CSIR Hosts Ambassadors from Global South for “Capabilities Discovery Session” in New Delhi
Showcases S&T Capabilities to Global South Envoys; Reinforces South–South Cooperation
Strengthens Science Diplomacy as CSIR Engages Global South Nations on Innovation Partnerships
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) hosted Ambassadors and High Commissioners from countries of the Global South for a high-level “CSIR Capabilities Discovery Session” at India International Centre, New Delhi. The delegation, representing nations from Oceania, the Gulf, West Asia and North Africa, Central America and the Caribbean, was led by Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The session aimed to strengthen South–South cooperation through science, technology and innovation (STI), aligned with priorities highlighted at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, including sustainable development, climate action, health equity, food and water security, resilient infrastructure and inclusive technological growth. The programme was organised by the International S&T Affairs Directorate (ISTAD), CSIR.
Dr Rama Swami Bansal, Head, ISTAD, welcomed the delegation and outlined CSIR’s commitment to fostering global partnerships that translate scientific knowledge into scalable and affordable solutions.
Dr N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, highlighted CSIR’s R&D ecosystem comprising 37 laboratories working across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, environmental engineering, oceanography, infrastructure and advanced materials. She underscored CSIR’s global engagement framework based on the “Connect, Collaborate, Converge and Convert (5C)” approach for co-development and deployment of technologies.
Dr Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs, emphasised the role of science diplomacy in advancing shared developmental priorities across the Global South, particularly in healthcare, climate resilience and sustainable resource management.
During thematic presentations, CSIR scientists showcased technologies addressing global challenges. Dr C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR–NIIST presented affordable food processing and packaging solutions; Dr Ram Vishwakarma, Distinguished Scientist, CSIR highlighted pharmaceutical research and the need for global collaboration to address antimicrobial resistance; Dr Kannan Srinivasan, Outstanding Scientist, CSIR–CSMCRI presented desalination and wastewater recycling technologies; and Dr S. Venkata Mohan, Director, CSIR–NEERI spoke on biomass valorisation and circular economy approaches.
Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, Director, CSIR–NIO highlighted sustainable ocean resource utilisation and ocean–climate linkages, while Dr Chalumuri Ravi Sekhar, Director, CSIR–CRRI showcased innovations in low-carbon construction and resilient infrastructure.
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners engaged actively with CSIR leadership, expressing interest in collaboration, technology transfer, capacity building and joint innovation initiatives.
In her concluding remarks, Dr Ram Vishwakarma invited partner countries to collaborate with CSIR in strengthening STI ecosystems across the Global South and deploying technology-based solutions for societal challenges.
The programme reaffirmed CSIR’s role as a key science and technology partner for the Global South and underscored India’s leadership in leveraging STI for sustainable development.
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NKR/AK/AV
(Release ID :286724)