PRESS RELEASE
BRICS Astronomy collaboration reaches major milestone with signing of the GOTTA-BRICS Pathfinder Memorandum of Understanding
29 June 2026
Collaboration among BRICS member countries‘ and institutions continues to strengthen with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the GOTTA-BRICS Pathfinder Programme, marking a major milestone in advancing the BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN), the flagship project of the BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG). The MoU was signed in May 2026 during a visit by delegates from Brazil to South Africa, following the signing of a Letter of Intent in Hangzhou, China, in April 2025, and subsequent discussions at the BAWG 2025 Business Meeting held in Brazil. The agreement brings together the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC), Brazil’s National Laboratory for Astrophysics (LNA), and the National Research Foundation’s South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO), with additional BRICS partners expected to join as the programme expands.
The GOTTA-BRICS Pathfinder Programme forms part of the Global Open Transient Telescope Array (GOTTA), an ambitious initiative to establish a global network of more than 100 metre-sized Schmidt telescopes capable of scanning the entire night sky every 30 minutes. Using the intelligent observatory model, advanced data management, and coordinated follow-up observations, the network will transform the detection and study of transient astronomical events.
The programme builds on BITDN, a pioneering BRICS-led research infrastructure initiative proposed in 2019 to establish a global optical telescope network across BRICS countries. BITDN aims to provide continuous, full-sky coverage for the study of transient and variable astronomical phenomena while fostering scientific innovation, technological development and international collaboration.
Beyond its scientific goals, BITDN places strong emphasis on societal impact through education, skills development, public engagement and social development programmes. Planned activities include hackathons, data analytics and artificial intelligence training, scholarships, exchange programmes, winter and summer schools, and science communication initiatives. The project also envisions public access to the GOTTA Event Horizon Cyber-Telescope platform, creating opportunities for schools, educators, students, amateur astronomers, and astronomy enthusiasts to engage directly with astronomical observations and data.
The initiative is equally committed to promoting equity and inclusion in science through open-access platforms and collaborative research opportunities, particularly for scientists and institutions in underrepresented regions, including Africa. Through advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big-data science, the programme will complement major international facilities such as the Rubin Observatory and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory.
As a critical next step, NAOC, LNA, and NRF-SAAO will work together to develop a prototype intelligent observatory network across China, Brazil, and South Africa. This Pathfinder Programme will validate the feasibility of the intelligent observatory model while laying the foundation for broader BRICS and global participation.
The signing of the GOTTA-BRICS Pathfinder MoU represents more than a formal agreement, it reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific discovery, developing future generations of researchers, and strengthening international cooperation. Together, the partners are building a future where astronomy serves not only as a tool for exploring the Universe, but also as a catalyst for innovation, education, and societal development.
Contact:
BRICS Astronomy
Duduzile Kubheka – BRICS Astronomy Coordinator
Email: duduzile@saao.ac.za
Organisation Heads
Brazil – National Laboratory for Astrophysics (LNA)
Dr Luciano Fraga
Email: lfraga@lna.br
China – National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC)
Prof Jifeng Liu
Email: jfliu@nao.cas.cn
South Africa – National Research Foundation South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO)
Dr Rosalind Skelton
Email: re.skelton@saao.nrf.ac.za
About BRICS Astronomy: https://www.bricsastronomy.org
