BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System

BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System
Prepared by: BRICS Expert Council – Russia, with the support of the BRICS Think Tanks Council (BTTC)
Editors: Victoria Panova
Project Coordinators: Ksenia Shevtsova, Valeriia Gorbacheva
Authors: Marina Borovskaya, Timofei Bordachev, Igor Makarov, Irina Yarygina, Vladimir Zuev, Feodor Alexeev, Anton Afanasyev, Anna Chistikova, Matvey Chistikov, Alexander Daniltsev, Victor Dostov, Polina Kanevskaya, Mikhail Khubulava, Elena Melnikova, Alexandra Morozkina, Elena Ostrovskaya, Igor Pilipenko, Valentina Skryabina, Elizaveta Smolovik, Marina Starodubtseva, Dmitry Suslov
Contributors: Vsevolod Cheresov, Romain Dradin, Kirill Gorshkolepov, Irina Kostetskaya, Vadim Kuznetsov, Artem Semenov, Lorenzo Trufalo
Publisher: HSE University, Russia
Year: 2024
Language: English
 

About This Report

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of BRICS cooperation using the BTTC (BRICS Think Tanks Council) indicator system, developed to track progress in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Over its 15-year history, BRICS has evolved into a key force in global governance, reflecting the transition toward a multipolar world and the aspirations of the “Global Majority” of developing countries.

The report highlights the bloc’s achievements in three broad areas:

1. Economy and Trade – Assessing contributions to global GDP, investment, technological innovation, and trade relations.
2. Politics and Global Governance – Evaluating BRICS’ role in promoting multipolarity, building alliances with developing countries, and enhancing political influence.
3. Humanitarian Cooperation and People-to-People Contacts – Tracking progress in education, science, technology, healthcare, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

Using a set of comprehensive indicators adopted at the BRICS Academic Forum in 2020, the report evaluates the association’s achievements, identifies areas for further cooperation, and assesses its systemic impact on global governance. It emphasizes the growing relevance of BRICS in shaping alternative economic, financial, and political architectures independent of Western-led systems, while promoting equitable development, sustainable growth, and multipolarity.

Key areas covered include financial markets, the role of the New Development Bank, national currency settlements, trade and investment patterns, energy cooperation, sustainable development and resource management, climate and food security, science, technology and innovation, intellectual property and technology transfer, education, tourism, sports, and healthcare.

The report concludes with recommendations for enhancing BRICS cooperation and optimizing the bloc’s role in global governance.

Contents

Introduction

Part I: Finance, Banking, Currencies, and Settlements

• Financial Market Indicators
• Market Participants and Their Influence
• Financial and Investment Market Instruments
• Interstate Support for BRICS Business Entities
• Harmonization of Regulation and Protection Against Unfair Practices
• Role of the New Development Bank (NDB)
• Settlements in National Currencies
• Conclusions and Recommendations

Part II: Economics and Trade

• Role of BRICS in the Global Economy
• Trade and Investment
• Energy Cooperation
• Complementarity and Exporting Partner Significance Indices
• Conclusions and Recommendations

Part III: Sustainable Development and Resource Abundance

• Progress on SDGs
• Environmental Safety and Resource Management
• Exposure to PM2.5
• Climate Change
• Food Security
• Conclusions and Recommendations

Part IV: Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), Education, Tourism, Sports, and Healthcare

• Cooperation in STI
• Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer
• Digital and Innovation-Driven Development
• Education Cooperation
• Tourism and Sports
• Healthcare
• Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusion