Indian Consortium for Sustainability Research (ICSR)
Rationale
India, the world's most populated country, is at critical juncture, where developmental efforts meet increasing demands for environmental resources. Indian research institutions are, at present, developing cohesive efforts to pursue research in areas such as sustainable development and climate change. Yet no coherent framework exists that transforms this research into effective, policy applicable solutions for sustainability. The Indian Consortium for Sustainability Research (ICSR) was established to plug that gap, by building a cohesive network that will integrate academic research with the broader national objectives such as the Net Zero target and the LiFE mission.
India’s potential as a science Nation is significant. India has the potential to lead global sustainability science. The country boasts a strong STEM talent pool, good Institutes of Technology (IITs) and universities, and space technology (ISRO), which can generate a rich vein of innovation. Leveraging its demographic dividend and classical ecological knowledge, India can craft affordable, scalable and cost-effective solutions for the whole Global South.
The Need for ICSR
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The pressing need for a coherent and and robust reseach on sustainable development issues in India is urgent. Research is too often conducted by siloed disciplines, making it difficult to address the interconnectedness of sustainable development and areas such climate change. There is a major gap between the findings from lab to the actualization of industry or government policy. In addition to that, very early stage researchers often lack a stand-alone consortium for mentorship and cross-disciplinary cooperation. ICSR will fill these gaps to drive local science for greater sustainability among Indian researchers.
Activities undertaken by ICSR
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Converging to the next Level, ICSR will act as a virtual bridge for IITs, universities and CSIR labs that will collaborate on sustainabillty issues as a whole, and on themes such as water, agriculture, energy, and climate resilience, in particular. Apart from linking its members from across India, ICSR will steer the preparation of research projects and research proposals, together with its members. It will also provide advice to public and private organisations, and write white papers and policy briefs for central and state Governments, capitalising on its potential as a major sustainability hub. Moreover, ICSR will coordinate the preparation of scientific papers for high calibre Journals, and will organise workshops and Symposia on sustainability-related themes and technologies, for senior academics, government officials, industry professionals and students. Finally, it will also act as a catalyst for collaborations, to facilitate the commercialisation of green technologies developed in Indian labs
Stakeholders to be engaged
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The Indian Consortium for Sustainability Research is a multi-stakeholder initiative, and its strength lies in the diversity of its participants.
We believe that addressing India's complex sustainability challenges requires a chorus of voices, not a single perspective. Therefore, ICSR encourages the following stakeholders to join this effort:
- Academics and Faculty: Contribute your research expertise, mentor emerging scholars, and find collaborators for cross-disciplinary projects that bridge the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences.
- Industry Representatives: Bring real-world challenges to the research community, identify opportunities for green technology adoption, and partner with academics to pilot and scale innovative solutions.
- Government Officials: Access a consolidated body of evidence-based research to inform policy formulation, scheme implementation, and India's international commitments on climate change.
- Practitioners and Civil Society: Share on-the-ground insights from community-level work, ensuring that research remains grounded in grassroots realities and addresses the needs of the most vulnerable.
- Policy-Makers and Analysts: Collaborate with researchers to translate complex scientific data into actionable policy briefs and regulatory frameworks.
- Also, doctoral scholars may join this vibrant peer network, to receive mentorship from senior experts, gain greater visibility for their research, and build foundational relationships for theirfuture career.
Coordination
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The Indian Consortium for Sustainability Research is led by Professor Walter Leal, who has founded the world´s largest sustainability Research Consortia, which includes the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) , the European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR) the UK Consortium on Sustainability Research and the European-North American Sustainability Research Consortium.
His extensive experience in creating and managing large research consortia and large research projects, will ensure that ICSR is a success.
Further information
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If you want information on joining the Indian Consortium for Sustainability Research as a founding member or as a partner, please send a note to:
To express your interest in participating or to learn more about membership benefits, please contact:
Ms. Raina Basu at: Raina.Basu (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
