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The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and DAKSHIN, the Global South Centre of Excellence of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), have partnered to promote higher education, scientific research and skill development across Global South countries. The two institutions signed a Letter of Association (LoA) on November 3, 2026. The partnership aims to facilitate the sharing of scientific knowledge, research capabilities and technological expertise among developing countries.
Under this partnership, the institutions will focus on strengthening capacity building, research collaboration and technological cooperation. The initiative aims to support developing countries in accessing affordable and sustainable technological solutions suited to their local requirements. DAKSHIN seeks to create greater opportunities for knowledge sharing and mutual learning among countries.
Focus on Research and Technical Education
As part of the collaboration, CSIR will provide a portfolio of technologies based on its scientific and technical expertise that can be directly adopted and implemented. These technologies can also be customised according to the specific requirements of different countries. The initiative is expected to create opportunities for greater collaboration among research institutions, academic institutions and industries.
Capacity building, human resource development and skill enhancement are also key priorities of the partnership. Through these efforts, the institutions aim to strengthen scientific expertise and technical skills in developing countries while promoting technology transfer and practical applications.
Cooperation in Healthcare, Agriculture and Digital Economy
On the occasion, Dr. Rama Swamy Bansal, Head of the Directorate of International Science and Technology Affairs at CSIR, emphasised the importance of international cooperation among Global South countries. He highlighted the potential for developing new innovation-led collaboration models to address challenges linked to shared development priorities.
Meanwhile, Professor Sachin Kumar Sharma, Director General of RIS, said the partnership with CSIR would be an important step towards translating scientific expertise and technological innovation into effective solutions for Global South countries. He highlighted healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, the blue economy and the digital economy as key areas of cooperation.
Four Key Areas of Collaboration
Under the Letter of Association, the two institutions will work across four key areas. These include conducting joint policy studies to address development challenges, bringing relevant institutions and agencies together to scale up development programmes, promoting capacity building and skill enhancement, and documenting and sharing successful initiatives and best practices.
The partnership will also encourage the transfer of technologies and innovations developed in different countries to other partner nations. This is expected to strengthen collaboration between research institutions and industries while creating opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
Through CSIR's scientific and technological expertise and DAKSHIN's global outreach platform, the partnership will promote the development, transfer and adoption of technologies suited to local needs.
The initiative is expected to strengthen research capabilities, improve access to affordable technologies and accelerate human resource development in developing countries. It will also support efforts towards inclusive growth and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
