An overview of major scientific and infrastructure projects launched across BRICS nations, along with key insights from the most compelling research on the future development prospects of the bloc’s member states.
A novel anti-cancer mRNA vaccine developed by Russian scientists is scheduled to undergo clinical trials at the Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology starting in the second half of 2025. The study will recruit volunteer patients diagnosed with Stage II–III melanoma who do not have metastatic spread, as preclinical testing demonstrated efficacy particularly in treating this specific form of cancer. Following the successful completion of human trials, the mRNA vaccine will be integrated into routine clinical use. Future research suggests this therapeutic strategy may extend to various forms of lung, renal, gastrointestinal, breast, hepatic, and glioblastoma cancers. The vaccine helps to prevent relapse or reduce the likelihood of recurrent malignancy in individuals already affected by cancer. Several nations worldwide, including Russia, have focused their efforts on personalized neoantigen-targeted mRNA vaccines. Manufacturing this vaccine requires tumour samples subjected to genomic sequencing. Data generated through this process is analyzed via advanced AI algorithms due to the immense complexity involved. Ultimately, oncologists determine the appropriate neoantigens needed to tailor patient-specific immunotherapy components aimed at identifying and eliminating re-emergent tumour cells.
Initiated in 2018 at the Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology, the initiative involved collaboration with the Ministry of Health to establish a consortium involving four research institutes by 2024. The Gamaleya Research Institute contributes cutting-edge technologies for the rapid production of neoantigen vaccines utilizing mRNA vector formats. The vaccines will be administered at two National Centres: the Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology and the National Medical Research Radiological Centre.
In 2025, the United Arab Emirates launched an ambitious project to build the world’s largest and most powerful solar power plant. Located in the Abu Dhabi desert, the project will feature a 5.2 GW direct current photovoltaic solar facility and an energy storage system with capacity of 19 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Total investment is estimated at USD 6 billion.
Approximately 10 million solar panels will cover an area of 90 square kilometres. The project is expected to house not only the most powerful energy storage system to date, but also the world’s first facility that is capable of delivering a stable one-gigawatt output and maintaining uninterrupted power generation even at night or during adverse weather conditions.
According to expert estimates cited by Reuters, the plant will be capable of supplying electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes or powering major data centres. The facility is scheduled to become operational by 2027.
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as the largest investor in new business ventures across the African continent. According to the Financial Times, UAE-based companies announced projects worth USD 110 billion between 2019 and 2023, with USD 72 billion directed toward renewable energy initiatives. This investment volume more than doubled the combined project announcements from the UK, France, and China, which had previously been the leading foreign investors in Africa. In 2024, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign fund ADQ announced a USD 35-billion investment in Egypt to develop Ras El Hekma, a mega-resort and world-class financial centre. Spanning over 179 million square metres, the city is expected to become a major hub for tourism, finance, and investment in Egypt.
The UAE is also actively acquiring strategic port infrastructure across Africa. DP World, a company controlled by Dubai’s royal family, has been operating in the region since 2006 and currently manages six ports, with plans to build two more. Abu Dhabi Ports has owned the Port of Kamsar in Guinea since 2013 and has recently secured operating rights for ports in Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, and Angola. Investors from UAE are also expanding their presence in Africa’s mining, agriculture, and telecommunications sectors, further deepening the UAE’s economic footprint on the continent.
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has unveiled its ambitious supersonic passenger jet project, the COMAC C949, which boasts groundbreaking technical specifications. According to company engineers, the new aircraft surpasses the legendary Concorde by 50% in range, offering a flight distance of up to 6,800 kilometres compared with the Concorde’s 4,500 kilometres. In addition, it is reportedly 20 times quieter than its predecessor.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, the C949 generates noise levels of just 83.9 decibels, roughly equivalent to that of a household hairdryer. The supersonic jet is expected to enter commercial service by 2049.
China is set to break the world record for the tallest bridge this summer with the completion of a 625-metre-high structure spanning the Huajiang Grand Canyon in Guizhou Province, also known as the “Earth Rift.” The bridge, stretching 2,890 metres in length, will surpass France’s Millau Viaduct, the current record holder, by a remarkable 289 metres.
This major infrastructure project will dramatically cut travel time across the canyon from two hours to just one minute. China is renowned for its ambitious engineering feats and record-breaking bridges. According to CNN, nearly half of the world’s 100 tallest bridges are located in Guizhou Province.
Unveiled by Chinese scientists in spring 2025, the quantum supercomputer Zuchongzhi-3 has shattered performance records, operating at a speed 10¹⁵ times faster than the most powerful classical supercomputer currently in existence, and one million times faster than Google’s latest quantum prototype, Sycamore (2024). With this breakthrough, the Zuchongzhi-3 development team has pulled far ahead in the global race for quantum supremacy, overtaking former leader Google.
Quantum computing represents a fundamental leap beyond the capabilities of classical machines. In 2019, Google introduced its Sycamore quantum processor, which completed a random number generation task in just 200 seconds, a process estimated to take 10,000 years on the fastest classical supercomputer of the time.
Since then, the race to develop the world’s most powerful quantum computer has only intensified, and for good reason. Quantum computing holds the promise of unlocking mysteries of the universe previously beyond human reach. Potential applications include the development of cures for currently incurable diseases, ultra-precise modelling of the cosmos, combatting future pandemics, forecasting climate change with unprecedented accuracy, and more.
The global economic centre of gravity is steadily shifting away from North America and Europe, the dominant forces in the 20th century, toward Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. This is the key finding of a new report by the international consultancy Oliver Wyman, which has developed a global urban business attractiveness index titled “The Cities Shaping the Future”. According to the report, rising geopolitical tensions, growing protectionism, and demographic shifts are prompting businesses to seek new hubs for production and market expansion. The index includes 1,500 cities across these four rapidly emerging regions.
Fast-growing cities in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East currently account for 45% of global GDP and are home to 85% of the world’s population. Over the next two decades, these regions are expected to account for 95% of global urban population growth, adding 1.4 billion city dwellers by 2045. Within the next ten years, 28 of the world’s 30 largest urban agglomerations will be located in these regions, including cities like Delhi, Dhaka, Shanghai, Kinshasa, Cairo, Mumbai, Beijing, Mexico City, and São Paulo, each with populations ranging from 25 to 40 million.
However, demography is far from the only factor driving business appeal. When compiling the index, Oliver Wyman also evaluated critical elements such as logistics infrastructure, transportation connectivity, the presence of corporate headquarters, the development of retail and hospitality sectors, exportpotential, and resilience to climate change.
According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), BRICS countries topped the G20 rankings for GDP growth in 2024. India, Indonesia, China, Russia, and Brazil recorded the highest economic growth rates among the G20 nations.
The BRICS economies expanded significantly faster than the G20 average of 3.2% and far outpaced the OECD countries, which posted average GDP growth of just 1.7%.
By 2050, Africa is set to become the second most urbanized continent after Asia, according to the OECD’s Africa Urbanisation Dynamics 2025 report. Experts estimate that over the next 25 years, the continent’s urban population will double, from 700 million to 1.4 billion, unlocking significant opportunities for business and investment.
“Two out of three Africans will be living in urban areas,” the report states. “As metropolitan regions expand, demand for land, housing, infrastructure, and services will surge.”
The most urbanized countries on the continent by the middle of this century will include Nigeria, projected to rank fourth globally in urban population with 250 million city dwellers, followed by Egypt (147 million) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (111 million). Together, these three nations will account for one-third of Africa’s total urban population.
