Experts from scientific ministries and innovation stakeholders from BRICS countries discussed Innovation BRICS network (iBRICS), BRICS Technology Transfer Centre, as well as BRICS Innovation Action Plan 2021-2024 at the 5th BRICS Science Technology Innovation Entrepreneurship (BRICS-STIEP) Working Group meeting.
India presented the draft BRICS Innovation Action Plan 2021-2024, which aims to foster dialogue among innovators, capacity building, cross incubation and facilitate soft landing of start-up companies in member countries.
The meeting organized on 29th – 30th September 2021 in virtual mode was convened by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and coordinated by the knowledge partner Indian Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Parks and Business Incubator Association (ISBA) Secretariat.
The heads of delegations from BRICS countries presented the respective country’s policy update and actions on innovation development. The main agencies from BRICS countries that participated in the meeting included the Department of Science and Technology, India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), NITI Aayog (Atal Innovation Mission), Startup India, MEA from Indian side. From the Brazilian side, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MSHE) from Russian side, from China side Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST and from South Africa side Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), South Africa.
Shri S.K Varshney, Head, International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology, who led the Indian side, presented the various policy instruments of Innovation and major initiatives of the Government of India implemented by various Indian stakeholders (DST, NITI Aayog-AIM, DBT-BIRAC, DPIIT etc.). He said a similar innovation ecosystem exists in all BRICS countries and there is need to leverage each other’s experiences to strengthen the innovation efforts. He highlighted the need and importance of developing BRICS Innovation Action Plan to pave ways to stimulate the innovation development of the BRICS countries.
India mooted the idea of BRICS STIEP, and a concept note in this regard was first presented during the 4th BRICS STI meeting in Jaipur in 2016. Subsequently, the first action plan on innovation cooperation was prepared for the period 2017-2020. To build upon this, India has proposed the new BRICS innovation action plan 2021-2024. BRICS countries appreciated the efforts of India for taking a leadership role for formulating and outlining the action plan and agreed to support this initiative unanimously. BRICS countries have agreed that BRICS Innovation Action plan 2021-2024 would be one of the deliverables for forthcoming STI Ministerial Meeting to be hosted by Indian on 26th November, 2021. Revised BRICS Innovation Action plan 2021-2024 based on the inputs from all BRICS countries will be discussed further in the next STIEP working group meeting, which has been scheduled for 22nd October, 2021.
iBRICS network envisages to create a digital platform for connecting the innovators and innovation ecosystem of BRICS countries, whereas the Technology Transfer Centre, which is under consideration, would focus on transfer of technologies among BRICS countries. The enabling framework for this will be further discussed by a group of experts nominated by BRICS countries. To implement iBRICS, it was decided that the concerned steering group may meet within a month to finalize its detailed architecture and enabling framework.
The establishment of BRICS Technology Transfer Centre for sharing of technology among BRICS countries is under negotiation for last few years. Brazil proposed to share the draft enabling framework for BRICS Technology Transfer Centre, which visualizes the creation of technology transfer nodes in each country. The mechanism for this will be developed and would be presented during the next ministerial meeting for its consideration and endorsement.
