Tech Diplomacy Now: The BRICS Bloc More Than Doubles
Last week the leaders of Brazil, India, the People’s Republic of China, and South Africa (along with the Russian Foreign Minister) met in Johannesburg for the 15th BRICS Summit
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top News of the Week
Global Tech Security Commission Update
Announcements
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
Top News of the Week – The BRICS Bloc More Than Doubles
Last week the leaders of Brazil, India, the People’s Republic of China, and South Africa (along with the Russian Foreign Minister) met in Johannesburg for the 15th BRICS Summit. Amid mounting geopolitical tensions, Beijing and Moscow steered the event to showcase for their growing anti-liberal coalition.
As to put a point on it, the BRICS countries agreed to invite six new countries to join their bloc in January 2024: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Commentators and regional experts reported in the run-up to the Summit that China and Russia wanted a rapid expansion of the bloc, while Brazil and India wanted a slow expansion, perhaps simply publishing the terms that would qualify prospective new members.
As it turned out, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin succeeded with their rapid expansion.
If these six nations join, BRICS will include four of the world’s largest oil producers (Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and the UAE) as two of the world’s leading consumers of oil (China and India). The BRICS-11 Group is bound to have an incredible influence on the geoeconomics of energy.
More background:
Why the BRICS Summit Could Be a Big Deal – U.S. Institute for Peace, August 23, 2023
China, Russia Deliver Broadsides Against the West at BRICS Summit – WSJ, August 23, 2023
BRICS Invites Six New Countries to Join the Bloc – Foreign Policy, August 24, 2023
The BRICS Imperative – Gateway House, August 24, 2023
What is a BRICS currency and is the U.S. dollar in trouble? – Reuters, August 24, 2023
Saudi Arabia inches closer to BRICS membership – Economist Intelligence Unit, June 12, 2023
Global Tech Security Commission Update
This week, the Global Tech Security Commission debuted Global Tech Security Insights, a series covering emerging technologies and featuring interviews with those who are developing the definitive global tech security strategy to safeguard freedom through the adoption of trusted technology.
This week, Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang joined to discuss national security, the future of the internet, developments in AI and the importance of trusted technology.
Watch the full Global Tech Security Commission interview HERE and catch up on the Global Tech Security Commission with key links below.
Global Tech Security Commission appoints Country Commissioners to counter authoritarian threats
Keith Krach: How China weaponizes the capitalist system against us - The Hill August 6, 2023
Beyond chatbots: How the US-China tech race will define AI’s future
Announcements
Welcome, TalentCraft, to the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy as our newest corporate member.
TalentCraft is humanizing recruiting as a candidate-centric recruiting firm by building real relationships with top tech talent and matching them with opportunities to help businesses overcome their unique hiring challenges.
Latest News
Chinese Defense Minister Pushes Beijing's Global Security Blueprint During Trip to Russia, Belarus – Radio Free Europe, August 18, 2023
Japan’s release of radioactive water from Fukushima angers China – Financial Times, August 22, 2023
The rise of the middle powers – Financial Times, August 22, 2023
This series looks at how the stand-off between America and China has ushered in a new era of opportunity for countries across the world.
Technology Strategy and Policy
These technologies could defeat China’s missile barrage and defend Taiwan – Breaking Defense, August 22, 2023
Biden buys time for bilateral science pact – Politico, August 24, 2023
Taking ‘bold’ bets: new UK agency prepares to fund breakthrough technologies – Financial Times, August 25, 2023
Artificial Intelligence
Scientists employ AI to predict brain cancer outcomes – Stanford Medicine, August 22, 2023
Analyzing an Expert Proposal for China’s Artificial Intelligence Law – DigiChina, August 23, 2023
How India needs to prepare for the AI disruption – Indian Express, August 21, 2023
GPTs, software engineering, and a new age of hacking – Harvard Kennedy School, August 16, 2023
What can a virtual village made up of AI chatbots tell us about human interaction? – Financial Times, August 25, 2023
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Beijing is coming for the metaverse – Politico, August 20, 2023
Huawei Building Secret Network for Chips, Trade Group Warns – Bloomberg, August 22, 2023
SpaceX Working with Cloudflare to Speed Up Starlink Service – The Information, August 23, 2023
As TikTok Ban Looms, ByteDance Battles Oracle For Control Of Its Algorithm – Forbes, August 24, 2023
Critical Minerals
Mining Companies Want to Turn Scrap Metal Into Green-Energy Treasure – WSJ, August 23, 2023
India's Modi Urges Nations With Critical Minerals to See Custodianship as 'Global Responsibility' – U.S. News and World Report, August 27, 2023
PM Modi warns of new colonialism model over control of rare earth minerals – Hindustan Times, August 27, 2023
Synthetic Biology
Aviation and Maritime Biofuels Get Sustainability Boost from Novel Enzyme – SynBioBeta, August 18, 2023
2023 Biodefense Posture Review – U.S. Department of Defense, August 17, 2023
A DNA-Based Anticoagulant is Set to Disrupt the Norm – SynBioBeta, August 22, 2023
Brain implants give a voice to people who cannot speak – Financial Times, August 23, 2023
Quantum
Unlocking Europe's Quantum Potential: Why the Startup Funding Model Is Critical – Forbes, August 28, 2023
NIST to Standardize Encryption Algorithms That Can Resist Attack by Quantum Computers – NIST, August 24, 2023
Japan 'cannot maintain' security at current capabilities: SDF chief – Nikkei Asia, August 29, 2023
Advanced Aerospace Technology
India is replacing Russia as a 21st-century space power – Quartz, August 23, 2023
Chinese tech could break barrier to making crucial defence and aerospace material – SCMP, August 23, 2023
US approves possible sale of F-16 search and track systems to Taiwan – Reuters, August 23, 2023
China slams US call to ban anti-satellite missile tests as ‘fake arms control’ – SCMP, August 23, 2023
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
China quietly recruits overseas chip talent as US tightens curbs – Reuters, August 24, 2023
China imports record amount of chipmaking equipment – Financial Times, August 24, 2023
Revolutionising the semiconductor industry: Chinese scientists unveil 12-inch wafer with groundbreaking 2D materials – SCMP, August 28, 2023
Energy and Climate
China Adds World’s Biggest Energy Sector to Anti-Spy Push – Bloomberg, August 16, 2023
Australia looks to EV boom to transform economy – Nikkei Asia, August 27, 2023
The Electric: A Coming Chinese Battery Deluge? – The Information, August 28, 2023
Opinion and Commentary
Delusions of Détente: Why America and China Will Be Enduring Rivals – Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, August 22, 2023
In Wuhan, doctors knew the truth. They were told to keep quiet. – Washington Post, August 22, 2023
The Political Economy of Technology – William Janeway, Project Syndicate, August 25, 2023
The Real Contest with China: Washington Needs a Comprehensive Industrial Strategy to Outpace Beijing – Michael Brown and Robert Atkinson, Foreign Affairs, August 28, 2023
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.