BRICS Nations Advance Technological Frontiers in AI, Clean Energy, and Space Exploration

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, BRICS nations are witnessing a substantial growth in scientific and technological cooperation, positioning themselves as key centers for global development in these sectors. Leveraging their varied scientific, industrial, and technological capacities, the bloc is increasingly shaping the global innovation landscape.

China has emerged as a primary technological powerhouse within the group, while India is intensifying its scientific endeavors, particularly in space and fintech. Other member countries are contributing through their regional strengths in areas like energy, agriculture, medicine, and radio astronomy.

Despite these considerable strengths, BRICS countries grapple with challenges such as financial resource scarcity, the economic reliance of some members on natural resources, and the emigration of skilled professionals. Conversely, a surge in innovations and enthusiastic corporate adoption of cutting-edge technologies represent significant advantages for these nations.

Inter-member scientific cooperation is progressing through collaborative agreements, joint programs, and annual ministerial statements on science, technology, and innovation. These partnerships are poised to integrate scientific capabilities from both Eastern and Western regions, fostering joint projects in strategic domains.

China: From Artificial Intelligence to the ‘Artificial Sun’

China’s recent economic stability has been largely propelled by its advancements in science and technology. The nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) saw a 5% increase in 2025 compared to the previous year, surpassing 140 trillion yuan for the first time. Key drivers of this growth include industrial modernization through robotics and automation, development of digital infrastructure, a transition towards a low-carbon economy, and the widespread application of artificial intelligence.

Abed Amiri, an expert in BRICS economic and technological cooperation and digital transformation, told TV BRICS that China is making substantial investments in AI research centers, national laboratories, and specialized workforce training. This technology is extensively utilized in smart cities, transportation, industrial manufacturing, and financial services.

China is also a major player in quantum computing, having unveiled the prototype of its superconducting quantum computer, ‘Zuchongzhi 3.0,’ in 2025. This system reportedly achieves a quadrillion times greater speed in certain quantum calculations than the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

Another strategic initiative for China is the development of nuclear fusion facilities, often referred to as the ‘artificial sun.’ The country aims to launch the BEST facility, a superconducting tokamak designed for controlled nuclear fusion energy production, by 2027. In late July 2026, China announced the successful construction of a fusion magnet capable of confining plasma at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, a significant step toward realizing this technology.

Isabella Rocha-Dashicheva, a geopolitical and technological governance expert on BRICS and the Global South, and President of the BRICS+ Forum for Strategic Technology in Brazil, commented to TV BRICS that nuclear fusion holds the potential to provide a virtually limitless source of clean energy. She highlighted the sustained plasma control for 1,066 seconds as an innovative achievement. Rocha-Dashicheva added that mastering nuclear fusion could revolutionize modern society, industry, and energy security in the future, potentially even facilitating advancements in space exploration.

Electric vehicles and autonomous transportation are also areas of focus for China. The integration of electric vehicles with smart charging stations, advanced batteries, and AI-based driver-assistance systems forms part of China’s strategy for developing smart cities and industries.

India: Advancing Space and Personalized Medicine Technologies

India is expanding its space exploration activities under the ‘Space for Common Good’ initiative. With support from its national space organization and increasing private sector involvement, the country is developing advanced satellite technologies. Key areas of focus include communication systems, remote sensing satellites, and the commercial launch of small satellites. India is also pursuing its lunar exploration program and is preparing for the launch of its first national space station module, ‘Bharatiya Antariksh,’ in 2028. This station is planned to comprise five modules and is projected to become operational by 2035, according to IANS, a media partner of TV BRICS.

Significant innovations in financial technology have also been observed in India. Experts consider the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a technology with high potential for BRICS collaboration. UPI links various bank accounts within a single mobile application using virtual IDs and QR codes.

Rocha-Dashicheva believes that collaboration between India’s UPI and Brazil’s PIX instant payment system could help establish interoperable payment infrastructure, facilitate settlements in national currencies, and reduce cross-border transaction costs within BRICS countries.

India’s progress in biotechnology, AI, and genomics is also paving the way for personalized medicine. Under the ‘Genome India’ program, the genomes of 10,000 individuals have been sequenced, with a long-term goal of achieving one million genomes. This data is expected to enhance disease diagnosis accuracy, predict health risks, and guide treatment choices tailored to individual genetic profiles.

Russia: Nuclear Energy, Quantum Computing, and AI

Russia possesses extensive scientific background and research infrastructure in fields such as nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, biomedical research, artificial intelligence, space technology, and quantum computing.

In 2025, the Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences completed experiments with Russia’s first 50-qubit quantum computer, built on cold ion technology. Russia is also exploring a distinct approach to quantum computer architecture using ‘qutrits,’ which utilize four states instead of the conventional two states of qubits, thereby increasing data storage and processing capacity.

Russia is a global leader in nuclear energy. The Kurchatov Institute’s Reactor Research Complex, operational since 2021, is one of the world’s most powerful neutron flux sources, utilized for fundamental research and various scientific and medical applications. The first stage of the NICA particle accelerator in Dubna commenced operation in 2025, a project crucial for studying the properties of dense baryonic matter that existed in the early universe.

In medicine, Russia is active in developing novel drugs, gene therapy, and bioprinting. The application of AI is also expanding in sectors like retail, transportation, and construction.

Abed Amiri noted that Russia leverages its strong mathematics education, programming traditions, and experience in advanced industries such as energy, defense, and space to develop AI capabilities, including data analysis, machine vision, and intelligent control systems.

Brazil: Advancing Biofuels and Medical Technologies

Brazil’s scientific achievements are primarily concentrated in bioenergy, tropical medicine, and the aviation industry. Approximately 90% of Brazil’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, with hydropower, wind, and solar energy playing significant roles alongside biofuels. The production of aviation fuel from the macauba palm is a notable project, offering a method to reduce emissions and produce fuel without deforestation, as the palms can be cultivated on old, abandoned pastures.

Rocha-Dashicheva also cited the JetBio plant as a key Brazilian initiative for sustainable aviation fuel production, utilizing Brazilian ethanol derived from sugarcane, corn, or cellulosic agricultural waste, which results in lower carbon dioxide emissions.

In medicine, Brazil is pursuing innovative projects. Researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, led by Tatiana Coelho-Sampaio, are investigating a treatment for paralysis involving the injection of a protein called polyaminine, extracted from human placentas. This treatment is currently undergoing safety trials.

Scientific Capacities of Other BRICS Nations

Other BRICS countries are also engaged in significant technological projects. South Africa is a major hub for radio astronomy, with the 64-dish MeerKAT array used for studying black holes and cosmic phenomena. The global SKA telescope project is also under construction in the Karoo region.

The United Arab Emirates holds a distinguished position in smart city development, with extensive use of AI in public services, blockchain technology for document management, and intelligent traffic management systems. Dubai ranked second in the global smart city index in 2026, and Abu Dhabi was among the top 20 smart cities worldwide in 2025. The UAE has also made notable progress in water desalination, meeting a substantial portion of its drinking water needs through reverse osmosis and thermal distillation of seawater.

Ethiopia is focusing on the integration of digital technologies in its agricultural sector. Under the ‘Digital Ethiopia 2030’ strategy, specialized platforms are being created for farmers, with systems for monitoring livestock health, registering seed reserves, and accessing weather and market forecasts currently under development.

Overall, BRICS nations possess complementary scientific capabilities, natural resources, industrial capacities, and domestic markets, fostering an environment conducive to technological cooperation. Collaborations in areas such as payment infrastructure, artificial intelligence, space technology, and medicine are expected to enhance the transfer and localization of scientific achievements among the group’s members.