BRICS IP Offices Adopt Updated Guidelines in New Delhi to Deepen Innovation Cooperation

The 18th Meeting of the Heads of Intellectual Property (IP) Offices of BRICS countries concluded in New Delhi on September 3, with member nations adopting Updated Operational Guidelines to strengthen multilateral cooperation and foster cross-border innovation. Hosted by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the three-day meeting brought together around 35 delegates in physical and hybrid formats. The updated guidelines aim to make intellectual property cooperation within BRICS more result-oriented by streamlining patent examination procedures, reducing backlogs, and enhancing search result exchanges. Delegations from India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, and Ethiopia reaffirmed their commitment to protecting traditional knowledge and traditional systems of medicine as part of shared cultural heritage. The meeting also launched several new joint initiatives, including the IP BRICS FinTech Innovation Monitor, the BRICS Industrial Property Commercialisation Forum, and a Best Practices Repository. Officials emphasized that robust IP frameworks are essential for driving technological resilience and sustainable economic growth across emerging economies.