India’s BRICS Tech Push: How AI, Quantum Computing and Semiconductors Could Deepen Digital Cooperation

Technology is increasingly becoming a strategic part of international cooperation, and India appears ready to place it at the centre of its BRICS agenda. At the upcoming BRICS summit, India is expected to push for stronger cooperation among member countries in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced computing, quantum technologies and semiconductor materials.

The objective goes beyond simply sharing ideas. India is looking to build practical mechanisms that can allow researchers, technology companies and startups across BRICS countries to work together, access computing resources and develop capabilities in strategically important technologies.

The proposal comes at a time when access to advanced computing, AI infrastructure and semiconductor technology has become increasingly important for economic competitiveness. For BRICS countries, greater technological collaboration could create opportunities to reduce dependence on concentrated global technology ecosystems while building stronger domestic capabilities.

According to the Economic Times report, India is seeking to complete three major multilateral technology projects during its BRICS chairmanship. These include a shared high-performance computing network, a science and research repository, and a proposed startup-focused innovation and incubation framework.

Why Technology Has Become Important for BRICS

BRICS cooperation has traditionally involved areas such as economics, development and international coordination. Technology adds another important dimension because digital infrastructure increasingly influences everything from scientific research to industrial development.

Artificial intelligence illustrates this shift particularly well. Building advanced AI systems requires enormous computing resources, large datasets, specialised talent and supporting infrastructure. Not every country can independently build every part of that ecosystem at scale.

Cooperation could therefore allow participating countries to combine complementary strengths.

One country may have strong research institutions, another may have computing infrastructure, while another may offer a growing startup ecosystem or specialised expertise in semiconductor materials. A coordinated approach could potentially make these capabilities more accessible across national boundaries.

India's current proposal appears to reflect this logic: instead of treating advanced technology development purely as a domestic exercise, BRICS countries could create shared platforms and networks.

GRAIN Could Create a Shared Research Computing Layer

One of the most significant initiatives highlighted in the report is the proposed Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network, or GRAIN.

The initiative is intended to provide researchers from BRICS member countries with federated access to high-performance computing systems and supercomputers.

Why shared computing matters

High-performance computing is fundamental to many areas of modern research. Scientific simulations, advanced materials research, AI development and other computationally intensive projects can require resources far beyond what an individual research group may easily access.

A shared network could potentially improve access to these resources.

Instead of every research institution needing to independently build an entire computing ecosystem, participating researchers could potentially work through a connected infrastructure model.

The value of such an arrangement would not simply be measured by computing power. The larger opportunity lies in creating stronger connections between researchers and institutions.

If researchers can access infrastructure across countries while collaborating on common projects, scientific cooperation could become more practical and continuous.

A Digital Repository for Advanced Research

Another proposed area of cooperation is a science and research repository.

The report says work is underway to operationalise a unified digital portal where member countries can share datasets and capabilities focused on advanced materials engineering and functional nanostructures.

Turning scattered knowledge into shared capability

Research often produces valuable datasets, technical knowledge and specialised capabilities. If these resources remain isolated within individual institutions, their wider economic value can be limited.

A common repository could help researchers identify what knowledge and capabilities already exist across participating countries.

That could reduce duplication and make collaboration easier.

The long-term significance could be particularly important for areas such as advanced materials, where research can eventually influence industries ranging from electronics to energy and manufacturing.

However, a shared research platform would need clear rules around data access, intellectual property, security and research attribution. The success of such an initiative would therefore depend not only on technology but also on trust and governance.

Startup Innovation Could Become Another BRICS Bridge

India also wants to connect chip-design companies and deep-tech startups across member countries through a proposed Startup Innovation Fund and Incubator Network.

This could provide a different layer of technology cooperation.

Government-to-government agreements are useful for establishing frameworks, but startups are often responsible for converting research into commercial products.

Why deep-tech startups matter

Deep-tech companies typically operate in areas where development requires significant research, specialised talent and long investment cycles. Semiconductor design, AI infrastructure and advanced computing are examples of fields where early-stage companies can face substantial barriers.

A cross-border startup network could potentially give such companies greater exposure to research partners, investors, incubators and markets within participating countries.

For India, this also creates an opportunity to export elements of its domestic innovation ecosystem into a broader international framework.

India’s Domestic Technology Experience Is Part of the Pitch

The proposed BRICS initiatives appear closely connected to India's own technology policies.

The Economic Times report notes that other countries have shown interest in approaches similar to AIkosh, India's centralised platform for non-personal datasets and AI models. It also highlights India's common AI compute facility under the IndiaAI Mission, which has onboarded more than 38,000 high-performance graphics processing units.

This gives India an opportunity to present its domestic technology programmes as possible models for international collaboration.

The significance is strategic. India is not simply participating in discussions about emerging technologies; it is attempting to position itself as a contributor to the architecture through which those technologies could be developed and shared.

Semiconductors Are a Strategic Priority

Semiconductors are another major component of the proposed technology cooperation.

Modern economies depend heavily on chips, making semiconductor supply chains strategically important. Disruptions in access to advanced components can affect industries far beyond electronics.

India's emphasis on semiconductor materials and chip-design cooperation therefore fits into a broader effort to build more resilient technology ecosystems.

From competition to complementary strengths

BRICS countries do not necessarily need to duplicate each other's entire semiconductor capabilities.

A more practical model could involve cooperation across different stages of the technology ecosystem, including research, materials, design, talent development and startups.

Such collaboration could help participating countries develop capabilities while reducing vulnerabilities created by excessive dependence on limited sources of technology.

Quantum Technology Adds Another Frontier

Quantum technologies are also included in India's proposed technology agenda.

Quantum computing and related technologies remain emerging fields, but their potential importance makes early research collaboration valuable.

The key challenge is that developing expertise in frontier technologies requires long-term investment in researchers, infrastructure and experimentation.

International cooperation could help distribute some of those challenges.

For BRICS countries, collaboration at an early stage could also encourage academic and industrial connections before these technologies mature into larger commercial markets.

Digital Payments Will Also Be Important

The summit is expected to focus significantly on cooperation in digital payment systems, according to the report.

This is important because technology cooperation is not limited to laboratories and supercomputers.

Digital payments directly affect businesses and consumers. Greater compatibility between payment ecosystems could potentially make cross-border economic activity easier.

For countries seeking deeper commercial relationships, payment infrastructure can become an important part of the digital foundation supporting trade.

What This Could Mean for India

India's technology push could have several potential benefits.

First, it could strengthen India's position as a technology partner within BRICS.

Second, it could create additional opportunities for Indian researchers and startups to collaborate internationally.

Third, shared infrastructure could provide access to capabilities that would otherwise be expensive or difficult to develop independently.

There is also a diplomatic dimension. Technology cooperation can create relationships that extend beyond traditional political discussions.

If researchers, entrepreneurs and technology institutions develop long-term connections, those networks can potentially strengthen broader economic cooperation.

Challenges That Should Not Be Ignored

The ambitions are significant, but implementation will be the real test.

Different countries have different regulatory systems, research priorities, data policies and technology capabilities. Building a genuinely shared digital infrastructure requires agreement on standards and governance.

Data sharing can also raise questions about privacy, intellectual property and security.

Another challenge is ensuring that collaboration produces measurable outcomes rather than simply creating new institutions and announcements.

The proposed initiatives will ultimately need practical milestones, sustained funding and participation from universities, companies, startups and research organisations.

The Bigger Picture

India's proposed BRICS technology agenda reflects a larger transformation in global economic competition.

AI, computing, semiconductors and quantum technologies are no longer viewed simply as specialist areas of research. They increasingly influence industrial capacity, scientific competitiveness and national resilience.

The proposed BRICS initiatives could therefore represent an attempt to build a more connected technology ecosystem among participating countries.

The most important development may not be any single programme. It could be the creation of mechanisms that allow countries to share computing capacity, research knowledge, startup networks and digital infrastructure over the long term.

If that happens, technology could become one of the strongest practical foundations for deeper BRICS cooperation.

FAQs

What technology areas is India focusing on at BRICS?

India is expected to promote cooperation in artificial intelligence, advanced computing, quantum technologies and semiconductor materials.

What is the GRAIN initiative?

GRAIN, or the Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network, is proposed as a system through which researchers from BRICS member countries could gain federated access to high-performance computing systems and supercomputers.

What is the proposed Startup Innovation Fund and Incubator Network?

It is intended to help connect chip-design and deep-tech startups across participating BRICS countries and strengthen innovation links.

Why are semiconductors important to BRICS cooperation?

Semiconductors are critical components of modern technology. Cooperation in areas such as semiconductor materials and chip design could help participating countries develop stronger and more resilient technology capabilities.

Will BRICS technology cooperation focus only on AI?

No. The proposed agenda covers several frontier technology areas, including AI, advanced computing, quantum technologies and semiconductor materials. Digital payment cooperation is also expected to receive significant attention.

Conclusion

India's technology agenda for BRICS signals an effort to move cooperation from broad diplomatic discussions toward practical digital and scientific infrastructure.

The proposed GRAIN network, research repository and startup innovation framework could create new channels for sharing computing resources, knowledge and entrepreneurial capabilities. At the same time, cooperation in AI, quantum technologies and semiconductors could help participating countries strengthen their positions in strategically important technology sectors.

The biggest opportunity lies in creating a system where countries do not have to build every capability independently. Shared infrastructure, research partnerships and startup networks could allow complementary strengths to work together.

But the success of this vision will depend on execution. Technology platforms need reliable infrastructure, common standards, sustainable funding and trust between participants.

If India can turn these proposals into functioning networks, its BRICS chairmanship could leave behind more than policy declarations. It could establish technology cooperation as a practical pillar of the group's future—and potentially give BRICS a stronger collective voice in the global digital economy.