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BRICS+: Innovation and digitalization for Smart Cities

29.10.2024

Kazan, October 22-24 – The 16th BRICS Summit, held from Tuesday to Thursday in Kazan, Russia, drew global attention and offered new opportunities for economic and commercial collaboration among BRICS+ nations. The term BRIC, coined in 2001, initially referred to the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. With South Africa's inclusion in 2010, the group was renamed BRICS. Following the 2023 expansion, which saw the addition of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the group, now BRICS+, represents about 30% of global GDP, nearly half of the world’s population, and one-fifth of global trade, establishing itself as a central platform for cooperation among emerging and developing countries.

With these numbers, the group cannot be ignored; beyond geopolitical considerations, let’s explore what was discussed in terms of technology and innovation and the potential impact on markets.

China, thanks to its leading role in 5G, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things, is at the center of BRICS projects for Smart Cities. Aiming to optimize urban mobility, energy management, and security, Chinese initiatives are designed to support the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, as reaffirmed in the 2024 Beijing Declaration (Free Press Journal, BRICS Think Tanks Council, United Nations in China).

India, on the other hand, has promoted digitalization at BRICS summits through its "Digital India" program, sharing experiences in digital payments, healthcare, and e-government. India also emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity and data management for resilient urban infrastructures (SME Street, The Diplomat).

A shared focus of China and India is the adoption of Building Management Systems (BMS) for energy efficiency and climate resilience, making BRICS digital cities more sustainable and better prepared for future environmental challenges. These systems monitor energy consumption and building safety in real-time, reduce emissions, and optimize responses to extreme events (Free Press Journal, SME Street). Collaboration on these technologies supports sustainability and the achievement of BRICS development goals by 2030, making cities more resilient and secure (The Diplomat, BRICS Think Tanks Council).

Despite sanctions, Russia remains a key player in advanced technologies such as nuclear energy, and the BRICS framework enables further expansion of cooperation in these fields.