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This article attempts to understand BRICS from the perspective of a multi-polar world order and the role played by India at the BRICS. Specifically, the article looks at the implication that BRICS has for future of multilateralism, promoting new institutional delivery mechanisms, upholding the space for development and equity, and highlights India's contribution to the shaping of the BRICS agenda. The future of BRICS cooperation and scope for deeper collaboration would necessarily evolve out of the priorities of global governance reforms, contribution to global public goods, meaningful economic cooperation, deepening of institution-building efforts and the convergence of the guiding principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the legal aspects of biobanking and a right to privacy in India, and it mentions the globalization of science and technology, as well as India's regulation and governance of biomedical research. Emerging technologies are addressed, along with ethical conflicts involving research and development (R&D) and clinical trials. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are examined, along with the Indian Council for Medical Research and health research, and non-communicable diseases.

This article examines the emerging trends in India's role as a provider of development assistance to the other developing countries of the global South. Though India has diversified the regional focus and has multiplied the quantum of development assistance, there remain several challenges at various levels. The expectations from the development partners have gone up but is India prepared with the institutional frameworks that would be required to administer the desired scale of response? Is there enough preparedness to undertake impact assessment? This article attempts to address some of these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a survey of entrepreneurial collaborations among health biotechnology firms in developing countries. According to the survey, though there is a high level of collaboration, there is also a lack of emphasis on new or improved health biotechnology products and processes. Countries included in the survey are Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, and South Africa and the number of firms surveyed is 467 wherein a total of 288 firms completed the survey. Survey authors recommend the integration of more South-South collaboration in their innovation policies and provide support for firms that want to promote innovation in health biotechnology.

The article discusses several issues related to the usage of information and communication technology (ICT) in electronically delivered software (EDS) in India. An overview of relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) councils and their mandate on electronic commerce (e-commerce) is offered. A list of the initiatives made to overcome limitations to the participation of developing countries in e-commerce is presented. It talks about the debate on moratorium on electronic transmission. It cites the global trend in information technology (IT) services export and trends in ICT trade in India. It states the implications of the withdrawal of moratorium on software firms in India.

The article discusses the trade and investment relations of India to Africa. It notes that the trade patterns of the two countries have developed in which India's deal with Africa had been doubled from 5.5 to 12.24 billion dollars in 2006-07. It states that India had introduced various initiatives such as the Pan African Network to give tele-medicine and tele-education benefits to Africa. It speculates that India will become a vital export destination for many African countries in the future.

The emergence of the sectoral systems of innovation (SSI) framework for analysing shifts in technological trajectory and economic growth has evoked a great deal of interest. Many researchers working on the National Systems of Innovation (NSI) concept have welcomed the approach and shown interest in the interplay between national and sectoral frameworks and related policy prescriptions. This paper attempts to analyse emerging and missing linkages between SSI and NSI in the biopharmaceutical sector in India. It does so in the light of major expansion in the Indian pharmaceutical industry and the new efforts to incorporate strategies targeting biotechnology innovation. The paper studies the policy regime facilitating this new era and discusses the future growth prospects of the Indian biopharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]