18th BRICS Intellectual Property Heads Meeting Concludes in New Delhi, Announces New Cooperation Guidelines
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) announced that the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), operating under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), hosted the 18th Meeting of the Heads of Intellectual Property (IP) Offices of BRICS countries in New Delhi from September 1 to September 3, 2026. Around 35 delegates from member nations gathered through physical and virtual formats to strengthen multilateral cooperation in intellectual property governance, supporting global innovation and sustainable economic development.
Aligned with the theme of India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship, 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,' the high-level meeting produced several strategic outcomes. Most notably, the heads of IP offices adopted Updated Operational Guidelines designed to foster result-oriented collaboration, enhance joint efforts in shaping global IP standards, and streamline cross-border patent workflows. Participants also reviewed progress under the Study on Reinforced Patent Examination Cooperation in BRICS, which aims to reduce examination backlogs and facilitate seamless exchange of search and examination results across member jurisdictions.
Furthermore, the delegates emphasized the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and traditional medicine systems as vital cultural and intellectual heritage. Key initiatives introduced during the event include the BRICS IP Awareness Series, a FinTech Innovation Monitor, an Industrial Property Commercialisation Forum, and a shared Repository of Best Practices. Officials highlighted that these comprehensive IP frameworks will play an essential role in encouraging technological resilience and empowering startups throughout the BRICS bloc.
