Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR)

June 8, 2023

The Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR) is a significant initiative launched by the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It aims to leverage emerging technologies in the power sector through indigenous development and collaboration.

Objective of MAHIR

MAHIR has several key objectives:

Identify emerging technologies in the power sector that have the potential for future relevance globally.
Serve as a platform for collective brainstorming among stakeholders in the power sector.
Support pilot projects for indigenous technologies and fostering their commercialization.
Leverage foreign alliances to accelerate research and development efforts.
Create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in the power sector and make India a leading country in power system technologies and applications.

Funding and Collaboration

MAHIR is funded through a pooling of resources from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Central Public Sector Enterprises under these ministries.
Any additional funding required will be mobilized from the budgetary resources of the Government of India.
This pooling of financial resources ensures comprehensive support for research and development activities under MAHIR.
Furthermore, the mission encourages outcome-linked funding by inviting proposals from companies and organizations worldwide.

Structure of MAHIR

MAHIR operates through a two-tier structure comprising a Technical Scoping Committee and an Apex Committee.
Led by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, the Technical Scoping Committee identifies existing and emerging research domains on a global scale.
It recommends potential technologies for development, outlines research plans, and monitors approved projects.
The Apex Committee, chaired by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, deliberates on the technologies and products to be developed.
It also approves research proposals and considers international collaborations.

Scope of MAHIR

MAHIR focuses on specific areas of research in the power sector. These areas include alternatives to Lithium-Ion storage batteries, modifying electric cookers/pans for Indian cooking methods, and green hydrogen for mobility (High Efficiency Fuel Cell). Additionally, MAHIR addresses carbon capture, geothermal energy, solid-state refrigeration, nano-technology for EV battery, and indigenous CRGO technology.

The mission facilitates industry-academia-government collaboration and creates an ecosystem for innovation and research translation in the power sector. It encourages collaborations with premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, IISERs, and universities. Furthermore, MAHIR seeks to foster international collaborations to accelerate research, development, and technology transfer.

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