A BRICS report claims that India's innovation growth rate could surpass China

The report said BRICS countries are major representatives of emerging economies, which contribute 18 per cent of global GDP.

Beijing, Aug 29: A BRICS report released on Tuesday said that India's innovation growth rate would see a significant rise and could surpass that of China in the next decade.

China ranks first in terms of national comprehensive innovation competitiveness in 2016, followed by Russia, South Africa, Brazil and India, according to the BRICS Innovative Competitiveness Report 2017 released by China Science and Technology Exchange Centre in Beijing.

It is predicted that "the innovation competitiveness of India would see a significant rise with its growth rate probably surpassing China between 2025-2030," state-run Global Times reported.

"The growth rate of Russia would fall and India would take over Russia in terms of its comprehensive Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) competitiveness by 2030," it said.

The report also said BRICS countries have become a "bellwether" in their respective regions, leading the neighboring countries in many aspects. The five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is leading the development of science and technology, economy and society in their regions, it said.

The report said BRICS countries are major representatives of emerging economies, which contribute 18 per cent of global GDP, 17 per cent of global research and development investment and 27 per cent of science papers published in international journals.

However, in terms of research, quality of education, modern infrastructure and eco-protection, BRICS still lag behind, the report said. The report was released ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit to be held from September 3 to 5, in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Xiamen to attend the summit.

PTI