In order to achieve its objectives, COSTIS has defined operational strategies, which may be carried out through concrete projects, initiatives and action-oriented programmes:

1. Analyze the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) capacity building programmes that already exist, their strengths and the possible flaws and the circumstances of their functioning by:
   • Understanding the STI capacity building processes that are already underway in different countries and circumstances;
   • Sharing lessons of experience in building STI capacity;
   • Seeing what STI capacity building programmes are working effectively and which are not getting the desired outcomes, and understanding some of the reasons behind the different outcomes;
   • Discussing how these lessons can be incorporated into future STI capacity building programmes and projects;
   • Discussing how governments and donor organizations can work together for effective sustainable STI capacity building programmes;
   • Exploring gender-related aspects of STI capacity building.
2. Devise feasibility studies on the implementation of information systems, new technologies and projects.
3. Create mechanisms for the networking of research institutions dealing with science and technology, improving the links between universities, research institutions, and scientists through:
   • Linking the global network of universities of the South in periodic meetings to discuss critical issues that affect developing countries;
   • Bringing together scientific institutions of North/South and South/South on periodic fora on global critical topics.
4. Improve and strengthen programmes for disseminating research results of universities and research institutions through:
   • Providing support to the scientists, technologists and teachers who are engaged in communicating and interpreting scientific and technological information to policy makers, professionals in other fields and the general public;
   • Focusing on the transfer of skills and the transfer and adaptation of planning techniques, which requires full and open sharing of data and information among scientists and decision makers;
   • Promoting the publication of national scientific research reports and technical reports that are understandable and relevant to local sustainable development needs, and improving the interface between science and decision-making, as well as the implementation of scientific results;
   • Generating a critical mass of technology expertise in targeted areas that offer high growth potential, especially in biotechnology and geo-science.
5. Design University–Industry linking programmes to strengthen the links between the official and interdependent research sectors and industry in order for research to become an important element of industrial strategy.
6. Improve infrastructure and facilities for R&D and promote sharing of such facilities.
7. Establish new technology adaptation institutes and new engineering research centers.
8. Establish and strengthen national advisory groups on environmental and developmental ethics in order to develop a common value framework between the scientific and technological community and society as a whole.
9. Extend education and training in developmental and environmental ethical issues.
10. Review and amend relevant national and international environment and development legal instruments to ensure appropriate codes of practice and guidelines are incorporated into regulatory machinery.
11. Develop and adapt information collection and analysis capacity to support productive activities.
12. Create institutional and policy arrangements that enable developing countries to mobilize and share their scarce resources to conduct science and generate technological innovations.
13. Develop and implement information technologies to enhance the dissemination of information for sustainable development.
14. Foster the active participation of stakeholders at the global, regional, sub-regional and national levels in ICT activities, particularly those focused on bridging the digital divide by:
    • Developing a network of stakeholders and asking regional and sub-regional groups to appoint ICT panels of recognized ICT leaders from that region;
    • Inviting regional and sub-regional panels for strategy-setting meetings at established venues, in which they would share successes and lessons learned so that different regions can learn from each other's successes and failures.
15. Develop regional cooperative mechanisms for sustainable development through public/private partnerships.
16. Define projects and priority actions aimed at conservation, sustainable development and logistic support for the biosphere reserves of semi-arid regions, which will focus on reducing fresh water consumption by identifying optimal water reusing policies, and reducing waste water by selecting best treatment activities.