CISAC was established in 1980 to engage the Russian Academy of Sciences on international security and arms control, providing communication when no other channel existed. CISAC added dialogues with China (1988) and India (1998). The technical focus of these dialogues among technical, military, and policy experts allows discussion to occur on an objective basis grounded in science--especially valuable in engaging countries where official relations are adversarial.

The dialogue agendas include many issues too politically sensitive to be addressed through formal channels. The goals are to inform policymakers, promote mutual understanding, offer policy options, and lay the foundations for cooperation.