Faculty from institutions across the country participated in the first stakeholder meeting on the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) Program today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi organised by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

The program, rooted in the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, aims to address disparities in research infrastructure and capabilities across Indian institutions while promoting collaborative and impactful research.

Prof. A K Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India highlighted that the PAIR programme would transform India’s research ecosystem by pairing top institutions with other institutions to improve their facilities and resources. “It will benefit the scientific community through mentorship and leadership from top institutions which can act as catalysts of research excellence and will also help students.”  

Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and CEO ANRF underlined that the ANRF’s PAIR program has its genesis in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is designed to fulfil the objective of upgrading institutions across the country, particularly those with untapped potential. “Well-established institutions will provide the necessary mentorship to elevate overall research standards. In its first phase, ANRF is focused on building regional diversity by targeting select universities and institutions. As the program progresses, the scope will be expanded through subsequent calls. The goal is to enhance the research ecosystem within our universities. Participants are encouraged to collaborate under this network through the Hub and Spoke model, fostering partnerships and innovation,” he added.

Shri. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Education, stressed on the pivotal role of research and development (R&D) in national progress. He emphasized the need to enhance institutional capacity to do R&D, bring in a plethora of institutions in the structure and create a diverse ecosystem of research-oriented institutions to drive innovation.

The event brought together around 200 participants, including directors, deans, and vice chancellors of universities and research institutions across the country. Their queries were addressed by the dignitaries at the stakeholder meeting which provided an opportunity to clarify doubts and pave the way for strong proposals.

The PAIR programme will facilitate systematic research growth across institutions through a mentorship-driven hub and spoke framework. Hubs will guide emerging institutions (spokes) in research activities, provide access to harness their resources and expertise, thus bridging the gap between institutions and nurturing a robust research ecosystem in India.

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NKR/KS

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