Navy to Host Indo-Pacific Dialogue on Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation

NEW DELHI, Oct 23: The Indian Navy will host the 2026 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) in New Delhi from November 3 to 5, bringing together policymakers, scientists, academics and maritime experts from 18 countries to strengthen regional cooperation in science, technology and research.

The three-day conference will focus on the theme “Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific”, with discussions aimed at developing practical solutions to shared maritime challenges. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will deliver the commemorative address, while Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh will deliver a special address during the programme.

Organised in collaboration with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), the Navy’s knowledge partner and principal organiser, the dialogue serves as a key platform for India’s strategic engagement with countries across the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the Defence Ministry, the conference will seek to identify actionable measures at national, sub-regional and regional levels. The proposals could be pursued through existing bilateral, trilateral and multilateral mechanisms to strengthen cooperation among participating nations.

Discussions will explore opportunities for joint research, collaborative technology development, scientific information-sharing and stronger institutional partnerships. Participants will also examine ways to improve access to scientific data and promote responsible governance of maritime resources.

The ministry highlighted that the oceans are interconnected, while the scientific expertise, technological capabilities and institutions needed to understand and manage them remain unevenly distributed across countries.

Challenges such as climate change, vulnerabilities in maritime trade and supply chains, pressure on marine resources and threats to critical maritime infrastructure increasingly extend beyond national borders. Addressing these concerns requires stronger international partnerships, effective information-sharing and investment in human capital, it said.

The programme will feature five professional thematic sessions covering academic networks, research and human capital development; maritime situational awareness and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure; oceanographic science and climate resilience; collaborative approaches to ocean governance and maritime resilience; and transformative maritime technologies, including their dual-use implications.

The opening day will include a special session titled “Perspectives from the Flag Bridge”, bringing together former naval chiefs from India and Sri Lanka. An ambassadorial interaction, “Sahyog Ka Samvaad”, will also provide an opportunity for diplomatic representatives to exchange views on regional cooperation.

The 2026 dialogue will consider contributions from disciplines beyond science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), recognising the role of social sciences, life sciences and the humanities in addressing complex maritime challenges.

The initiative aligns with India’s broader maritime vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — and seeks to translate the principles of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) into practical cooperative measures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the IPOI at the 14th East Asia Summit in Bangkok in November 2019. The initiative focuses on interconnected maritime areas of cooperation, and successive editions of the IPRD have examined selected dimensions of its framework.

Through the 2026 edition, the Indian Navy aims to encourage sustained regional engagement, strengthen academic and scientific networks, and develop collaborative approaches to maritime security, environmental resilience and technological advancement across the Indo-Pacific.