Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 22 August announced the unanimous adoption of the 'Chennai Declaration' at the 14th BRICS Science Ministerial Meet, chaired by India under its BRICS Chairship. The declaration reaffirms the bloc's collective commitment to building an effective, resilient and future-ready framework for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation across member nations.

What the Chennai Declaration Establishes

The 'Chennai Consensus' — as the declaration is also referred to — places a people-centred and humanity-first approach at the core of BRICS STI cooperation. It emphasises sustainable development, resilient and high-quality growth, social inclusiveness, and the deployment of innovation and technology to improve the welfare and quality of life of citizens across all BRICS nations.

The document records the depth of collaboration achieved through 14 thematic Working Groups, 11 editions of the BRICS Young Scientist Forum, nine editions of the Young Innovators Prize, and nine BRICS STI Framework Programme calls — spanning research, innovation and flagship project initiatives. This trajectory, according to the declaration, reflects growing strength and sustained engagement within the BRICS STI partnership.

Key Themes Covered at the Ministerial Meet

Addressing the closing session, Dr Singh said the breadth of discussions — ranging from artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to quantum technologies, advanced materials, biotechnology, health, and climate and sustainability — underscores the shared opportunities and challenges that BRICS nations can tackle through collective action.

He noted that the deliberations had reaffirmed the central role of STI in building a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for the bloc's member countries.

Startup Ecosystem and Youth Innovation

The Chennai Declaration also formally welcomes the BRICS Youth Startup Platform, recognising the need to catalyse financing for early and growth-stage startups. It records the consideration of a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, as noted in the BRICS Industry Ministers' Declaration, to be coordinated with the STI track where appropriate.

India's efforts to review and streamline BRICS STI priorities were also welcomed, alongside consultative work towards a more future-ready cooperation framework.

India's Call for Demonstrable Outcomes

Dr Singh stressed that the BRICS STI partnership must move beyond sustained dialogue toward demonstrable outcomes. He called for stronger mechanisms for joint projects, shared platforms, coordinated research calls, and open research infrastructure — signalling India's intent to push the partnership into an implementation-focused phase.

With India holding the BRICS Chairship, the Chennai Declaration marks a significant milestone in the country's multilateral science diplomacy, and sets the agenda for STI cooperation as the bloc continues to expand its global footprint.