Relevance of ANRF-2023 Act in the current context

Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 is a very significant departure from the previous models of Research & Technology implementation schemes in the country. For the first time, in Bharath, a unifying pillar (ANRF) has been set up that is supposed to comprehensively connect STEM areas with scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences streams for promoting and monitoring a multidisciplinary functioning across the entire system, particularly involving universities and colleges, research institutions, industries and State and Central Government, public/private sector enterprises. This model could effectively “desilofy” the system in due course.

The vision of ANRF is guided largely by the philosophy of NEP-2020. The primary focus would be to set up a research ecosystem that productively binds all the above-mentioned stakeholders into aligning towards India’s participation in key areas of research/innovation that is of national/global importance, supporting translation of research into capital intensive technological innovations, keeping the national strategic needs and public good in focus.

The ANRF serves as an Apex body that provides a high level of effective strategic direction for country’s research, innovation and entrepreneurship landscape by providing appropriate levels of funding, facilitation of a comprehensive and competitive ecosystem involving collaboration of researchers from within and outside India. Importantly, the new ecosystem is to function without impediments for achieving rapid progress.

One of the important anticipated outcomes of this model is innovation and excellence to happen ‘at scale’ so that eventually ‘patches of excellence’ transform into a ‘countrywide continuum of excellence’. Innovation across the country is likely to drive the economic engine into creating a large-scale manufacturing base, an essential prerequisite for ‘Viksit Bharath’. ANRF driven by the vision of Nep-2020 should seed a strong foundation towards realizing ‘Viksit Bharath’. For us to realize this, we need to harness our full synergy through ANRF in the very near future.