The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2024, a grand convergence of science, innovation, and global collaboration, was successfully concluded at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Assam, from November 29 to December 3, 2024. This year's festival, themed "Transforming India into a Science and Technology Driven Global Manufacturing Hub," brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and students to explore innovative solutions for a prosperous future.
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The festival was inaugurated by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and graced by the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh. The chief guest, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, highlighted India's strides in harnessing science and technology to achieve economic growth and sustainability.
Dr. Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to making India a global leader in innovation, while Dr. Sarma underscored the significance of leveraging the region’s rich resources for scientific advancement.
ICC’s Active Role: Presentation and Panel Participation
At the invitation of Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director of CSIR-NIIST and Chief Organizer of IISF 2024, two delegates from the International Coconut Community (ICC), Director General Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw and Deputy Director General Mr. A.H.N. Chinthaka, actively participated in the event.
During Technical Session 1 on Agri-Food, Biotechnology, and Healthcare, under the theme "Global Science and Technology Alliance: Science Beyond Borders," Dr. Jelfina presented on "Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Global Coconut Sector: Global Scenario and Future Directions." The presentation emphasized the global challenges facing the coconut industry and ICC's strategic directions for fostering sustainability and resilience in the coconut sector. DG Jelfina also joined a panel discussion with other industry experts and scientists presented.
India, a key member country of the ICC, demonstrated through IISF 2024 how national initiatives can have global relevance. The festival not only showcased India’s leadership in science and technology but also set a benchmark for other ICC member countries to emulate. Events like IISF 2024 exemplify the potential for collaborative approaches to addressing global agricultural and technological challenges, which align with ICC’s vision of sustainability and resilience.
Insights from the Exhibition: Cutting-Edge Innovations on Display
A major highlight of IISF 2024 was the concurrent exhibition showcasing innovative technologies across diverse domains. It included groundbreaking solutions for:
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Agri-crops and Food Processing: Biodegradable tableware from agricultural residues, fruit and vegetable processing technologies.
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Sustainable Energy and Environment: On-site wastewater treatment units, food-waste-to-bioenergy systems, and plant growth promoters.
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Material Science and Bioprocesses: Biopolymers, polycoir composite materials as wood substitutes, and geo-textiles for construction.
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Healthcare and Biotechnology: Engineering microbial metabolism for metabolite production and innovative biomaterials.
The exhibition provided an enriching platform for professionals and students to interact with researchers, fostering dialogue on deploying these technologies to address global challenges.
Fostering Global Partnerships: A Core Focus of IISF 2024
Aligned with the overarching goal of “Science Beyond Borders,” IISF 2024 featured events fostering international collaboration. Public lectures, roundtable discussions with global scientific organizations, and interactive sessions with publishing giants like Springer and Elsevier reflected India's ambition to position itself as a hub for global scientific partnerships.
ICC’s participation exemplified the commitment to fostering international alliances, emphasizing the role of tropical agriculture in global food security and economic development.
The India International Science Festival 2024 successfully blended the celebration of scientific progress with the urgency of addressing contemporary challenges. For the ICC, the festival was a platform to showcase its commitment to a sustainable global coconut sector and to engage in meaningful discussions with global scientific and industrial leaders.
Events like IISF 2024 will play a pivotal role in transforming innovative ideas into impactful solutions. The ICC’s active participation reaffirmed its role as a global leader in promoting sustainable agriculture and demonstrated how initiatives by member countries like India can inspire similar efforts across the ICC network, fostering a resilient and inclusive future.
