AI, smart grids and startups shape India’s BRICS 2026 technology agenda
India has placed technology cooperation among the priorities of its 2026 BRICS chairship, with member countries advancing initiatives that will cover AI-driven agriculture, smart grids, energy storage, digital public infrastructure and cross-border startup collaboration, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
The initiatives are among the outcomes of more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements held across 25 cities during India’s BRICS presidency, the PIB said. The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
One of the initiatives is a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, which will bring together technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), geospatial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled monitoring and data analytics for agricultural applications. IIT Delhi will initially coordinate the network, the PIB said.
The technology agenda also includes smart grids and energy storage, with BRICS countries adopting guiding principles in these areas and launching a Digital Centre of Excellence. Member countries are set to exchange expertise on technical knowledge, build capabilities, share policy and regulatory practices, and undertake pilot projects, according to the PIB.
The summit will bring together leaders from the expanded 11-member grouping. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are expected to attend alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are also listed among the participants, while Brazil is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also expected to attend.
Smart grids and energy storage
BRICS countries have also agreed to cooperate on smart grids and energy storage, technologies that can help power systems manage renewable energy and changing electricity demand. A new BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence will allow member countries to share technical knowledge, policy practices and experience from pilot projects, the PIB said.
Digital infrastructure and MSMEs
Digital public infrastructure (DPI) is also part of the BRICS CONNECT for Skilling framework. The initiative covers skills, employability and DPI, as well as women’s participation in the workforce. It is a voluntary, non-binding framework built on the BRICS Virtual Liaison Office, according to the PIB.
BRICS is also developing an MSME Cooperation Portal to connect micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with technology centres, industry clusters, trade associations, financial institutions and policymakers across member countries. The portal is expected to help MSMEs find new markets, access finance and connect with support networks, the PIB said.
Connecting startups and research
BRICS is also working to connect startups and incubators across member countries. The BRICS Incubator Network will link startups and incubators through national agencies, while the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund will support early- and growth-stage startups.
For researchers, the BRICS Science and Research Repository will provide a common platform to store and share scientific research among member countries, according to the PIB.
The initiatives expand BRICS cooperation into areas including AI, digital infrastructure, energy technology, scientific research and startups. The grouping now has 11 members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE.
The 2026 agenda suggests that BRICS is no longer only about geopolitics, trade and global governance. As its membership expands, technology is becoming a more visible part of the grouping’s cooperation, from AI and digital infrastructure to energy systems, startups and scientific research. For India, the bigger question is now whether these BRICS technology initiatives can move beyond frameworks and platforms to actual deployment. If they do, the grouping could evolve from a forum for emerging economies into a practical network for sharing digital infrastructure, technology and innovation.
