International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South co-operation

What International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South co-operation does

The International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre established in 2008 through a formal agreement between the Government of Malaysia and UNESCO, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur at 902-4 Jalan Tun Ismail. It is funded by Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and operates as an intergovernmental organization rather than a commercial entity, delivering capacity-building programmes, conferences, and policy dialogues for STI policymakers, researchers, educators, and technical professionals across developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

ISTIC's portfolio comprises six flagship programmes aligned to its 2022–2027 Priority Agenda: STI Advocacy, Diplomacy and Policy; Education for Sustainable Development; Artificial and Digital Innovation; Research Ecosystems; Open Science; and Climate Change Education. Strategic programmes include the annual KISTEP-ISTIC S&T Innovation Training Programme (since 2009, 250+ alumni from 71 countries), the Big Data and AI Programme, the AI Education Programme, the biennial International Conference on Women in SE²TI, and emerging multi-country frameworks (AFRASIA, GSRUA, GE4SEA). The organization does not build proprietary technology products; its platform architecture is diplomatic and institutional — it convenes, curates curricula, and facilitates MoUs and joint research between ministries, universities, and multilateral partners.

ISTIC is governed by its own Governing Board, Executive Committee, and Secretariat led by Director Tengku Sharizad Binti Tengku Chik, with Prof. ChM. Dr. Mohd Basyaruddin Abdul Rahman as Governing Board Chair and Academician Dato' Ir. Lee Yee Cheong as Honorary Chairman. Funding flows from MOSTI through annual allocations; revenue is not commercially generated and programme participation is free for eligible participants from developing countries. Recent expansion activity includes new MoUs with Universitas Negeri Malang (Feb 2025), NRF South Africa (Jul 2025), Leaders for Peace (Dec 2025), and the Government of Mauritius (Mar 2026), alongside the launch of a Foundations of Science Diplomacy Training Programme in 2026.

Name

International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South co-operation

Legal name

International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation

Website

https://istic-unesco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ISTIC is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, established 2008 in Kuala Lumpur and funded by Malaysia's MOSTI, that operates as an intergovernmental convening platform for South-South science, technology, and innovation cooperation across developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation - Science, Technology and Innovation

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Public Administration (92), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Systems Strengthening (Policy, Planning, EMIS, Governance) (BPADAKAK), International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies (BPADAAAJ), International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA)

Keywords

• South-South cooperation
• STI policy training
• Capacity building programmes
• Science diplomacy training
• Climate change education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ISTIC is funded by Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre. The organization does not generate commercial revenue but operates through government allocations and international cooperation agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISTIC is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre that operates as an international platform for South-South cooperation in science, technology and innovation. It delivers capacity-building programmes, training workshops, and international conferences for policymakers, researchers, and educators from developing countries, organized around six flagship priority areas: STI Advocacy/Diplomacy/Policy, Education for Sustainable Development, Artificial and Digital Innovation, Research Ecosystems, Open Science, and Climate Change Education. The organization also facilitates institutional partnerships, MoU signings, and collaborative research initiatives across the Global South.

Product overview

ISTIC operates as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre offering a portfolio of flagship programs and initiatives focused on advancing South-South cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. The organization provides capacity-building programs including the KISTEP-ISTIC Training Programme for STI policy excellence, Big Data and AI training workshops, and specialized programs on AI education and climate change education. It organizes the biennial International Conference on Women in SE²TI and manages emerging initiatives like the AFRASIA Programme connecting Africa and Asia, the Global South Research Universities Alliance (GSRUA), and the GE4SEA climate education initiative. These programs collectively serve policymakers, researchers, educators, and technical professionals across developing countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KISTEP-ISTIC S&T Innovation Training Programme Annual training programme that serves as a major platform for strengthening STI policy capacities among senior officials and policymakers from developing countries, drawing on Korea's experience in STI evaluation systems and science diplomacy.
• Joint Capacity Strengthening Programme for Africa Region Programme that strengthens research capacity in the Global South, addressing limited access to funding and complex grant processes that often hinder scientific contribution and innovation across North, South, East, and West Africa.
• Big Data and AI Programme Programme supporting policymakers, researchers, educators, and technical professionals from developing countries with practical skills development in Big Data and AI, knowledge exchange, policy awareness, and the responsible and ethical use of AI and data technologies.
• AI Education Programme Programme focused on upper primary and lower secondary students that empowers teachers to develop learners' computational thinking, understanding of algorithms, and ethical awareness through age-appropriate modules, hands-on activities, and targeted teacher training aligned with Malaysia's educational and economic priorities.
• International Conference on Women in SE²TI Biennial international conference aimed at advancing gender equality by strengthening women's participation, leadership, and representation in education, research, and innovation ecosystems. Co-organized with ICEE under UNESCO auspices.
• AFRASIA: South-South Collaborative Research and Innovation Programme South–South cooperation framework connecting Asia and Africa, founded by South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Tanzania, focusing on fostering collaborative research in areas including water security, one health, and renewable energy. Envisioned as a six-year, multi-country partnership.
• GSRUA: Global South Research Universities Alliance Initiative connecting research universities across Asia, Latin America, and Africa to foster South-South collaboration, knowledge co-creation, and sustainable development.
• GE4SEA: Greening Education for Southeast Asia Five-year initiative aimed at strengthening climate change education in primary and secondary schools across Southeast Asia, implemented in partnership with the Office for Climate Education.
• Foundations of Science Diplomacy Training Programme 3-day training programme for Early and Mid-Career Researchers exploring the science-policy-diplomacy interface, strengthening practical skills for engaging in science diplomacy, and applying concepts to real-world global challenges.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Government of Mauritius / Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026MoU signed in March 2026 to strengthen collaboration on blue economy development. Partnership aims to leverage STI for sustainable blue economic growth in Small Island Developing States.
• Leaders for PeacemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2025MoU signed in December 2025 for cooperation on peacebuilding, leadership development, and STI. Both parties expressed interest in AI education collaboration focusing on training educators in developing countries.
• National Research Foundation (NRF) of South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025MoU signed in July 2025 following two years of dialogue on STI collaboration. Partnership focuses on bilateral frameworks, joint research initiatives, and institutional partnerships between Malaysia and South Africa.
• Universitas Negeri Malang (UM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2025MoU signed in February 2025 formalizing collaboration in research and capacity building. UM serves as a hub for ISTIC's regional collaboration in Southeast Asia, hosting the AFRASIA Programme Validation Workshop.
• International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Science and Technology (IKCEST)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025UNESCO-affiliated centre collaborating on Big Data and AI training programmes for Global South professionals.
• Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration spanning four years including workshops, joint research, and training programmes for researchers. NAM S&T Centre brings expertise in South-South cooperation among non-aligned nations.
• Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Long-standing partnership since 2009 for the annual STI Training Programme for High-Level Policymakers. KISTEP shares Korea's experience in STI policy development, evaluation systems, and science diplomacy. The programme has trained 250+ participants from 71 countries.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008UNESCO is the parent organization that established ISTIC as a Category 2 Centre under its auspices. The partnership provides international legitimacy, policy guidance, and access to UNESCO's global network of science institutions and STI programmes.
• Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution providing venue and collaboration on planetary health, science policy, and youth scientist network activities.
• Office for Climate Education (OCE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Green Education for Southeast Asia (GE4SEA) Programme, a flagship climate change education initiative for primary and secondary schools.
• MIMOS BerhadsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMalaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems providing technical expertise and R&D facility visits for AI and Big Data training programmes.
• Xi'an Jiaotong UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing speakers and expertise for AI and Big Data training workshops.
• Future Earth Africa Hub and Leadership Centre (FEAHLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Science Diplomacy training programmes and AFRASIA framework development for Africa-Asia collaboration.
• South Africa-Indonesia-Malaysia-Tanzania (AFRASIA Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-country initiative (South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Tanzania) forming the AFRASIA programme for South-South collaborative research in water security, one health, and renewable energy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP): A Korean government policy institute running the long-running KISTEP-ISTIC STI training programme for developing-country policymakers. Operates a similar policy-training model and shares Korea's STI evaluation expertise with Global South officials.
• Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO/ISESCO): An OIC-affiliated intergovernmental organisation running S&T capacity building in member states. ISTIC has co-organised forums with ISESCO; comparable in convening role, training programme design, and UNESCO-style institutional positioning.
• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS): A UNESCO-affiliated academy based in Trieste that builds scientific capacity in developing countries through fellowships, research grants, and training. Comparable mission to ISTIC's Research Ecosystems and STI policy programmes, targeting similar Global South researchers and policymakers.
• COMSATS (Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South): An intergovernmental organisation of 27 developing-country members coordinating South-South STI collaboration. Comparable member-driven model, comparable scope of training and joint research programmes, and overlapping partners (UNESCO, IROST).
• International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Science and Technology (IKCEST): A UNESCO Category 2 Centre in Beijing focused on big data and engineering knowledge for developing countries. Directly comparable as a UNESCO Category 2 peer and an active ISTIC programme co-organiser on AI and Big Data training.
• Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre): An intergovernmental organisation promoting South-South cooperation in S&T among developing countries. Directly comparable to ISTIC in mandate, member base, and training/workshop delivery model; the two even co-organise programmes.
• Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT): A UN-ESCAP-affiliated centre in New Delhi facilitating technology transfer across the Asia-Pacific. Comparable in intergovernmental status, regional STI focus, and capacity-building role for developing countries, with overlapping AI and innovation training themes.

Regional players

• Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST): A national research body organising the Khwarizmi International Award and S&T programmes across the OIC/Global South. Comparable in international S&T award and capacity-building activities, though rooted in a single national ecosystem rather than multilateral governance.

Broad incumbents

• UNESCO International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP): A UNESCO Category 1 Centre in Trieste focused on physics and mathematics research training for developing-country scientists. Comparable in intergovernmental UNESCO status and capacity-building mission, though ICTP operates at a larger scale and a more specialised scientific remit.
• UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC): The UN system's central coordinator for South-South and triangular cooperation across all development sectors. ISTIC operates as a sectoral (STI-focused) implementer under the broader UNOSSC umbrella; comparable in scope of geographic reach but much broader in thematic mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/istic_unesco
• Facebookfacebook.com/istic.unesco
• Instagraminstagram.com/istic.unesco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South co-operation