{"id":69307,"date":"2026-03-18T18:09:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T12:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=69307"},"modified":"2026-03-19T16:33:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T11:03:30","slug":"brics-sti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/18-03-2026\/brics-sti","title":{"rendered":"BRICS and Science, Technology &#038; Innovation (STI)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Global Groupings &amp; Agreements Involving India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>BRICS <\/strong>has emerged as a key platform advocating a <strong>multipolar world order<\/strong> and reducing dependence on Western-led systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In recent years, <strong>Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)<\/strong> has become a crucial yet <strong>underexplored pillar of BRICS<\/strong> cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>About BRICS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>BRICS, as a term originally coined by economist <strong>Jim O\u2019Neill in 2001<\/strong>. It refers to a <strong>group of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was formalized <strong>during the 1st meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers<\/strong> on the margins of <strong>UNGA in New York in 2006.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>South Africa was inducted in 2010<\/strong> and from there on it has been referred to as<strong> BRICS.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as new full members.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New Development Bank<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It aims to support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>BRICS in the Global STI Landscape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In an era of <strong>geopolitical tensions, techno-nationalism, and export controls<\/strong>, global scientific collaboration is increasingly fragmented.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BRICS provides an <strong>alternative collaborative platform<\/strong> for:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coordinating innovation strategies;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promoting technology sharing;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening Global South cooperation;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Institutions like the <strong>New Development Bank (NDB)<\/strong> support development finance and innovation ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expansion to <strong>BRICS+ (including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, etc.)<\/strong> enhances its global relevance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Evolution of STI Cooperation in BRICS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Institutional Development:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2011<\/strong>: STI formally recognized in BRICS agenda;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MoU in 2015<\/strong>: Established STI as a <strong>core strategic pillar;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creation of Structured Mechanisms: Ministerial meetings; and National nodal agencies (e.g., CSIR, DBT in India)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Action Plans &amp; Frameworks: BRICS Action Plan for Innovation (2017\u20132020)<\/strong> focuses on entrepreneurship, youth, women participation; Technology transfer and incubation networks.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shift from <strong>basic research to innovation &amp; commercialization.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Areas of Cooperation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Emerging Technologies: <\/strong>Artificial Intelligence (AI); High-Performance Computing (HPC); ICT and Digital Technologies; and space cooperation (2021 agreement).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Societal Challenges: <\/strong>Public health (COVID-19 response, vaccines); energy security; water and environment; and climate resilience;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutional Mechanisms:<\/strong> BRICS Technology Transfer Centre (TTC); iBRICS innovation network; and BRICS Institute of Future Networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recent Developments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>AI Declaration (2025)<\/strong>: AI elevated to a <strong>central governance issue;<\/strong> focus on <strong>inclusive, equitable, development-oriented AI.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expansion to BRICS+<\/strong>: Broader collaboration across Global South;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s 2026 Presidency Theme<\/strong>: <em>Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Achievements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strengthened <strong>scientific collaboration and research networks;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Progress in <strong>ICT, AI, and space technologies;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Growing emphasis on <strong>innovation-driven ecosystems;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased <strong>Global South representation in STI governance;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related Challenges &amp; Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Weak Innovation Systems: <\/strong>Low <strong>GERD (Gross Expenditure on R&amp;D)<\/strong> in most members (except China);\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gap with advanced innovators like <strong>South Korea<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutional Limitations: <\/strong>No <strong>permanent STI coordination body; <\/strong>BRICS\u2019s rotational leadership limits long-term planning;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Uneven Participation: <\/strong>New BRICS+ members show <strong>limited engagement<\/strong>; and they have differences in <strong>scientific capacity and economic development.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Commercialization: <\/strong>Weak translation of research into <strong>market-ready technologies.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Funding Constraints: <\/strong>Limited scale of funding compared to EU programs; and high competition for resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Institutional Strengthening: <\/strong>Need to establish a <strong>permanent BRICS STI Secretariat; <\/strong>and model after <strong>EU Horizon Programme.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mega-Science Projects: <\/strong>Joint long-term projects in space exploration, climate science, and biotechnology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enhancing Innovation Ecosystems: <\/strong>Need to increase <strong>GERD investment<\/strong>; and strengthen <strong>National Innovation Systems (NIS).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inclusive BRICS+ Integration: <\/strong>There is a need to promote <strong>\u2018paired collaborations\u2019<\/strong> between members; and capacity building in weaker economies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Focus on STI Governance: <\/strong>There is a need for research on ethical AI, digital sovereignty, tech regulation; and align positions in <strong>global treaty negotiations.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>BRICS has made notable progress in STI cooperation since 2015, evolving into a <strong>strategic platform for innovation and development<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, to remain relevant and effective, it needs to <strong>strengthen institutional mechanisms, scale funding, and deepen collaboration<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India, as the <strong>2026 BRICS Chair<\/strong>, has a unique opportunity to <strong>drive reforms and position BRICS as a leader in global STI governance<\/strong>, especially for the Global South.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> Examine the role of BRICS in promoting science, technology, and innovation<strong> <\/strong>cooperation among member countries. Also discuss the key challenges and suggest measures to enhance its effectiveness in the context of BRICS+ expansion.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/on-scientific-collaborations-in-brics\/article70755417.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-18-03-2026.pdf\"><strong>Download PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 18 March, 2026<\/p>\n<p>BRICS has emerged as a key platform advocating a multipolar world order and reducing dependence on Western-led systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":69311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Editorial-Analysis-900-600-3-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69307"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69391,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69307\/revisions\/69391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}