NEWS – The Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) initiative was recently launched by the government to enhance research capabilities, particularly in central and state public universities. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between institutions and accelerate the research ecosystem in India.

ABOUT THE PAIR INITIATIVE

• Launched by: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
• Purpose: To support research in universities, especially those with limited research capabilities, through mentorship and collaboration with top-ranking institutions.

Objectives of PAIR

1. Stimulating Scientific Innovation: Encourage scientific innovation in institutions with limited research by leveraging the expertise of top-tier institutions in a mentorship mode.
2. Support Internationally Competitive Research: Promote research that can be internationally competitive, with a significant impact on societal and scientific progress.
3. Fostering Collaborative Networks: Build productive and sustainable collaborative networks between institutions at various levels.
4. Advancing Research Infrastructure: Strengthen institutions by improving research infrastructure, enhancing the quality of research, and introducing best practices.
5. Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Align with the NEP 2020 objectives to cultivate research excellence in central and state public universities.

PAIR Mentorship Model

• Hub and Spoke Model:
  • The initiative follows a hub and spoke model where the hub institutions (top-tier institutions) mentor the spoke institutions (emerging institutions such as public universities and select NITs/IIITs).
• Role of Hub Institutions:
  • Guidance: Hub institutions will provide mentorship in research activities and guide emerging institutions in enhancing their research output.
  • Resources and Expertise: They will offer access to high-level resources and research expertise to spoke institutions.
• Role of Spoke Institutions:
  • Emerging Institutions: Spoke institutions will include Central and State Public Universities, along with some NITs and IIITs, benefiting from the mentorship of hub institutions.
  • Research Development: Spoke institutions will utilize the guidance to build research infrastructure, improve research culture, and elevate quality.

Phases and Eligibility Criteria

1. First Phase:
   • Hub Institutions: The top 25 institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), as well as Institutions of National Importance within the top 50 NIRF ranking.
   • Spoke Institutions: Central and State Public Universities, and select NITs and IIITs.
2. Expansion in Future Phases:
   • Eligibility will expand to include other universities and institutions in subsequent phases.
3. Network Composition:
   • Each PAIR network will consist of one hub and up to seven spoke institutions.
   • Multi-departmental Teams: Faculty teams from spoke institutions must be multi-departmental for collaboration.
   • Regional Diversity: Efforts will be made to ensure regional diversity among participants.
4. Proposal Restrictions:
   • Only one proposal per hub institution will be allowed.

ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ANRF)

• The ANRF was established under the ANRF 2023 Act.
• Mission: To promote research and development (R&D) across India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
• Role of ANRF:
  • Acts as the apex body for providing strategic direction for scientific research in India, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  • It takes over the responsibilities of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), which was established in 2008.
• Collaboration Facilitation:
  • ANRF fosters collaboration between industry, academia, and government research bodies.
  • It creates interfaces for the active participation of industries and state governments in addition to scientific ministries.