Jim O’Neill and Gemma Chenger Deng Launch BRICS+ Thinking, New Policy Platform Focused on Global Challenges

Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson to lead London panel on global energy transition at 7 July BRICS+ Thinking launch event

LONDON, 7 July 2026 — BRICS+ Thinking (B+T), a new independent not-for-profit policy platform co-founded by economist Lord Jim O’Neill and international relations scholar Dr Gemma Chenger Deng, has launched its website ahead of a public event in London on 7 July. The website is available at www.bricsplusthinking.org.

The event will take place at the London office of Generation Investment Management and will feature a panel discussion on the global energy transition, with Greg Jackson, founder and chief executive of Octopus Energy, as the lead panellist.

BRICS+ Thinking was established to strengthen policy engagement between the political West and the BRICS+ nations on global challenges that require international cooperation, including climate change, artificial intelligence governance, public health and economic development. The platform commissions peer-reviewed research involving academics and policy experts from both the political West and the BRICS+ nations, with the aim of producing evidence-based policy recommendations.

‘Jim and I founded BRICS+ Thinking because we believe policy discussions on global challenges benefit from broader international perspectives and deeper engagement between experts from different regions,' said Gemma Chenger Deng, co-founder of BRICS+ Thinking. 'Our aim is to produce practical, evidence-based policy recommendations on issues where international cooperation is essential.’

The founders say that policymaking on the BRICS+ nations often lacks consistent engagement with regional expertise and scholarship. The platform seeks to address this by supporting collaborative research and dialogue across academic and policy communities.

In 2026, BRICS+ Thinking is commissioning nine peer-reviewed policy papers involving academics from institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Duke University, King’s College London, the National University of Singapore, Yale University, the University of Hong Kong and Tsinghua University. Research topics include renewable energy transitions, artificial intelligence governance, global health cooperation between the G7 and the BRICS+ nations, and core values of the Political West in engaging diverse powers.

The organisation is also developing a Development Index, updated GDP projections to 2050, and fellowship programmes hosted by partner universities to support early-career researchers. The 2027 fellowship cohort will focus on global AI governance and Gulf states energy strategy. All research is overseen by an independent editorial board and subject to peer review.

‘Given how the world has evolved over the past 25 years, with the BRICS economies—especially China and India—becoming increasingly important, and at the same time a reduced appetite for working together to address genuine global challenges, we believe there is a significant gap to fill.’ said Jim O'Neill, co-founder of BRICS+ Thinking. ‘There is a growing need for policy analysis that reflects the changing balance of the global economy while identifying practical opportunities for cooperation on shared challenges.’

Panel discussion: energy transition

The public event will take place on Tuesday, 7 July, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the London office of Generation Investment Management, hosted by David Blood. The programme will include introductory remarks by Jim O’Neill and Gemma Chenger Deng, followed by a panel discussion on the global energy transition with Greg Jackson as lead panellist, alongside a moderated audience discussion.

Notes:

About BRICS+ Thinking

BRICS+ Thinking is an independent not-for-profit policy platform focused on strengthening evidence-based dialogue and research between Europe, North America and their allies, and the BRICS+ nations. Co-founded by Jim O’Neill and Gemma Chenger Deng, the organisation commissions peer-reviewed research from international scholars and communicates findings to policymakers on global issues requiring international cooperation.

Further information is available at bricsplusthinking.org.

Media contact - Simon Hamer: E: press@bricsplusthinking.org T: +44 7738 754 201

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