The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an international organization, aiming at socio-economic uplift of the third world through useful applications of science and technology. Established in October 1994, COMSATS currently represents 21 developing countries across 3 continents: Bangladesh, China, Columbia, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (DPRK), Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Syria, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The idea of the joint commission of countries in the South originally came from Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, the Noble Laureate. Professor Salam's enthusiasm and personal approach motivated a number of political leaders / heads of state of developing nations in the South to join forces with COMSATS.

The foundation conference of COMSATS that was held at Islamabad on 4-5 October 1994 attracted representation from 36 countries. The participants included 22 Ministers, members of the diplomatic community of Islamabad and representatives of international organizations like UNESCO, UNIDO, UNEP, and the World Bank. The conference decided that the Headquarters / Secretariat of the Commission would be based permanently at Islamabad, Pakistan, and the Head of State of Pakistan would act as the first Chairperson of the forum. It was agreed that the host government, Pakistan, would provide for the operational and administrative expenses of the Secretariat, while the development programmes of the Commission would be supported and financed through Technical Assistance Fund, formed of membership contributions, income from services, and international grants/project funds.

The mission of COMSATS entails bringing about sustainable socio-economic development in the South, through building capacities in, and making judicious use of, science and technology applications, by instituting South-South and North-South collaborations and exchange.

As extracted from the International Agreement of the Commission, the mission of COMSATS has been translated into the following objectives:

• To sensitise the countries in the South to the centrality of science and technology in the development process, to the adequate allocation of resources for research and development, and to the integration of science and technology in the national and regional development plans;
• To support the establishment of a Network of International Science and Technology Centres for Sustainable Development in the South;
• To support other major initiatives, designed to promote indigenous capacity in science and technology for science-led sustainable development, and to help mobilize long-term financial support from international donor-agencies and from Government / Institutions in the North and the South, to supplement the financing of international scientific projects in the South;
• To provide leadership and support for major North-South and South-South cooperative schemes in education, training and research, such as the proposal to set up programmes of scholarships for research at centres of excellence in the South;
• To support the relevant programmes and initiatives of major scientific organizations working for the development and promotion of science and technology in the South.

The designated Focal Points (relevant state bodies/ministries/R & D institutions) in the member states, Centres of Excellence and the diplomatic community serve as the official channels for coordinating activities of COMSATS. Activity thrust areas include Information Technology, Renewable Energy, Biotechnology, Water Resources, and Small & Medium Enterprise Development.