🔬 Launch of the Inaugural Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative

The Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) made its debut on March 5, 2026, at the prestigious Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking a pivotal moment for India's engagement in global scientific discourse. Organized jointly by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), this closed-door gathering formed part of the larger Raisina Dialogue 2026, India's flagship geopolitical conference. Approximately 80 distinguished scientists, diplomats, scholars, and innovators from around the world convened to explore how science can bridge diplomatic divides amid rising strategic autonomy and technological disruptions.

Chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser and a renowned physicist from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, the event underscored science's role in national development, economic competitiveness, and global security. Co-chairs included Sir Peter Gluckman, President of the International Science Council (ISC); Prof. Marilyne Andersen, Director General of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA); and Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale from the Bharatiya Janata Party's Foreign Affairs Department. This leadership blend highlighted the fusion of academia, policy, and international expertise essential for advancing science diplomacy in India.

Defining Science Diplomacy: Foundations and Evolution

Science diplomacy refers to the use of scientific collaborations to address common global challenges, facilitate international relations, and inform policy-making. In India, it has evolved from bilateral research pacts to multifaceted engagements involving mega-projects like the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), where Indian universities and labs contribute significantly. The Raisina SDI builds on this by creating a dedicated platform within the Raisina Dialogue to deliberate strategic science-policy intersections.

Dr. Jahnavi Phalke, Director of Science Gallery Bengaluru—affiliated with IISc—delivered a keynote on the historic evolution of science diplomacy. She emphasized how it has expanded beyond governments to include universities, think tanks, and NGOs, fostering inclusive global governance. This shift aligns with India's growing research prowess, where institutions like IITs and IISc lead in quantum materials, AI, and climate tech, driving diplomatic ties through joint publications and exchanges.

India's higher education sector plays a central role, with over 1,000 universities contributing to 36% of national papers now featuring international co-authors—up from 23% a decade ago. Such diplomacy enhances publication impact, citation rates, and funding access for Indian academics.

Roundtable I: Navigating Strategic Autonomy Through Science

The first roundtable, "Science Diplomacy in the Era of Strategic Autonomy," chaired by Dr. Parvinder Maini of OPSA, delved into balancing national interests with science's collaborative ethos. With scene-setting by Prof. Gluckman, discussions highlighted trusted networks as bridges during geopolitical tensions. Participants stressed transparent research ecosystems, resilient multilateralism, and equitable standard-setting.

For Indian universities, this means prioritizing partnerships that align with Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) while pursuing global excellence. IISc Bangalore, under leaders like Prof. Sood, exemplifies this through Indo-US and Indo-UK quantum initiatives, yielding high-impact publications in Nature and Science. Such efforts not only boost India's rank as the third-largest research producer but also third in top 10% cited papers globally.

• Strengthen bilateral MoUs with universities in US, UK, Germany for joint labs.
• Enhance risk-assessment in sensitive tech transfers.
• Leverage diaspora networks for co-authorships.

Roundtable II: Governing Disruptive Technologies Diplomatically

The second session, chaired by Prof. Andersen with inputs from Dr. Chauthaiwale, focused on governance for AI, biotech, and quantum tech. Key themes included anticipatory policies, ethical norm-setting, and use-case-driven multilateralism. Dr. Steen Søndergaard, NATO Chief Scientist, shared technology foresight strategies, emphasizing pre-competitive research to mitigate risks.

Indian IITs like IIT Delhi and IIT Madras are at the forefront, collaborating on AI ethics with global peers, resulting in 32% growth in international co-authored papers. These discussions position Indian higher ed as a governance hub, with initiatives like the India AI Mission fostering diplomatic research alliances.Official PIB Release

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India's Research Boom: Statistics and Trends

India's research output has surged six-fold in the last decade, ranking third globally. International collaborations now feature in 36% of papers, driving higher citations—international co-authorships yield broader global reach. In THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026, India leads with 88 universities ranked, ahead of US and China.

IISc tops subject rankings, while IITs dominate engineering and CS. Science diplomacy accelerates this: UK-India partnerships alone produced thousands of joint pubs in 2025. Platforms like Raisina SDI will further amplify this, aiding India's climb in QS Asia Rankings where 294 institutions featured in 2026.

Spotlight on Indian Universities in Science Diplomacy

IISc Bangalore, home to Science Gallery Bengaluru and Prof. Sood, exemplifies leadership. Its global ties in quantum and biotech have spiked publications. IITs participate in ITER, Indo-Pacific research, yielding high-impact outputs. Recent Technology Dialogue 2025 by OPSA, IISc, and MEA explored tech diplomacy frontiers.

Check India-UK higher ed ties for collaboration insights. Universities like JNU and TIFR engage in STI diaspora networks, boosting co-authorships.OPSA Overview

Case Studies: Successful University-Led Collaborations

IISc's partnership with UKRI on telecoms research exemplifies diplomacy-driven output. IIT Hyderabad's SURF program attracts global talent, enhancing pubs. CSIR-IMPRI initiatives promote basic research intl ties. These yield actionable insights: step-by-step, universities identify partners via MoUs, co-fund projects, and publish in high-impact journals.

• IIT Madras-IITGN drought studies with global data.
• IISc quantum materials with US unis.
• Benefits: 2x citations, funding access.

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Challenges and Solutions in Science Diplomacy

Challenges include geopolitical tensions, IP issues, funding gaps. Solutions: trusted networks, pre-competitive research, capacity building. Raisina SDI advocates private sector integration for equitable tech diffusion. Indian unis can lead via open-access repos, diaspora engagement.

Photo by Ian Talmacs on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Annual Platform and Higher Ed Impact

Envisioned annually, Raisina SDI will evolve frameworks for disruptive tech governance. For higher ed, it promises more intl grants, joint PhDs, elevated rankings. Prof. Sood calls for private sector roles and multilateral adaptations. India's 2030 target: 200k foreign students, bolstered by such diplomacy.

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Actionable Insights for Researchers and Academics

To leverage Raisina SDI:

1. Network at future events via ORF.
2. Pursue OPSA-funded intl projects.
3. Publish co-authored works for impact.
4. Apply for postdoc positions in diplomacy-linked labs.

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