BRICS Nations Push for Inclusive AI Development

Prof. Ambuj Sagar of IIT Delhi presented the draft declaration, outlining how AI can accelerate scientific breakthroughs in areas such as materials research, drug discovery, climate modelling and engineering.

As part of India's BRICS Presidency 2026, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) hosted the first meeting of the BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026, bringing together representatives from ten countries to discuss how artificial intelligence can support sustainable development and strengthen cooperation across the Global South. Held virtually under the theme "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development and Strengthening Global South Cooperation," the meeting gathered science academies from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Belarus, Nigeria and Vietnam. Discussions focused on creating a common framework for responsible AI development that addresses the needs and priorities of developing nations. The session was moderated by Prof. Debashis Mitra, Vice President (International), INSA, who highlighted the forum's role within India's BRICS Presidency theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."

Draft Declaration Focuses on Closing the AI Gap

A key outcome of the meeting was the review and strengthening of a draft declaration on artificial intelligence for science and sustainable development. The document seeks to address growing inequalities in AI capabilities between developed and developing countries.

Prof. Ambuj Sagar of IIT Delhi presented the draft declaration, outlining how AI can accelerate scientific breakthroughs in areas such as materials research, drug discovery, climate modelling and engineering. Participants stressed that the benefits of these advances must be shared more equitably across nations of the Global South.

Several countries contributed recommendations to strengthen the declaration. China advocated for common AI readiness benchmarks, scientific data-sharing systems and open-source infrastructure. Egypt highlighted AI applications in healthcare, food security, education and climate action. Indonesia focused on disaster management, climate mitigation and sustainable agriculture, while Ethiopia called for deeper cooperation on cybersecurity and digital safety.

Vietnam proposed joint task forces, thematic working groups and digital public infrastructure to support AI collaboration. Nigeria emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in scientific innovation and governance. South Africa supported open-source AI development while drawing attention to social and economic considerations. Belarus stressed the importance of healthcare innovation, data protection and cybersecurity in the expanding AI ecosystem.

Shared Infrastructure and Open Collaboration Take Centre Stage

Prof. Anurag Agrawal, Vice-President (Science Policy), INSA, identified several areas where participating countries found common ground. These included shared computing infrastructure, collaborative data platforms, technology sovereignty, multilingual AI resources, energy-efficient data centres and researcher training.

Participants also noted that smaller, specialised AI models could be highly valuable for industrial and scientific applications where accuracy and reliability are critical. Discussions extended beyond technology to include governance frameworks, ethical standards and mechanisms for secure data sharing.

INSA President Prof. Shekhar C. Mande said the forum seeks to transform AI into a practical tool for inclusive and sustainable development across the Global South. Prof. Agrawal added that deeper South-South cooperation in artificial intelligence could create more equitable pathways for growth and innovation.

The recommendations from the virtual meeting will be incorporated into a revised declaration ahead of the second BRICS Science Academies Forum meeting, scheduled for 22–23 July 2026 at IIT Hyderabad. The final declaration is expected to be adopted during the in-person gathering.

CSIR–NIScPR also participated in the discussions and contributed to the policy deliberations.