COMSATS, being an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) of 27 developing countries, is proactive advocate and proponent of South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Its most significant manifestation can be seen from high-level interaction among its members of Network of International S&T Centres of Excellence. Comprising of science-led R&D and higher education institutions in the developing countries, the Network shows the present and growing technical and human capital contributing to critical mass required for socio-economic progress of developing countries.
The heads of these Centres – eminent scientists in their respective fields – regularly meet annually at the platform of COMSATS Coordinating Council, a statutory body of COMSATS that governs the Network activities. The Council comprises heads of the 22 member centres; the Executive Director COMSATS, who is the Secretary of the Council; the Executive Director TWAS, who is the ex-officio member of the Council; and Prof. M. H. A. Hassan, former Executive Director TWAS, as Honorary Life-time member. All Council members are distinguished academics having scientific as well as administrative experience.
The Council meeting is an excellent platform for South-South and Triangular Cooperation which facilitates the sharing of strengths for building scientific capacity and joint research. Every three years, the Council’s Chairpersonship is rotated, which currently rest with the Egyptian Centre of Excellence, National Research Center. As of 2018, 21 meetings of the Council have been held since the inception of COMSATS in 1994.
This document provides brief profiles of Network member institutions with a view to seek useful collaborations and to enhance network activities.