Anusandhan NRF Introduces ‘PAIR’ to Foster Advanced Research in Indian Universities

The ANRF has launched the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) Program, initially focusing on institutions ranked in the top 25 NIRF overall and top 50 Institutions of National Importance.

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) Program, marking a new era for India’s R&D ecosystem. Designed to transform research in Indian universities, PAIR will operate in a hub-and-spoke model, pairing emerging research institutions with top-ranked universities in a mentorship framework, as decided in ANRF’s recent Governing Body meeting.

In the first phase, hub institutions will include those ranked in the top 25 NIRF overall and Institutions of National Importance in the top 50. Spoke institutions will consist of select Central and State Public Universities, along with designated NITs and IIITs. Eligibility criteria will broaden to include additional universities and institutions in future phases.

Each PAIR network would consist of one hub and up to seven spoke institutions. Only one proposal per hub institution is allowed, with a mandatory involvement of multi-departmental faculty teams from spoke institutions. Regional diversity among participants will also be ensured. The innovative PAIR initiative, aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to cultivate research excellence across Indian universities. It focuses on enhancing research capabilities in central and state public universities by fostering collaborations with top-tier institutions.

The program will use a mentorship-driven hub-and-spoke framework to promote systematic research growth across institutions. Hubs will support emerging institutions (spokes) in advancing their research, providing access to resources and expertise to bridge institutional gaps and foster a strong research ecosystem in India. The program will stimulate innovation in emerging institutions by leveraging mentorship from top-ranking institutions, fostering impactful and globally competitive research, and establishing collaborative networks. It aims to enhance research quality by promoting access to advanced infrastructure and best practices.

Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary to the Government of India, DST, and CEO, ANRF emphasised that "the PAIR Program stands as a catalyst for transformative research in universities which have potential, with well-established institutions providing the necessary mentorship to elevate overall research standards. He said that in its first phase, ANRF would be targeting some select universities and institutions and in subsequent calls, the scope would be expanded. The idea is to improve research eco-system in our universities."

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