An IDEAS-BRICS institutional commentary on the BRICS Partnership Forum on the New Industrial Revolution — Xiamen, 27–28 May 2026.

On April 21st, the Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems (IDEAS-BRICS) and the Institute of International Communication & Global South Academic Forum (GSAF) of East China Normal University jointly hosted the second session of the “Sovereign AI and Digital Sovereignty” seminar series, focusing on the Eurasian region. The session continued its format of in-depth dialogue, breaking away from traditional lecture-style presentations to focus on core topics of cybersecurity, information geopolitics, and digital sovereignty in the Eurasian region.

In response to the call for papers for the theme collection of “Sovereign Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sovereignty” under the journal AI & Innovation (AI2), and with the aim of strengthening both the academic rigor and regional diversity of the forthcoming publication, the Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems (IDEAS-BRICS) and the Global South Research Center of East China Normal University (China) have jointly decided to launch a four-month series of offline and online seminars as the primary academic platform supporting this theme collection. The first session (Asia-focused) was held successfully on March 20. The next session will focus on Eurasia.

The “BRICS Digital Sovereignty Index Report,” co-authored by the Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems (IDEAS-BRICS), was officially released at the ZGC Forum and selected for the ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Alliance (ZGCTA) Outstanding Achievements Release Program.

On March 20, Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems (IDEAS-BRICS), Global South Academic Forum (GSAF), and Global South Insights (GSI) jointly hosted the first session of the “Sovereign AI and Digital Sovereignty” seminar series. It focused on the core issue of how countries in the Global South can build and defend their digital sovereignty against the backdrop of current geopolitical dynamics and technological monopolies.

In response to the call for papers for the theme collection of “Sovereign Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sovereignty” under the journal AI and Innovation, and to ensure the academic depth and regional breadth of the final published content, Institute for Digital Economy and Artificial Systems (IDEAS-BRICS), Global South Academic Forum (GSAF), and Global South Insights (GSI) have jointly decided to launch a four-month series of offline and online seminars as the core supporting component for this theme collection. The first session will focus on Asia.

Margareth Menezes, the Brazilian Minister of Culture, pointed out, “BRICS is not just an economic group, but a dialogue platform that values cultural diversity and sees it as a driving force for fairer and more balanced development.”

This call for papers invites submissions for a Theme Collection on Sovereign AI and Digital Sovereignty, exploring challenges in achieving technological autonomy. Topics include open-source AI, digital trade agreements, and geopolitical shifts. Contributions from scholars across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Russia are welcome.

The need for BRICS+ to design “trusted data corridors” stems from a fundamental shift in how data is viewed in the 21st century: not just as a flow of information, but as a strategic asset, a source of sovereignty, and a foundation for economic and political power. In this context, cross‑border data flows can no longer be treated as a purely technical matter; they reshape who controls digital infrastructure, who sets standards, and who captures value from analytics and artificial intelligence.

Manufacturing is arguably the sector with the greatest potential for AI empowerment. The promise of predictive maintenance, quality control, and process optimization is theoretically immense. However, a paradox defines the current industrial landscape: while factories generate more data than arguably any other sector, they have progressed far slower in AI adoption than finance, the Internet, or consumer goods.

This theme collection focuses on the role of AI in enhancing economic resilience, security, and sustainability amid globalization challenges. It explores AI’s impact on economic governance, theories, models, and ethical issues, addressing the integration of AI in crisis management, labor markets, and global economic systems.