Dept. of Science & Technology), NOT by MEA or NITI Aayog — though MEA handles the diplomatic track.
3. Confusing the Action Plan periods: The plan proposed by India (2021–2024) is distinct from the current plan (2025–2030); do not conflate them. [S3][S8]
4. BRICS formation year confusion: BRIC (4 members) informally existed from 2006/2009; South Africa joined in 2011 making it BRICS — not 2009 or 2014.
5. Minimum consortium rule: The requirement is at least 3 BRICS countries per project, not all five — a common MCQ trap. [S2]

11. Sources

• [S1] BRICS Nations Agree on Innovation Co-operation — https://dst.gov.in/brics-nations-agree-innovation-co-operation — (Tier 1)
• [S2] BRICS Countries Agree to STI-led BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan Proposed by India — https://dst.gov.in/brics-countries-agree-sti-led-brics-innovation-cooperation-action-plan-proposed-india — (Tier 1)
• [S3] BRICS STI Framework Programme 7th Coordinated Call for BRICS Multilateral Projects 2026 — https://dst.gov.in/callforproposals/brics-sti-framework-programme-7th-coordinated-call-brics-multilateral-projects-2026 — (Tier 1)
• [S4] "On Scientific Collaborations in BRICS," Krishna Ravi Srinivas & Sneha Sinha, The Hindu, 18 March 2026 — https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-03-18/th_international/articleGBRFNS4SJ-13898828.ece — (Tier 4 / Primary Article)
• [S5] Rio de Janeiro Declaration — Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2142786 — (Tier 1)
• [S6] World Bank Group, New Development Bank Lay Groundwork for Cooperation — https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/09/09/world-bank-group-new-development-bank-lay-groundwork-for-cooperation — (Tier 2)
• [S7] BRICS Countries Underline Importance of Enhancing Collaboration Among Astronomers — https://dst.gov.in/brics-countries-underline-importance-enhancing-collaboration-among-astronomers — (Tier 1)
• [S8] BRICS Countries Give Unanimous Support to India's Draft BRICS Innovation Action Plan 2021–2024 — https://dst.gov.in/brics-countries-give-unanimous-support-indias-draft-brics-innovation-action-plan-2021-2024 — (Tier 1)
• [S9] India Calls on BRICS to Work Towards Rightful Place in Global Innovation Index — https://dst.gov.in/india-calls-brics-work-towards-rightful-place-global-innovation-index — (Tier 1)
• [S10] BRICS 6th Call for Proposals 2023 — https://dst.gov.in/callforproposals/brics-6th-call-proposal-2023 — (Tier 1)
• [S11] Importance of Cooperation, Collaboration & Connections in Science Highlighted at BRICS Young Scientists Forum — https://dst.gov.in/importance-cooperation-collaboration-connections-science-highlighted-brics-young-scientists-forum — (Tier 1)