Deputy Minister Gina reaffirms SA’s commitment to the BRICS science agenda

Media Statement
To All Media
26 June 2025

*Deputy Minister Gina reaffirms SA’s commitment to the BRICS science agenda*

The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to science, technology, and innovation (STI) as a driver for inclusive and sustainable development.

Speaking at the BRICS 13th Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting in Brasilia on Wednesday, 25 June, the Deputy Minister said this commitment aligns closely with Brazil’s 2025 BRICS Chairship, themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

Delivering South Africa’s statement on behalf of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Deputy Minister Gina affirmed that the country’s STI priorities call for stronger collaboration among developing nations and emphasise inclusive and sustainable development.

“We are proud to be part of the BRICS STI platform, which has evolved into a powerful instrument for knowledge exchange, collaborative research, and shared progress across the Global South.”

This year’s meeting brought together delegations from the expanded BRICS group of 11 countries, as well as invited partners including Cuba, Thailand, and Nigeria. Pathways to deeper international cooperation among STI policymakers and research and innovation communities were discussed, with an awareness of the geopolitical tensions challenging the fragile international multilateral order.

Deputy Minister Gina outlined South Africa’s national STI vision, grounded in the National Development Plan and the Decadal Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (2021–2031), which together seek to ensure that innovation contributes meaningfully to inclusive economic development and long-term resilience.

“Our vision is to ensure that science, technology and innovation serve all South Africans. We are committed to inclusive innovation, to leaving no one behind, and to building a capable, knowledge-driven state that can meet the challenges of the 21st century,” she said.

South Africa’s STI efforts are aimed at addressing persistent socio-economic challenges, including poverty, inequality, and unemployment. STI is also being embedded to support local innovation and service delivery at the municipal level.

“As we convene today, we do so at a critical juncture in global development, one defined by rapid technological transformation, complex geopolitical shifts, and the urgent need for sustainable solutions,” said Deputy Minister Gina.

“It is within this context that the role of science, technology and innovation becomes even more vital, not only to drive economic recovery and growth, but to empower our people, protect our planet, and shape a future defined by equity and shared prosperity.”

She highlighted several of South Africa’s flagship science and innovation initiatives that reflect the country’s commitment to global leadership and inclusive development such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which she described as “a transformational international project that advances scientific discovery, creates opportunities for skills development, regional economic growth, and technological capability.”

On the expansion of BRICS, Deputy Minister Gina welcomed the signing of the Protocol of Accession for new member countries. “This moment reinforces our shared belief that global challenges demand collective responses, and that cooperation across borders, sectors, and cultures is not only necessary, but powerful,” she said.

The signing of the BRICS STI Brasília Declaration 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation, adopted in March 2015, by the STI Ministers of Brazil, China, India, the Russian Federation, and South Africa.

In over a decade of cooperation in STI, member countries have organised successful annual meetings of more than ten thematic working groups, nine editions of the Young Scientist Forum, seven editions of the Young Innovator´s Prize, as well as six joint research cooperation calls, gathering hundreds of scientists and government officials.

The 2025 Brasilia Declaration reaffirmed the commitment of BRICS countries to joint scientific progress, resilience, and technological development that benefits all. Thus, the delegates welcomed the expansion of BRICS with the inclusion of new member Indonesia and eleven new partner countries, including Nigeria, Thailand, Cuba and Kazakhstan.

The Ministers endorsed Brazil’s proposed 2025 priorities in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and industrial innovation, in recognition of rapid technological shifts and the need for coordinated reindustrialisation. They also acknowledged the need to review and streamline thematic working groups to enhance efficiency and coordination under the expanded BRICS framework.

They also acknowledged Brazil’s proposal to consider artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and innovation in industry as priorities in 2025, in the context of rapid advancement of emerging technologies and national reindustrialisation processes.

The meeting also adopted the Calendar of Activities for 2025–2026, as well as the Innovation Action Plan for 2025–2028.

*ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION*

For more information, please contact Veronica Mohapeloa at 083 400 5750 or veronica.mohapeloa@dsti.gov.za

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