The first meeting of the Steering Committee of the BRICS Technology Transfer Center Network was successfully held in the evening of April 26 and 27, 2022 by video link. The meeting was hosted by Brazil, with the participation of representatives from the science, technology and innovation departments of BRICS countries as well as experts and industry organizations in the field of technology transfer. The Chinese departments and institutions attending the meeting included the Ministry of Science and Technology, Kunming Science and Technology Bureau, and the International Technology Transfer Network (ITTN). 

 

The meeting was held to promote the BRICS Technology Transfer Center Network initiative jointly advanced by BRICS countries in recent years. In 2021, the 9th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting considered and adopted the Enabling Framework for the Implementation of BRICS Technology Transfer Center Cooperation. Based on China‘s proposal in 2018 on the establishment of BRICS technology transfer centers and other work, the document proposed additional plans for cooperation on BRICS technology transfer centers, including enhancing intellectual property protection, facilitating technology transfer exchange and cooperation, conducting capacity building, and promoting data connectivity. The parties will support and encourage countries to jointly participate in the construction of the BRICS technology transfer center network in accordance with the BRICS Action Plan on Innovation Cooperation for 2021-2024.

 

The BRICS Technology Transfer Center is the first official cooperation mechanism for technology transfer among BRICS countries. The initiative was proposed by China in 2018 and included in the Durban Declaration, the outcome document of the BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting. On September 10, 2018, the second meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation Entrepreneurship Partnership was held in Kunming, which was also chosen as the location for the BRICS Technology Transfer China Center. The Center is jointly built by the Kunming Science and Technology Bureau and ITTN with the guidance of the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

 

The professional technology transfer institutions recommended by the BRICS science, technology and innovation authorities to participate in this meeting include: from Brazil, the National Forum of Managers of Innovation and Technology Transfer (FORTEC) and the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI); from Russia, the National University of Science and Technology MISiS (NUST MISIS), the International Centre for Innovations in Science, Technology and Education (ICISTE) the Skolkovo Foundation, and the People’s Friendship University of Russia; From India, the JSS Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park and the Venture Center; from China, Kunming Science and Technology Bureau and ITTN; and from South Africa, the University of Cape Town and other technology transfer institutions and universities led by the National Intellectual Property Office and Department of Science and Innovation.

 

The meeting mainly reviewed the five action plans of the Proposed Implementation Plan of BRICS Technology Transfer Center Network 2022-2024 (Draft), i.e. strengthening intellectual property protection, expanding technology transfer opportunities, education and training capacity building, and technology transfer indicators. The success of the meeting marked the formal establishment of the BRICS Technology Transfer Center Network. Building on the consensus and work plan reached at this meeting, BRICS countries will continue to promote technology transfer cooperation to ensure the orderly flow of innovation results among the five countries.