The Centre for International Co-operation in Science or CICS is mandated to promote science- and technology-related (ST) activities for the mutual benefit of the scientists of developing countries. It is a Tamil Nadu society registered under The Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. CICS was formerly known as CCSTDS.
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The Centre has a major focus for ST training of developing country scientists from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Arab regions. Other programmes include Travel Fellowship to Indian Scientists to participate in international conferences, workshops outside India, a training programme for women scientists of India on Intellectual Property Rights and a motivational programme for high school students.
Evolution of CICS
Recognizing the role of Science and Technology, the International Council for Science(ICSU) established a Committee for Science and Technology in Developing Countries (COSTED) in 1966. The COSTED Secretariat was located in Chennai and was vested with the specific responsibility of promoting and strengthening regional scientific networks in specific areas of Science and Technology.
Considering that the COSTED Secretariat in Chennai had experience in regional science and technology promotion, co-operation, diffusion and capacity building, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), decided to establish a successor organization to COSTED under the auspices of INSA to promote ST activities for the mutual benefit of scientists of developing countries. In 2005 the Centre for Co-operation in Science and Technology among Developing Societies (CCSTDS) was established to address ST needs of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The CCSTDS was renamed as the Centre for International Co-operation in Science (CICS) in 2011.