CSIR, in partnership with APCTT-UN ESCAP (Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology) and WAITRO (World Association of Industrial & Technological Research), organised a conclave on Policy Deliberations for Strengthening South-South Cooperation on 11 September 2024 in online mode. The programme was designed, coordinated and hosted by CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi, with CSIR-International S&T Affairs Directorate (CSIR-ISTAD).
The conclave brought together several global institutions and eminent scholars from South countries. Head/Senior experts of major global institutions focusing on South countries: APCTT, WAITRO, ISTIC-UNESCO International Science Framework for Ethical and Responsible Governance, West Asia North Africa Institute Jorden, UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries, gave presentations during the conclave. Experts from various research institutions included National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia, CSIR-NIScPR, CSIR-ISTAD, CSIR-IMD (Innovation Management Directorate), Wits Business School South Africa, National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia, Computer Science Department-Delhi University, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, University of Nebraska -Lincoln USA, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, Indian Institute of Science, Department of Science and Technology, Tshwanae Univ of Technology South Africa.
The conclave deliberated on how South countries, through cooperative partnerships, can create responsible governance for science and innovation for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially Goal 5 (Gender equality and empowering all women and girls) and 17 (Partnerships for SDG). The potential partnerships among South countries and possibilities that can be created were highlighted to determine how challenges can be addressed more effectively and how the south-south connect can leverage the existing efforts of individual nations. The conclave, followed by the inaugural session, had three technical sessions on the topics — “Responsible Governance for Research and Innovation”, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Science”, and “Funding Mechanisms and Capacity-Building for R&D Cooperation”.
In the inaugural session, Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, shared a broad overview of the conclave and its significance. She stressed the need to explore new models and mechanisms that can lead to responsible research and innovation in science, open science, access to resources, gender equity, diversity and inclusion. She highlighted that the conclave’s outcome will be presented on 19 September at the Science Summit at the 79 UN General Assembly CSIR Science Session on ‘Strengthening South-South Cooperation for Achieving SDGs’.
During the conclave, Dr Rama Bansal, Head CSIR-ISTAD, emphasised the role of CSIR in strengthening India’s scientific and technological capacity. Dr Preeti Soni, Head, APCTT-UN ESCAP, and Ms Theresia Ningsi Astuti, Regional Representative for WAITRO and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia, highlighted the role played by their organisations in enhancing the scientific and technological capacity of South countries and in supporting them for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
The first session was chaired by Prof. Mammo Muchie, DST-NRF SARChI Chair Rated Research Professor in Innovation Studies at Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa. The session focused on responsible governance in the context of research and innovation, emphasising the need for an open science framework that bridges gaps between North and South countries. The session was moderated by Dr Yatendra Kumar Satija, Senior Scientist at ISTAD-CSIR. Panellists were Prof. Ravinder Rena from Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Dr Diran Soumonni from Wits Business School, South Africa; Prof. John Kalu Osiri from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA; Prof. Vivek Singh from the University of Delhi; and Prof. ChM Dr Mohd Basyaruddin Abdul Rahman from ISTIC-UNESCO.
The topics discussed included creating enabling policies for an open science framework, bridging the North-South divide in scientific knowledge and resources, responsible governance practices that foster inclusion, resource sharing, and sustainability, and developing frameworks for ethically acceptable and socially desirable research in South countries.
The second session was chaired by Prof. Rohini Godbole from the Centre for High Energy Physics, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. and was moderated by Dr Naresh Kumar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR. The panellists including Prof. Vivek Kumar from IIT Delhi’s Center for Rural Development and Technology; Dr Yara Shaban, Head of the WANA Office and Senior Researcher at the West Asia-North Africa (WANA) Institute in Amman, Jordan; and Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director CSIR-NIScPR, drew attention to the need for developing policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in science, with emphasis on empowering women in STEM and addressing rural development. Some important examples from Indian policy and implementation in this direction were highlighted.
Prof. Nagesh Kumar, Director and Chief Executive of the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) and Former Director at UNESCAP, chaired the third session. Dr Mahesh Kumar, Senior Principal Scientist at the Innovation Management Directorate (IMD), CSIR, moderated the session. The panellists were Prof. Mammo Muchie; Dr Preeti Soni; Dr SK Varshney, Former Adviser and Head of International Cooperation at the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Dr Rama Bansal of CSIR-ISTAD. The session addressed the funding mechanisms and capacity-building for R&D cooperation, exploring various funding instruments and schemes that support science and technology initiatives aligned with SDGs. Examples of successful interventions and capacity building in South countries were highlighted by APCTT, CSIR, and DST.
Dr Sujit Bhattacharya, Chief Scientist at CSIR-NIScPR, concluded the conclave with a detailed analytical summary of key issues deliberated and promising pathways that South countries have shown in meeting challenges. The conclave underscored the need for South countries to create mechanisms that can promote learning and sharing, which is a collective endeavour to create a Science-Technology-Innovation ecosystem in South countries for achieving developmental challenges and addressing SDGs.
