NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday called for global cooperation to keep emerging technologies "accessible, affordable, trusted and sustainable" as he opened the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting in Chennai.
Singh said India had adopted "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" as the theme of its 2026 BRICS Presidency. He said the grouping's scientific talent and research capacity placed it in a position to lead a "cooperative, responsible and future-oriented" innovation agenda.
He said the world was undergoing rapid transformation driven by technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced materials, biotechnology, photonics, geospatial technologies and high-performance computing. While these technologies offered new opportunities, stronger international cooperation was needed to ensure that innovation remained accessible, affordable, trusted and sustainable.
Singh acknowledged the contribution of the STI Steering Committee, senior officials and various STI Working Groups in maintaining dialogue and turning it into practical cooperation and outcomes.
He said BRICS STI cooperation had developed into a platform covering research collaboration, innovation partnerships, young scientist exchanges, research infrastructure and thematic working groups.
Singh said India remained committed to an open, inclusive and human-centric approach to science and innovation. He referred to initiatives including the National Quantum Mission, National Supercomputing Mission, BioE3 Policy, National Geospatial Policy and the expanding Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem.
He said these initiatives reflected an approach in which innovation improves people's lives, strengthens societal resilience and supports sustainable economic transformation.
The Minister invited BRICS partners to identify practical ways to deepen cooperation in frontier research, innovation financing, talent mobility, research infrastructure sharing, start-up partnerships and capacity building.
He said such cooperation could help create a future-ready BRICS STI framework that responds to global challenges and supports the aspirations of the Global South.
Singh expressed confidence that the Chennai meeting would strengthen BRICS cooperation and contribute to a more innovative, resilient and sustainable world.