CSIR Unveils Nature-Based Science Portfolio at UN Summit

India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research closed a weeklong presence at the UN Science Summit during UNGA 81 with its most ambitious session yet — six laboratories presenting commercially ready technologies for ecosystem restoration, from AI-driven cloudburst prediction to waste-to-marble composites patented in eight countries. The overarching pitch: the Global South already has scalable, science-backed tools to repair degraded land, feed growing cities, and build climate resilience — what it needs now are partners willing to deploy them.

• CSIR showcases six labs' nature-based solutions spanning urban forestry, Himalayan bioeconomy, green materials, food security, riparian corridor restoration, and AI early warning systems
• Waste-to-product composite technology patented and licensed in 8 countries including the U.S., EU, Canada, and South Africa, consuming half the energy of conventional materials
• Two Investigational New Drug applications filed from CSIR-IIIM for phytopharmaceuticals targeting rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease
• Hybrid AI-physics models achieve 24-hour cloudburst prediction lead time, with a digital twin for environmental systems targeted for 2030 deployment
• Tree Value Index developed for 150+ species to guide urban restoration as Indian cities fall short of WHO green-space standards
• CSIR issues open call for global research, industry, and startup partnerships to scale proven technologies under its "5C" framework