India and Russia Discuss Urban Futures at BRICS Forum in Moscow
New Delhi, September 22 – The BRICS Urban Future Forum “Cloud City” has wrapped up in Moscow, bringing together over 13,000 participants from 42 countries to discuss the future of global megacities. The two-day event, held from September 17–18, spotlighted robotics, artificial intelligence, and the digital transformation of urban life.
Delegations from 21 countries, including India, China, the UAE, Singapore, South Africa, and Turkey, joined the dialogue across more than 50 sessions on innovation, technology, and urbanism.
Representing India, Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla addressed the session “The Technological Framework of the City: The Space of the Future.” She stressed that modern city development goes beyond infrastructure.
“The development of a modern city is not only about buildings. It is about creating a sustainable ecosystem fueled by technology, inclusivity, and innovation,” she said, highlighting Chandigarh’s achievements in smart transport, waste management, and public safety.
Indian experts also made a strong presence in the AI and robotics sessions. Anagh Singh, Vice President of Singularity VC India, underscored the importance of AI for resource-driven economies like Russia’s, while pointing out India’s applications of the technology in geochemical analysis and oil and gas safety.
Jayakrishnan Trivikraman, CEO of ASIMOV Robotics, projected an extraordinary growth of global robotization, predicting that by 2060, robots could make up nearly one-third of the planet’s “population.”
The forum also honored cities with the BRICS Urban Innovation Awards. Chandigarh won in the category of “Women’s Empowerment” for its Udaan project, which focuses on digital integration and skills training for women. The award was presented to Mayor Babla by ITU Regional Director Natalia Mochu.
Moscow was recognized in the category of “Human-Centered Robotics” for its advances in autonomous systems, including driverless trams and the “Pixel” cleaning robot.
The event featured more than 460 global speakers, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung, economist Yanis Varoufakis, and Dr. Kate Barker, Chief Futurist of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project. Robots themselves played a prominent role in the program, with humanoid robot Ardi even addressing participants on the future of AI-powered urban living.
The BRICS Urban Future Forum has once again positioned itself as a key platform for shaping the vision of tomorrow’s megacities, where India’s role in smart and sustainable development is gaining growing recognition.
