BRICS Well Placed to Foster Future-Oriented Innovation Ecosystem: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh stated on Friday that the BRICS grouping is well positioned to foster a cooperative, responsible, and future-oriented innovation ecosystem. Citing the bloc's vast population, scientific talent, and growing research capabilities, the minister highlighted the evolution of BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation.

Addressing the 14th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting in his inaugural address, Singh noted that the cooperation platform now encompasses research collaboration, innovation partnerships, young scientist exchanges, and shared research infrastructures.

The minister pointed out that the global landscape is undergoing rapid transformation driven by emerging technologies. These include artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced materials, biotechnology, photonics, geospatial technologies, and high-performance computing.

While acknowledging that these technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for progress, Singh stressed that they also require stronger international collaboration. Such cooperation is necessary to ensure that innovation remains accessible, affordable, trusted, and sustainable, he added.

Highlighting India's domestic efforts, Singh stated that the country remains committed to an open, inclusive, and human-centric approach to science and innovation. He cited national initiatives such as the National Supercomputing Mission and the expanding digital public infrastructure ecosystem as examples of how innovation can improve daily life, strengthen societal resilience, and support sustainable economic transformation.

During the meeting, Singh invited BRICS partners to collaborate on practical pathways for deeper engagement. Key areas for cooperation include frontier research, innovation financing, talent mobility, research infrastructure sharing, startup partnerships, and capacity building.

He concluded that such collaborative efforts will help establish a future-ready BRICS STI architecture capable of addressing global challenges while supporting the aspirations of the Global South.

"The emphasis on cross-border collaboration in frontier technologies like AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology opens up significant avenues for technology-driven enterprises. For the startup ecosystem, initiatives aimed at innovation financing, talent mobility, and startup partnerships within the BRICS framework can create new pathways for scaling operations, accessing broader markets, and addressing complex global challenges through shared infrastructure and resources." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes