The functions of the CSIR - International S&T Affairs Directorate (CSIR-ISTAD) inter alia include

• Acting as a nodal point for positioning CSIR in the international S&T arena;
• Facilitating transfer of CSIR knowhow and technologies abroad especially in the neighboring countries and the developing countries for creating solutions for common good;
• Reinforcing S&T base in the developing countries by providing advanced explore/training as well as research and higher education opportunities to their researchers;
• Assisting CSIR in making its scientific & technological knowledgebase internationally competitive through building international scientific and technological networking and collaborations, twinning of institutions and similar other initiatives;
• Assisting CSIR system in scouting for, and pinpointing, the very latest of internationally competitive scientific and technological advances and breakthroughs of relevance to India, that should mold, shape and energize CSIR’s current and future research and development initiatives;
• Building and fortifying bridges of understanding between CSIR and its major overseas science & technology partners to develop synergies and leverage CSIR’s capabilities in core areas of S&T;
• Generating additional resources for CSIR through international project funding;
• Vitalizing CSIR’s inputs through engineered training and retraining of its scientists in core sectors and at the same time helping exploit the enormous trainer potential of the CSIR laboratories to forge and reinforce international partnerships.