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BRICS+ STI Cooperation: 2025 AI Declaration, 2015 MoU Pillar, 2026 India Presidency Theme 'Building for Resilience'

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
18 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:20152017-20202026
Bodies:BRICSNew Development BankCSIRDBTChina-BRICS Research Centre on New Quality Productive Forces
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What This Article Covers

1.BRICS Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) cooperation, formalized in a 2015 MoU, has expanded from fundamental research to socially relevant areas like energy, water, and public health.

2.The 2025 BRICS Declaration on AI elevated it to a central governance pillar, and the group's expansion to BRICS+ (including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran) aims for a more inclusive Global South platform.

3.Key challenges include low R&D expenditure (except China), uneven participation from new members, and the lack of a permanent secretariat, with experts suggesting a model like the EU's Horizon Programme for deeper integration.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

BRICS science cooperation, a strategic pillar since 2015, is evolving from basic research to innovation in energy, health, and AI, with the 2025 AI Declaration marking a governance shift. As India chairs BRICS+ in 2026, the challenge is scaling collaboration amidst member heterogeneity and limited funding.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

BRICS STI MoU Year2015
First BRICS Innovation Action Plan2017-2020
2026 BRICS Presidency & ThemeIndia, 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'
BRICS+ New Members (2025)Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran
Lead Agencies for IndiaCSIR & DBT

1-Minute Revision

  • ›BRICS STI MoU Year: 2015
  • ›First BRICS Innovation Action Plan: 2017-2020
  • ›Target this Data: Year of the pivotal BRICS STI MoU (2015).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The BRICS working group for innovation (STIEP - Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Partnership Working Group).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The 2025 BRICS Declaration on Artificial Intelligence as a central governance pillar.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which Indian organizations served as the lead agencies for BRICS STI cooperation during India's chairmanship, as mentioned in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation:

1. Cooperation in STI was formally recognized in the BRICS agenda in 2011.

2. A Memorandum of Understanding in 2020 established STI as a core strategic pillar for the grouping.

3. The BRICS Technology Transfer Centre (TTC) has made progress in creating policy frameworks for cross-border technology commercialisation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is the theme for India's BRICS Presidency in 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is identified in the article as a primary structural challenge for deepening BRICS STI cooperation?

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