On Monday, 4 December 2023, BRICS policy-makers, scholars, academics and other relevant stakeholders will meet for the BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy and Foresight Symposium.

Co-hosted by the Department of Science and Innovation and the National Advisory Council on Innovation, the event is one of a series of side events leading up to Science Forum South Africa 2023.

South Africa assumed the BRICS rotating presidency on 1 January this year under the theme "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism".

Taking place under the theme "Future of Science Technology and Innovation 2050", the symposium will discuss the current state of BRICS STI policy development and cooperation, and how they contribute to development in member countries.

Topics that will be covered include: the role of innovation in inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development; governance, coordination and alignment between STI policy and other public policies (e.g., health and the environment); the value and utility of foresight exercises in STI policy development; instituting advisory mechanisms to support and enhance STI policy development; and the monitoring and evaluation of STI policy.

The Minister of Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, is expected to open the symposium.

Media are invited as follows:

 Date:               4 December 2023

Venue:            CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria

Time:               08:00 to 10:30

To RSVP, contact Zama Mthethwa at 082 808 3956 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..