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On scientific collaborations in BRICS

March 17, 2026 5 min read Science & Technology International Relations GS2 (IR/International Institutions) GS3 (Science & Technology)
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What Happened

  • BRICS has progressively built a structured science, technology, and innovation (STI) collaboration framework that now spans 13 thematic working groups, joint research calls, and the BRICS Young Scientists Forum
  • The STI framework explicitly positions BRICS as a vehicle for establishing a multipolar world order in science — reducing dependence on Western-dominated research institutions and journals
  • In 2024, three new cooperation themes were added: Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technologies; Social Sciences and Humanities; and New Metrics for Science (Scientometrics) — reflecting the bloc's evolution from purely natural science cooperation to broader knowledge domains
  • A new joint innovation call for 2025–2026 invites collaborative projects from institutions across at least two BRICS member countries, with projects expected to run for up to three years starting Q2 2026
  • Brazil assumed the BRICS rotating presidency in 2025, and the expanded 11-member BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia) creates a larger STI talent and research infrastructure pool

Static Topic Bridges

BRICS Expansion and the 11-Member Grouping

BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa following Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill's 2001 coining of "BRIC" as an economic growth thesis. It became a formal grouping at the first BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009; South Africa joined in 2010. At the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in August 2023, six countries were invited: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. By January 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE formally joined, expanding BRICS to nine members (Argentina declined under President Milei). Indonesia joined in January 2025, and Saudi Arabia remains under consideration, bringing the grouping to 11 confirmed members. The expanded BRICS collectively represents over 40% of global population and approximately 35% of global GDP (PPP).

  • Original BRIC coined: 2001 (Jim O'Neill, Goldman Sachs)
  • First BRIC Summit: June 2009, Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • South Africa joins: 2010 (Sanya Summit, China)
  • 2024 expansion: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE (formal members from January 2024)
  • Indonesia joins: January 2025 (Brazil rotating presidency announcement)
  • Current BRICS members (11): Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia (still deliberating), Indonesia
  • Rotating presidency 2025: Brazil; 2024: Russia

Connection to this news: The expansion substantially increases BRICS's collective scientific capacity — adding Ethiopian, Egyptian, Emirati, and Indonesian research institutions to the pool of potential collaborators, including in areas like renewable energy and climate adaptation where these countries have specific interests.

BRICS STI Framework Programme: Architecture and Governance

The BRICS STI Framework Programme (established formally around 2015 and gaining structure through successive summits) is the primary mechanism for science cooperation. It is governed by an annual meeting of BRICS Ministers of Science, Technology, and Innovation; an annual meeting of Senior Officials; the STI Steering Committee; and 13 Thematic Working Groups. The framework runs joint multilateral calls for research projects (now in its 6th+ call cycle), requiring consortia of institutions from at least two BRICS countries. Projects must target commercialisable innovation, not pure basic research. A secretariat is housed at the Russian Centre for Scientific Information. India's participation is coordinated through the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

  • DST (India) is the nodal ministry for BRICS STI cooperation
  • Thematic areas include: water resources, renewable energy, energy efficiency, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, simulation and big data, precision medicine, AI and quantum technologies (added 2024)
  • BRICS Young Innovator Prize: recognises outstanding innovative products/technologies from young researchers across BRICS nations
  • BRICS Young Scientists Forum: held annually, facilitates peer networking and joint research initiation
  • The STI framework complements the New Development Bank's infrastructure financing role — science enables the projects the NDB finances

Connection to this news: The framework's expansion into AI, quantum, and social sciences marks a qualitative shift from BRICS as a commodities-and-infrastructure bloc to a knowledge-economy collaboration, directly relevant to UPSC GS3 (S&T) and GS2 (multilateral groupings).

New Development Bank and BRICS Financial Architecture

The New Development Bank (NDB) was established at the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014; the agreement was signed and the Bank began operations on July 21, 2015. Headquartered in Shanghai, with a regional office in Johannesburg and a Brazil office in São Paulo, the NDB provides financing for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market and developing countries. Its initial authorised capital is $100 billion. The NDB represents BRICS's institutional expression of an alternative to Bretton Woods institutions — the World Bank and IMF — that BRICS members argue are disproportionately governed by Western shareholders.

  • NDB established: 6th BRICS Summit, Fortaleza, Brazil, July 2014; operations began July 21, 2015
  • Headquarters: Shanghai, China
  • Initial authorised capital: $100 billion (subscribed capital: $50 billion, paid-in capital: $10 billion at launch)
  • Membership expanded 2021–2023: Bangladesh, UAE, Egypt added; Algeria joined 2024
  • India's NDB loans have supported projects in renewable energy, urban infrastructure, and transport
  • The NDB lends in local currencies to reduce dollar-denomination risk for member countries

Connection to this news: The NDB finances the physical infrastructure (energy, water, health facilities) that the STI framework's research aims to improve — the two pillars of BRICS cooperation are complementary and both advance the multipolar world narrative.

Key Facts & Data

  • BRICS STI Steering Committee governs 13 Thematic Working Groups
  • New themes added in 2024: AI and Quantum Technologies; Social Sciences and Humanities; New Metrics for Science
  • BRICS members as of 2025: 11 (including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia still deliberating)
  • First BRIC Summit: June 2009, Yekaterinburg
  • South Africa joined: 2010; India's nodal ministry for BRICS STI: DST
  • NDB established: July 2015, Shanghai headquarters, $100 billion authorised capital
  • Joint innovation call 2025–2026: minimum 2 BRICS institutions, up to 3 years, start Q2 2026
  • BRICS collective share: ~40% of global population, ~35% of global GDP (PPP)