HRD Ministry launches SPARC Scheme to Promote Research in Science
On October 25, 2018, the Union Ministry of HRD has launched Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) scheme, which aims to improve the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world.
Features of the scheme
Under the scheme 600 joint research proposals will be awarded for 2 years. The scheme will facilitate strong research collaboration between Indian research groups with the best in class faculty and renowned research groups in the leading universities of the world, in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to the mankind, specifically India.
Thrust Areas
The scheme will improve research ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance. Five thrust areas identified are as follows:
- Fundamental Research.
- Emergent Areas of Impact.
- Convergence
- Action-Oriented Research
- Innovation-Driven
SPARC scheme proposes to enable productive academic cooperation by supporting the following critical components that can catalyze impact making research. This Scheme is expected to have a major impact in providing the best international expertise to address major national problems. The scheme exposes Indian academicians to the best collaborators abroad to enable international faculty to stay in India for a longer duration. The scheme provides Indian students an opportunity to work in the world class laboratories, to develop strong bilateral relationships in research, and improve the international ranking of Indian Institutes.
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Month: Current Affairs - October, 2018