Meeting of the BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Working Group took place at MISIS University. The event focused on the results of the 6th BRICS STI Framework Programme and the mechanisms for supporting various projects. The meeting was organized with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, NUST MISIS, the Russian Center for Scientific Information, and the International Center for Innovations in Science, Technology and Education (ICISTE).
Russia will chair the organization in 2024, and hosting events is crucial considering the accession of new BRICS member countries. The meeting at NUST MISIS aims to promote interaction and collaboration among scientific teams and organizations, including universities.
The event was opened with a welcoming speech by Sergey Salikhov, the First Vice-Rector of NUST MISIS: “This Working Group is one of the leading platforms for scientific and technological cooperation among BRICS countries, uniting the activities of all working groups by organizing funding for joint projects. Holding this meeting at NUST MISIS provides us with an additional opportunity to demonstrate our mutual interest in collaborative scientific activities within BRICS, which is the most dynamically developing international association”. He noted that NUST MISIS actively participates in BRICS activities: the University serves as the secretariat for the Russian part of the WG RI, BRICS GRAIN and is also the responsible organization and contact point for the WG STIEP BRICS. As a coordinator, the University is initiating the creation of a Flagship Project within the Working Group on Research Infrastructure.
Representatives from ministries, embassies, and relevant organizations from BRICS countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Iran, China, and South Africa, participated in the meeting.
From Russia, attendees included Anton Rykov, Deputy Director of the Department of State Policy in the Field of Scientific and Technological Development at the Ministry of Education and Science; Olga Molovtseva, Head of the Multilateral Cooperation and International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Education and Science; Albina Kutuzova, Coordinator for Science, Technology, and Innovation from Russia; as well as leaders and experts from Russian Center for Scientific Information and ICISTE.
The outcomes of the Working Group meeting defined further frameworks for cooperation among BRICS countries in science, technology, and innovation. The event took place ahead of a meeting of Senior Officials and Ministers from BRICS countries in the fields of science and technology.