BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Meeting Highlights Innovation, Startups and Youth-Led Growth

Dr Mandaviya highlighted that this demographic strength gives BRICS countries a unique opportunity to shape the future of work, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group Meeting is currently underway in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, bringing together youth entrepreneurs, policymakers, delegates and innovation stakeholders from BRICS countries to strengthen cooperation in entrepreneurship and promote innovation-driven sustainable growth.

Organised by the Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, the meeting is being held under the theme:

"Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability"

The event reflects India's growing emphasis on youth-led entrepreneurship, startup collaboration and international innovation partnerships among BRICS nations.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Highlights BRICS Demographic Strength

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the gathering through video conferencing and emphasized the immense demographic advantage shared by BRICS nations.

He stated that BRICS countries collectively represent nearly half of the world's population and possess the potential to shape the future global workforce and innovation ecosystem.

"Together, our countries represent nearly half of the world's population. Across many BRICS economies, more than 50% of the population is below the age of 35. India alone has nearly 65% of its population below the age of 35," the Minister said.

Dr Mandaviya highlighted that this demographic strength gives BRICS countries a unique opportunity to shape the future of work, entrepreneurship and innovation.

He noted that young people across BRICS nations are already driving transformational change in their respective economies through technology, enterprise and startup-led innovation.

India's Startup Ecosystem Highlighted as Global Growth Driver

The Minister also underlined India's rapid progress in building one of the world's most vibrant startup ecosystems under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to Dr Mandaviya, India has made remarkable progress through focused efforts on:

• Skilling initiatives

• Digital inclusion

• Enterprise-led growth

• Startup promotion

• Innovation support systems

Officials said India's startup ecosystem has increasingly emerged as a major contributor to:

• Employment generation

• Technological innovation

• Economic growth

• Youth empowerment

Session Focuses on Local Innovation with Global Impact

A major highlight of the event was a dedicated session titled:

"From Local Innovation to Global Impact: BRICS Cooperation for a Youth-Led Startup Ecosystem"

The session provided participating BRICS countries with a platform to share:

• Entrepreneurial experiences

• Startup policies

• Innovation models

• Best practices

• Cooperation opportunities

Delegates discussed ways to strengthen startup ecosystems and expand collaboration among BRICS countries in emerging sectors.

Raksha Khadse Emphasises Inclusive Youth Innovation

Addressing the session, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse stressed the importance of collaboration among BRICS countries.

"When BRICS nations work together and learn from each other, local innovations can create global impact," she stated.

The Minister highlighted India's rapidly expanding startup ecosystem and noted the increasing participation of youth from:

• Smaller towns

• Tier-2 cities

• Tier-3 cities

She said this reflects India's commitment toward inclusive entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation.

Officials noted that India's startup landscape is no longer limited to major metropolitan centres, with entrepreneurship increasingly emerging from semi-urban and rural regions.

Youth Entrepreneurship Driving Inclusive Growth

Speaking during the plenary session, Dr Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, emphasized the growing role of youth entrepreneurship in driving innovation and inclusive economic development.

"Youth-led entrepreneurship is increasingly being recognized as a key driver of innovation, employment and inclusive growth," she said.

Dr Govil added that young entrepreneurs are creating solutions that are:

• Locally relevant

• Globally adaptable

• Technology-driven

• Socially impactful

She also highlighted the importance of the BRICS Entrepreneurship Working Group as a platform for exchanging developmental experiences and identifying scalable approaches for future-ready entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Senior Leaders and Delegates Participate

The inaugural session was attended by several senior dignitaries and delegates, including:

• Shri Vishwas Kailash Sarang, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Madhya Pradesh

• Shri Nitesh Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs

• Delegates from BRICS member countries

• Government officials

• Youth entrepreneurs

• Innovation ecosystem stakeholders

Officials said the gathering demonstrates the increasing importance being given to youth entrepreneurship within BRICS cooperation frameworks.

Innovation Exhibition Showcases Emerging Technologies

The programme commenced with the inauguration of a special exhibition showcasing innovations and entrepreneurial initiatives across multiple sectors.

The exhibition featured projects related to:

• Technology innovation

• Sustainability

• Social enterprise

• Digital solutions

• Clean energy

• Agritech

• AI-based applications

Participants explored innovative models developed by young entrepreneurs and startups from various sectors.

Thematic Discussions on Emerging Sectors

The meeting also featured several thematic panel discussions focusing on future-oriented entrepreneurial sectors.

Key themes included:

Digital Innovation and Technology-Driven Entrepreneurship

Discussions explored emerging opportunities in:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Fintech

• Digital transformation

• Technology startups

Social and Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Participants discussed models promoting:

• Inclusive growth

• Community-driven enterprises

• Social impact innovation

• Grassroots entrepreneurship

Green Entrepreneurship and Climate-Positive Business Models

The sessions highlighted opportunities in:

• Sustainability

• Clean energy

• Climate-resilient businesses

• Green technologies

Officials noted that these sectors are expected to become major drivers of future employment and economic growth across BRICS nations.

Networking and Cross-Country Collaboration Encouraged

In addition to formal sessions, the programme included:

• Interactive networking engagements

• Fireside conversations with entrepreneurs

• Cross-country collaboration discussions

• Startup ecosystem dialogues

These interactions aimed to encourage:

• Knowledge exchange

• Partnership building

• Innovation collaboration

• Shared learning among BRICS youth entrepreneurs

Participants discussed common challenges faced by startups and explored collaborative solutions that could benefit emerging economies.

India Promotes Youth-Led Global Innovation Partnerships

The BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group Meeting reflects India's broader commitment to promoting:

• Youth-led innovation

• International entrepreneurship cooperation

• Startup ecosystem strengthening

• Global innovation partnerships

Officials stated that the programme aligns with India's vision of positioning young entrepreneurs as major contributors to economic transformation and sustainable development.

Workshops and Interactive Sessions to Continue

The programme will continue with additional:

• Workshops

• Panel discussions

• Interactive sessions

• Collaboration forums

focused on strengthening entrepreneurial cooperation and partnerships among BRICS nations.

The event is being viewed as an important platform for building stronger innovation networks and fostering long-term collaboration among young entrepreneurs from emerging economies.