The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, have been selected as Hubs under the Advanced National Research Foundation (ANRF).
The flagship initiative seeks to bolster research capabilities in India’s state-run universities and institutions. Each institution will receive ₹100 crore over five years for thematic research, pending departmental approval.
Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), made the announcement during a talk at the University of Mumbai, ahead of its convocation ceremony.
Karandikar emphasized the government’s commitment to advancing basic sciences and revealed plans to allocate grants between ₹1 crore and ₹5 crore for principal investigators over three years.
Government to Strengthen Research in State Universities
To enhance research in state-run universities, the ANRF has introduced several new schemes.
Karandikar stated that the central government is providing substantial funding, and state governments are also expected to contribute.
The ANRF has identified 31 institutions across India as Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs). These hubs are designed to facilitate multidisciplinary research, integrating expertise across fields such as physics, computer science, engineering, and material science.
Hub-Spoke-Spike Model to Foster Collaboration
Under a unique Hub-Spoke-Spike model, the initiative aims to improve collaboration among central hubs, regional research projects, and individual researchers.
The framework will streamline resource sharing and expertise, boosting the efficiency of research efforts across institutions.
India’s research output has grown significantly, with the number of publications rising from 78,000 in 2012 to over 2.07 lakh in 2024.
The progress has placed the country among the global top five in 45 of 64 critical research areas. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute reported this.
Addressing Gaps in Technology Development
Despite notable advancements, Karandikar acknowledged challenges in technology development. To bridge these gaps, ANRF plans to collaborate closely with industry through various schemes.
India’s gross research expenditure has doubled to 0.7% of GDP. However, private sector contributions remain low at 36.4%. The government accounts for the remaining 65%.
To address this, the ANRF has allocated ₹14,000 crore. It also aims to create a ₹1 lakh crore corpus to support deep-tech start-ups during their early stages.
Aligned with National Science Missions
The ANRF aligns with national missions like the Quantum Technology Mission and the Cyber Systems Mission. This helps strengthen India’s science and technology ecosystem.
Karandikar stressed the government’s commitment to reducing bureaucratic hurdles and creating a conducive environment for research. As reported by msn.com, “The future of Indian science is brighter than ever,” he concluded.
