BRICS to deepen science, education and startup ties with research repository, youth platform

The BRICS grouping is set to deepen cooperation in science, education, research, innovation and skilling, with member countries agreeing on a series of initiatives ranging from a common digital research repository to a platform supporting youth-led startups.

The initiatives form part of the New Delhi Declaration adopted on the first day of the BRICS summit in the Indian capital on Saturday. The grouping of 11 major emerging economies will also explore a new university ranking and evaluation framework as it seeks to strengthen academic and research partnerships.

Common research platform and startup support

Under the declaration, the BRICS Science and Research Repository (BSRR) will be developed as a common digital platform to map and share research outputs, datasets, infrastructure and expertise among member countries.

The BRICS Youth Startup Platform (BYSP) will provide a virtual space for dialogue, collaboration and support for startups led by young entrepreneurs. The grouping also recognised the need to increase financing for startups at both early and growth stages, in line with the proposed BRICS Startup Innovation Fund.

The focus on youth entrepreneurship builds on work already undertaken during India's 2026 BRICS chairship. Earlier in August, BRICS science ministers welcomed the Youth Startup Platform and highlighted the need for stronger links between incubators, accelerators and early-stage investors.

India has also showcased its own deep-tech ecosystem alongside the summit through the BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition at Bharat Mandapam, featuring 37 Indian deep-tech startups and providing opportunities for investment, technology partnerships and international market access.

Research infrastructure, megascience projects get push

BRICS countries will strengthen large-scale research infrastructure and megascience projects through an action plan covering 2026 to 2030.

The plan will operationalise the BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network (BRICS GRAIN), which is intended to facilitate cooperation in research infrastructure, megascience projects and research facilities, while also encouraging greater engagement with the global research community.

The grouping adopted the action plan of its working group on research infrastructures and megascience projects for 2026-2030 as part of the broader effort to expand scientific collaboration.

The declaration also welcomed the outcomes of the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting held in Bhubaneswar in August. The meeting had backed exploratory work towards a BRICS University Global Ranking and Evaluation System, a proposal that was first put forward in 2023.

A specialised workshop on the proposed ranking and evaluation system is scheduled to be held between September and December 2026.

Education cooperation to include indigenous knowledge

The BRICS Education Olympiad is also being developed and is currently at the conception stage.

The grouping decided to continue the BRICS Rectors' Forum, which brings together university heads and academic leaders to promote cooperation in higher education, scientific research and cross-border academic partnerships.

BRICS countries also welcomed India's guiding principles on "Strengthening Academic Collaboration on Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge Systems". The initiative seeks to identify, preserve, protect and promote traditional and indigenous knowledge through the responsible use of digital technologies.

The BRICS Network University has been encouraged to consider adding traditional, indigenous and local knowledge systems as an additional International Thematic Group (ITG), subject to its established governance procedures and the national laws and policies of member countries.

India had already hosted a BRICS Network University conference in July focusing on traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, with the proposal for a new thematic area subsequently discussed by its international governing board.

Focus on AI, skills and workforce preparedness

The declaration also backed cooperation in early childhood care and education, foundational literacy and numeracy, mutual recognition of qualifications, academic and professional mobility and digital literacy.

Member countries further committed to promoting the safe, ethical and human-centred use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

BRICS reaffirmed its support for the BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training Cooperation Alliance (BRICS-TCA). The grouping said efforts would be strengthened to improve skill development, digital literacy and workforce preparedness.

The countries also emphasised aligning training programmes with changing market requirements and strengthening links between technical and vocational education institutions and industries.

The broader science and technology agenda is consistent with India's BRICS chairship priorities, which have placed innovation, knowledge sharing and young innovators at the centre of cooperation.

Academic and scientific exchanges planned

People-to-people engagements are also planned under the new cooperation framework, although the schedule for these activities has not yet been announced.

An academic forum in Lucknow will bring together academics and experts for discussions and knowledge exchange. A virtual BRICS Network University conference will focus on traditional and indigenous knowledge systems in the digital age.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru will host a BRICS Young Scientists Forum aimed at promoting scientific interaction, knowledge sharing and collaborative research among young researchers from member countries.

The initiatives reflect a broader effort by BRICS to move beyond political and economic cooperation and build practical networks connecting universities, researchers, startups, young scientists and industries across the expanded grouping.