BRICS leaders have committed to implementing a joint statement on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, while welcoming a new startup incubator network and proposing the creation of a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, according to the New Delhi Declaration issued at the summit.
The declaration highlights India’s hosting of the ‘AI Impact Summit’ in February 2026 and welcomes a proposed Risk Lab at GIFT City, Gujarat’s financial hub. These initiatives highlight India’s central role in shaping the bloc’s technology agenda.
BRICS leaders used their 18th annual summit, chaired by India, to formalise a bloc-wide agenda covering artificial intelligence, startups and financial innovation, reflecting India’s efforts to position itself as a hub for the group’s technology ambitions.
In their declaration, the leaders said AI offers significant opportunities to drive economic growth and sustainable development across member economies. They committed to implementing the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. The leaders also congratulated India on successfully hosting the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, alongside China’s Shanghai-based World AI Conference.
On startups, the declaration said BRICS leaders welcomed the establishment of the BRICS Incubator Network and agreed to further explore the proposed BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, which could help drive innovation-led growth among startups. However, the fund remains at the conceptual stage. The bloc also commended India’s chairship for organising the inaugural BRICS SME Forum in Agra. The forum produced a report focused on improving MSME competitiveness, expanding access to finance and technology, and supporting sustainable growth.
India also advanced proposals around financial infrastructure and technology-driven risk capital. The declaration noted that members expressed interest in continuing discussions on India’s proposal to establish a BRICS Risk Lab at the GIFT City International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat, with participation open to interested members.
Separately, BRICS welcomed progress under India’s chairship on discussions around the New Investment Platform (NIP), which has been under consideration since Brazil’s previous chairship.
Beyond the still-conceptual startup fund, the bloc pointed to institutions already deploying capital. Leaders said the New Development Bank - now in its second golden decade - should expand local currency financing, diversify funding sources, and support impactful projects across member economies. They also welcomed continued work on the Brics Multilateral Guarantees (BMG) initiative. This is aimed at helping mobilise private capital, improve creditworthiness and reduce financing costs for development projects in Brics and the Global South.
Industrial-tech cooperation was also a focus at the event. The leaders welcomed the establishment of the India Centre for Brics Industrial Competencies (ICBIC) - complementing China’s existing counterpart. They also noted the launch of the Brics-NDB Knowledge Portal under the Indian chairship built with the New Development Bank to share best practices and financing lessons for members.
On intellectual property, the declaration flagged AI-specific friction. The leaders recognised the importance of collaborating on promoting respect for the intellectual property rights used in the digital environment, including for AI training purposes, as well as fair remuneration to right holders. But, they also acknowledged risks of misappropriation and misrepresentation of knowledge, heritage, and cultural values in AI training data.
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