South Asian Institute for Social Transformation (SAIST), govern by SAIST FOUNDATION, started its journey in Bangladesh on 15th July 2020 with a vision to generate and disseminate scientific knowledge for social transformation. Since July 2010, it was known as South Asian Youth Research Initiatives for Development (SAYRID). By including all the South Asian countries India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan, it made easier to conduct research in South Asia.

SAIST FOUNDATION enhances the scope of inter-regional sharing of scholarly works and envisioning a knowledge hub of new discourses. SAIST FOUNDATION believes in merging the common values of integrity, equality, and accountability for a better use of resources. Now it has been recognized as a South Asia based knowledge exploration platform for analyzing problems and prospects in South Asian countries.