The purpose of this Committee is to promote science and technology in developing countries. Its organizational structure comprises an Executive Committee and a Plenary formed by National Members and some ICSU Bodies.
Efforts are under way to locate suitable centres in other regions of the developing world.
In this respect, emphasis is placed on the ICSU-UNDP project on Strengthening Scientific Training and Research in the Third World. The IUCr Visiting Professorship Programme has been introduced, under the responsibility of the Teaching Commission, to enable developing countries to develop crystallography. Information was also given about journals, tables, books and teaching pamphlets published by the IUCr, crystallographic databases and International Congresses of Crystallography.