BRICS forum offers chance to forge ties

Participants can build connections for innovative scientific research

Young scientists from BRICS countries will further cooperate in key science fields, promote innovation and create a favorable ecosystem for sustainable development.

These are some of the common aspirations of young scientists who attended the Second BRICS Young Scientist Forum at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in July, said Bo Zheng, vice-dean of the university’s College of Energy Engineering and the executive chairman of the forum’s organizing committee.

These points were emphasized again in the BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation of the 5th BRICS Science and Technology Ministerial Meeting in July.

More than 120 young scientists, as well as government and school officials, attended the forum. The young scientists are under 40, hold doctoral degrees in their respective fields and have received international recognition for their work, Bo said.

“Young scientists are the backbone of future scientific research, so they need a platform to voice their thoughts and build people-to-people bonds to jointly address scientific challenges and aim for sustainable development,” he said.

The five-member nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — contribute 42 percent of the world’s population, 17 percent of total research funds and 27 percent of all published science papers, according to the action plan.

Young scientists are now playing a bigger role in spearheading innovation, and unlocking the scientific potential of each member nation. Energy, material science, biotechnology and biomedicine are some of the key fields featured in the forum.

“These are fields crucial to each BRICS nation’s development, and can be a solid foundation for joint scientific research and cooperation,” Bo said.

Last year, the Ural Federal University in Russia produced 42 joint research papers with Chinese scientists, many of which were written by young scientists, Vladimir Kruzhaev, the university’s vice-rector for research, said at the forum.

“It is becoming more important for young scientists to engage in international cooperation,” he said, adding that his university would like to join Chinese and other worldclass universities for further cooperation in energy, material science and information technologies.

BRICS nations will support exchanges for young scientists, help them acquire and enhance skills for innovation and entrepreneurship, increase access to education in science fields, and create jobs through joint research and collaboration, Wan Gang, China’s minister of science and technology, said at the BRICS ministerial meeting.

In 2017, the Ministry of Science and Technology plans to invest 13 million yuan ($2 million) to facilitate government-level cooperation and innovation in five major science fields, ranging from energy to information technology, among the five countries.

More than 200 young scientists from developing countries have also come to China to do joint scientific research since 2013, Ye Dongbai, the director of the International Cooperation Department under the ministry, said in a news meeting in May.

“All BRICS nations are at different stages of development, hence they will have different fields that they want to strengthen,” Bo said.

For example, China and Russia focused on energy and information technology, while South Africa and India are more concerned with public health and medicine.

“BRICS nations can complement each other’s science and development needs,” Bo said.

“And young scientists can play a vital role in forging friendships and cooperation that deepen scientific research and contribute to the benefit of all.”