New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS): Research and development priorities, cooperation on innovation and a work plan for the next three years were discussed on Tuesday in the ongoing third BRICS ministerial meeting in Moscow, an official statement said.

Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan led the Indian delegation to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) ministerial meeting on science, technology and innovation (STI) in Moscow October 27-28.

"BRICS research and development priorities, innovation cooperation within BRICS, a work plan for 2015-2018 on science, technology and innovation for cooperation among BRICS countries were discussed today (Tuesday). Discussions also took place on Moscow ministerial declaration to be made at the meeting," a science and technology ministry statement said here.

The five countries also gave a brief report on activities in their respective "leadership areas" at the meeting, it added.

Earlier, the BRICS countries had identified leadership areas to be taken by each one of them.

Climate change and natural disaster mitigation was to be led by Brazil; water resources and pollution by Russia; geospatial technologies and its applications by India; new and renewable energy and energy efficiency by China; and astronomy by South Africa.

The conference would also discuss exchange of information on STI policies and strategies, it said.