NEW DELHI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated on Friday that the BRICS bloc possesses the necessary scientific talent, vast population, and research capabilities to establish a cooperative, responsible, and future-oriented innovation ecosystem.
Addressing the 14th BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting, the minister noted that BRICS STI cooperation has successfully matured into a robust platform. Key pillars of this collaboration include joint research, innovation partnerships, young scientist exchange programs, and shared research infrastructures.
Key Highlights from the Ministerial Address
- Emerging Technologies: Singh emphasized that rapid global transformation is currently being driven by cutting-edge fields such as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Technologies
- Advanced Materials and Biotechnology
- Photonics and Geospatial Technologies
- High-Performance Computing
- Need for Global Collaboration: While these technologies present unprecedented opportunities, the minister stressed the critical need for international cooperation to ensure innovations remain accessible, trusted, affordable, and sustainable.
- India’s Domestic Leadership: Highlighting India’s commitment to an open, inclusive, and human-centric scientific approach, Singh pointed to flagship initiatives like the National Supercomputing Mission and expanding digital public infrastructure, which aim to boost societal resilience and sustainable economic transformation.
- Call for Deeper Partnership: The minister invited BRICS member nations to establish practical pathways for collaboration in key areas, including:
- Frontier research and innovation financing
- Talent mobility and startup partnerships
- Research infrastructure sharing and capacity building
“Such cooperation can help create a future-ready BRICS STI architecture that is responsive to global challenges and supportive of the aspirations of the Global South,” Singh remarked.
