IndiaPosted at: Nov 3 2026 7:20PM


IPRD-2026 focuses on translating scientific advances into regional cooperation

New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) The three-day Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD-2026), the Indian Navy’s annual apex-level international strategic dialogue, commenced in New Delhi on Tuesday, with a focus on leveraging scientific advancements, technological innovation and academic partnerships to strengthen regional cooperation and maritime security.
Organised by the Indian Navy in association with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), its knowledge partner, this year's dialogue is being held on the theme ‘Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’.
The opening day deliberations explored how the Indo-Pacific region can translate scientific knowledge and technological innovation into sustained institutional partnerships, enhanced maritime capabilities and shared regional resilience.
The proceedings began with an inaugural address by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (Retd), Chairman of the NMF and former Chief of the Naval Staff, followed by a special address by Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd), National Maritime Security Coordinator, Government of India.
The first professional session, themed ‘Academic Networks, Research, and Human Capital Development’, examined the scope for building a wider Indian Ocean academic network through cooperation among universities in Indo-Pacific coastal cities. Moderated by Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru (Retd), former Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, the session featured perspectives from France, Indonesia, Japan and the Maldives.
The deliberations also explored the development of social-science research networks in the Indian Ocean and stronger institutional linkages among think tanks, universities and governments. A monograph titled ‘Sea Blindness and Maritime Heritage in India’ was released at the conclusion of the session.
The second session, ‘Maritime Situational Awareness and Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure’, focused on emerging challenges in safeguarding seaborne trade and critical undersea infrastructure.
Moderated by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti (Retd), former Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, the session examined opportunities and challenges associated with the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), particularly the practical requirements of information-sharing among regional partners.
It also deliberated on developing a cooperative Indo-Pacific architecture for underwater domain awareness, besides incorporating perspectives from the Indian Ocean Commission on collaborative approaches to protecting critical maritime infrastructure.
Together, the two sessions underscored the importance of making scientific and technological partnerships operationally relevant through improved maritime information-sharing, protection of critical infrastructure, wider access to oceanographic knowledge and coordinated responses to climate-related risks.
The day's programme also featured ‘Sahyog Ka Samvaad’, a special ambassadorial interaction with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Mahishini Colonne, Philippines Ambassador Josel F Ignacio and Norwegian Ambassador May-Elin Stener.
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