Webinar: Leveraging Data Economy Across BRICS

Introduction

• Hosted by Karolina Fine, Head of Trading Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil.
• Organized under the Brazilian BRICS Presidency 2025.
• Focus on leveraging data economy within BRICS countries.

Guidelines for the Webinar

• Conducted in English, Portuguese subtitles available later.
• Delegates can make remarks, follow a first-come-first-serve principle.
• Encourages objectivity in discussions.
• Panelists should mute microphones when not speaking.

Opening Remarks

Mr. Luis Philipi Hisa

• Under Secretary of Industrial Development, Innovation, Trade, and Services, Brazil.
• Emphasized national policy formulation for data economy.
• Challenges: many countries are data exporters but import digital solutions.
• Importance of clear rules for data market development and fair access.
• Discussed rebalancing power dynamics in data collection and processing.
• Need for national policies and bilateral agreements on data sharing.

Ambassador Philip G

• Director, Department of Financial Policy and Investments, Brazil.
• Data is central to the digital economy and development strategies.
• Challenges include lack of international consensus on data governance.
• Noted fragmentation due to national regulations on data.
• Stressed importance of BRICS in influencing international data governance.

Keynote Speech: Luca Belli

• Director, Center for Technology and Society.
• Discussed research on BRICS digital policies and digital sovereignty.
• Digital sovereignty involves control over digital infrastructure and data.
• Good examples from Brazil (PIX payments) and India (UPI infrastructure).
• Advocated for interoperability in data governance.
• Proposed model contractual clauses for data transfers.

Panel 1: Digital Economy Policies Based on Data Assets

Presentation by Torbjörn Fredriksson (UNCTAD)

• Examined growth of digital data and importance of transforming it into digital intelligence.
• Highlighted uneven distribution of digital economy benefits.
• Discussed need for effective policies and international cooperation.

Presentation by Hu Jiumo (China National Data Development Institute)

• Focused on China's digital economy expansion and infrastructure investments.
• Highlighted China's efforts in data factor markets and international cooperation.

Presentation by Dini Maulani (Satu Data Indonesia Secretariat)

• Shared Indonesia's data governance initiative (Satu Data) for better integration.
• Discussed challenges of standardizing data across numerous islands and agencies.

Presentation by Lilian Melo (Brazilian Ministry of Justice)

• Addressed balancing data protection with data economy needs.
• Advocated for regulatory convergence and international cooperation in data governance.

Panel 2: Value Generation from Data in BRICS

Presentation by Alberto Palomo (GAIA-X)

• Explained GAIA-X, a framework for data interoperability and cloud usage.
• Described data spaces as solutions for trust and dynamic data ecosystems.

Presentation by John Bruce (Solid Project)

• Introduced Solid, a technology for data sovereignty and safe data sharing.
• Highlighted deployments in Europe, enhancing data utility and GDP.

Presentation by Lee Se-dol (Fuxi Institution)

• Emphasized data interoperability and cross-domain data connectivity.
• Suggested creating a collaborative framework for BRICS countries.

Presentation by Rodrigo Assumpção (DataPrev, Brazil)

• Shared examples of leveraging data for social benefits and infrastructure.
• Highlighted Brazil's National Data Infrastructure initiative.

Conclusion

• Webinar served as a platform to discuss strategic data economy policies.
• Aim to ensure BRICS contributes to international digital and data governance debates.
• Expressions of gratitude to all participants and organizers.