IPRD-2026 Commences in New Delhi Focusing on Scientific Advancement and Maritime Cooperation

KOCHI: The Indian Navy’s annual apex-level international strategic conference, the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 (IPRD-2026), commenced  in New Delhi. Organized in association with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner, the three-day dialogue centers on the theme ‘Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,’ exploring ways to translate scientific advancement and institutional partnerships into practical regional cooperation.

The conference established its core focus on leveraging technological innovation to build enduring institutional cooperation, enhance maritime capabilities, and strengthen regional resilience. The proceedings opened with an Inaugural Address by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (Retd), Chairman of NMF and former Chief of the Naval Staff, followed by a Special Address by Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd), National Maritime Security Coordinator, Government of India.

The first professional session, ‘Academic Networks, Research, and Human Capital Development,’ was moderated by Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru (Retd), former Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, featuring strategic insights from France, Indonesia, Japan, and the Maldives. The panel explored coastal university networks and research links across think tanks, academia, and governments, culminating in the release of a research monograph titled ‘Sea Blindness and Maritime Heritage in India’. The second session, ‘Maritime Situational Awareness and Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure,’ moderated by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti (Retd), focused on safeguarding undersea infrastructure, expanding the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), and developing cooperative underwater domain architecture, alongside inputs from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

The opening day concluded with ‘Sahyog Ka Samvaad’, a special ambassadorial panel hosted and moderated by Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (Retd), Director-General of NMF. The interaction featured High Commissioner of Sri Lanka HE Ms Mahishini Colonne, Ambassador of the Philippines HE Mr Josel F Ignacio, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway HE Mrs May-Elin Stener, yielding actionable policy recommendations to foster regional maritime security, technological exchange, and academic collaboration.