ANRF: A Pillar for India's Scientific Advancement, Says Dr. Jitendra Singh
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The newly-established Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is set to transform India's scientific landscape by fostering collaborations with private sectors and aligning research with national priorities.
Key Takeaways
- ANRF aims to enhance private sector collaborations.
- A unified research strategy to eliminate redundancy.
- Focus on delivering public-good products.
- Launch of a Small Business Deep Tech Innovation program.
- AI-for-Science initiative to accelerate research.
New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) The newly-formed Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is pivotal for all scientific ministries and departments within the government, as stated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. He highlighted that ANRF aims to foster enhanced collaborations with private entities.
During a high-level joint meeting with various science ministries and departments at the National Science Centre, the minister articulated a vision to align research results across departments with national objectives, private sector involvement, and market readiness.
At the heart of this transformation, Dr. Singh expressed the desire to create a cohesive research strategy that dismantles barriers, prevents redundancy, and produces substantial, scalable advantages for society.
“Every science ministry must collaborate with the goal of delivering market-relevant products for public benefit,” he stressed, noting that ANRF will function not only as a coordinating body but also as a catalyst to attract private sector investments and innovation.
Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of ANRF, presented an ambitious plan that envisions innovative funding models, extensive private sector collaboration, and AI-driven scientific advancements.
The agency plans to emulate globally successful organizations like NSF and DARPA, initiating cross-ministerial missions geared towards economic growth and societal benefits.
Significantly, ANRF is poised to introduce a “Small Business Deep Tech Innovation” initiative, inspired by international best practices, to assist startups and MSMEs in scaling technologies for practical use.
To maximize national research infrastructure, ANRF will also launch a “Cloud of Research and Innovation Infrastructure,” enabling deep-tech startups and institutions to access underutilized equipment nationwide.
The foundation’s ‘AI-for-Science’ initiative is another major highlight, which focuses on leveraging AI to model scientific equations in fields like physics, chemistry, and biology — a breakthrough expected to considerably accelerate the transition from theory to practice in essential scientific areas.
Dr. Singh emphasized the significance of projects with clear public benefits, referencing CSIR’s HANSA-NG aircraft, the Department of Atomic Energy’s Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and space-based applications as exemplary models.
The HANSA-NG, a two-seater trainer aircraft developed indigenously by CSIR-NAL, is already attracting considerable market interest with 110 orders and production plans in collaboration with Pioneer Clean Arms Pvt Ltd.
Dr. Singh highlighted the project's potential to lessen India’s reliance on costly foreign pilot training and proposed engaging private airlines and aerospace component manufacturers to enhance production beyond Bengaluru.
In a similar vein, the Department of Atomic Energy is working on the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), a 200 MW pressurized water reactor designed for industrial use and independent power generation. These projects exemplify the type of innovation Dr. Singh envisions for the ANRF to nurture and amplify.
