Suryaa National Desk: The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 (IPRD 2026) has commenced in New Delhi. The international conference is being jointly organized by the Indian Navy and the National Maritime Foundation and is scheduled to last for three days. The theme for this year's event is "Science, Technology, and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region."
The event aims to strengthen maritime security, science and technology sectors, and joint partnerships among academic institutions. Participants include maritime security experts, scientists, academicians, and diplomats from approximately 18 countries.
On the first day, delegates discussed the use of technology in comprehensive maritime information exchange, the protection of critical infrastructure, and the maintenance of environmental balance. Discussions also covered the utilization of maritime resources and the enhancement of maritime transport security.
Organizers stated that the primary objective of the conference is to increase mutual partnerships between educational research institutions in line with the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Analysis is ongoing regarding five key areas, including human resource development, joint research, and scientific solutions to protect coastal areas from climate change.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh are scheduled to address the conference in the coming days. Delegates noted that collective cooperation is essential to address technological challenges in regional maritime security. Defense and industrial sectors anticipate that the dialogue will foster mutual trust, facilitate the sharing of new knowledge, and help develop a clear action plan for sustainable maritime governance.