Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 Focuses on Ocean Science
Maritime experts, scientists and diplomats from 18 countries will gather in New Delhi next month for a three-day conference hosted by the Indian Navy. The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 will focus on building scientific and academic partnerships to tackle shared ocean challenges.
The conference is scheduled from November 3 to 5. Its central theme is “Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region,” reflecting growing interest in research-driven approaches to regional maritime issues.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will take part in the event and speak to experts from different nations. Former naval chiefs of India and Sri Lanka are also scheduled to present their views.
The Indian Navy is organising the gathering with the National Maritime Foundation as its knowledge partner. Together, they aim to encourage joint research, the development of new technologies and the sharing of knowledge between countries.
The organisers point out that ocean-related problems cannot be solved by any single nation. Issues such as climate change, maritime commerce, supply chain security, pressure on marine resources and the protection of critical sea-based infrastructure call for coordinated responses.
To meet these demands, the conference will look at how scientific capabilities can be shared, how research institutions can collaborate more closely and how trained professionals can be developed in the field.
The programme includes five major themes, discussed across five dedicated sessions held over three days. The focus will be on finding practical solutions as well as identifying challenges. Joint research initiatives, shared technology development, access to scientific data and institutional collaboration are expected to dominate the conversations.
The Navy has emphasised that the event will give weight not only to science, technology, engineering and mathematics but also to social sciences, life sciences and humanities. This broader view is intended to help experts from different fields work together on maritime solutions.
The first day will open with a session titled “Perspectives from the Flag Bridge,” where former naval chiefs of India and Sri Lanka will share their experiences. A dialogue of ambassadors, named “Dialogue of Cooperation,” will also be held. Ministers and other distinguished guests will deliver special addresses throughout the programme.
Experts from the 18 Indo-Pacific nations attending the event will offer their insights on maritime security, scientific cooperation and regional partnership.
The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue is the Indian Navy’s flagship yearly strategic conference. Past editions have considered cooperation areas tied to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 14th East Asia Summit in Bangkok in November 2019. It also supports India’s maritime vision of SAGAR, which seeks security and growth across the region.
The conference hopes to transform the broad framework of cooperation into concrete action plans. Ideas generated during the discussions are expected to be developed into measures that can be implemented nationally, at sub-regional levels and across the wider Indo-Pacific.