It was realized by COMSATS’ pioneers that the decisionmaking process in developing countries is heavily dependent upon political patronage and the cooperation of civil bureaucracies. Thus, a top-down approach was adopted to bring about a significant shift in how countries perceive the role of S&T and what resources are allocated for its development. Consequently, COMSATS is an apex body, comprising Heads of State/Government as its Members, while the highest level functionaries responsible for S&T affairs in member countries, acting as COMSATS’ Focal Points, constitute its Consultative Committee. Currently, there are 27 Member States of COMSATS with the President of Ghana H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana, as the incumbent Chairperson of COMSATS, who assumed this position on 24 July 2012.

As derived from the Statutes of the Commission, the mission of COMSATS has been translated into the following broad objectives:

• To sensitize the countries in the South to the centrality of science and technology in the development process, to the adequate resource allocation for research and development, and to the integration of science and technology in the national and regional development plans;
• To support the functioning and activities of the Network of International Science and Technology Centres for Sustainable Development in the South, established at the foundation meeting of the Commission;

• To support other major initiatives designed to promote indigenous capacity in science and technology for science-led sustainable development, and to help mobilise long-term financial support from international donor agencies and from Government/Institutions in the North and the South to supplement the financing of international scientific projects in the South;
• To provide leadership and support for North-South and South-South cooperative schemes in education, training and research, such as the proposal to set up programmes of scholarships for research at centres of excellence in the South; and
• To support the relevant programmes and initiatives of major scientific organizations working for the development and promotion of science and technology in the South.

COMSATS serves as an institutional platform for South-South and Triangular technical cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as Education, Information Technology, Environment, Energy, and Health. The organization actively facilitates the exchange of expertise and technology among its Member States. In that direction, it is currently implementing various programmes and projects in collaboration with its Member States as well as some international organizations/agencies. The size and scope of COMSATS’ international cooperation vary from national to regional to international levels. The international cooperation is facilitated through bilateral and multilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), Agreements, and Letters of Intent. Presently, there are over 65 MoU signed with a number of national/international collaborators.

COMSATS’ major source of scientific and technological strength stems from its Network of 22 International S&T Centres of Excellence for sustainable development in the South. The Network was established with the objective of assisting the countries of the South to build and sustain a critical mass of world-class scientists and technologists and to utilize their expertise for expediting science-led sustainable development. COMSATS’ Member States have been greatly benefiting from the Network through capacity-building activities, such as short and long trainings; seminars, workshops and symposia; postgraduate scholarships; faculty and expert-exchange; technical meetings and other joint scientific programmes linked to socio-economic development. The COMSATS Coordinating Council, comprising the Heads of COMSATS’ Centres of Excellence, meets every year to make rules and regulations governing its own procedures, and approve the programmes and budget of the Network and the Secretariat.