**Executive Summary**
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hosted a "Capabilities Discovery Session" on March 24, 2026, in New Delhi for diplomats from the Global South. The session aimed to strengthen South-South cooperation by showcasing India’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) capabilities in sectors such as healthcare, food security, and climate resilience. Participants were invited to engage in joint projects, technology transfers, and knowledge sharing to address shared developmental goals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Event Objectives and Scope**
* Strengthens science diplomacy and South-South cooperation through Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).
* Focuses on global priorities including sustainable development, climate action, health equity, and food and water security.
* Engages diplomats from Oceania, the Gulf, West Asia, North Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean.
**CSIR’s Strategic Framework**
* Operates on a "Connect, Collaborate, Converge and Convert" approach for the co-development and deployment of technologies.
* Utilizes a R&D ecosystem of 37 laboratories across sectors like agriculture, environmental engineering, oceanography, and advanced materials.
* Prioritizes the development of technologies that are affordable, easy to adopt, and globally acceptable.
**Thematic Technological Showcases**
* **Food and Health:** Affordable food processing and packaging solutions, pharmaceutical research, and strategies to address antimicrobial resistance.
* **Environment and Water:** Desalination, wastewater recycling, and biomass valorisation using circular economy approaches.
* **Infrastructure and Natural Resources:** Innovations in low-carbon construction, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable ocean resource utilization.
**Impact Analysis**
**Global South Nations and Diplomats**
**Impact**
These nations gain access to scalable, affordable scientific knowledge and technological solutions tailored to societal challenges common across the Global South.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with CSIR to strengthen domestic STI ecosystems and engage in two-way mobility, joint projects, and technology transfers.
**CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)**
**Impact**
Reaffirms its role as a primary S&T partner for international innovation and demonstrates India’s leadership in sustainable development through STI.
**Action Required**
Foster global partnerships and facilitate the translation of scientific research into deployable solutions for partner nations.
**Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)**
**Impact**
Enhances India’s science diplomacy and reinforces regional ties by aligning scientific capabilities with shared developmental priorities.
**Action Required**
Continue leveraging STI as a tool for international engagement and strengthening the S&T connect with the Global South.
Key Entities Referenced
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): The primary scientific research organization showcasing its R&D ecosystem and 37 laboratories to foster innovation partnerships with Global South nations.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): The joint host ministry responsible for facilitating science diplomacy and diplomatic engagement with Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
Capabilities Discovery Session: A high-level initiative and event designed to showcase India's science and technology capabilities and strengthen South–South cooperation.
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR): The government department overseeing CSIR, represented by its Secretary to lead the technological exchange framework.
International S&T Affairs Directorate (ISTAD): The specialized directorate within CSIR responsible for organizing the global engagement program and managing international scientific collaborations.
Ministry of Science & Technology
CSIR & Ministry of External Affairs Jointly Hosted
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
Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 5:17PM by PIB Delhi
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),
Government of India (GoI) jointly hosted Ambassadors and High Commissioners from countries of the
Global South for a high-level “Capabilities Discovery Session” at India International Centre, New Delhi.
The diplomats, representing nations from Oceania, the Gulf, West Asia and North Africa, Central America
and the Caribbean, participated in the session.
The session was jointly led by Dr Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs, GoI
and Dr N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research (DSIR), GoI.
The session aimed to strengthen South–South cooperation through science, technology and innovation
(STI), aligned with global priorities, 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 approach for co-
development and deployment of technologies. She emphasised that CSIR focuses on easy to adopt,
relevant, affordable and globally acceptable technologies. She welcomed collaboration through joint
projects, two-way mobility, technology transfer and knowledge sharing for engagements between CSIR
and Global South nations.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. She briefed about CSIR’s role and its
capabilities for strengthening S&T connect with the global south.
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.
In his 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
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