CUHP receives Rs 10 crore grant for research collaboration with IIT Ropar

The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) has secured a Rs 10 crore research grant under the Promoting Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) initiative of the Anusandhaan National Research Foundation (ANRF), a statutory body of the Government of India. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar.

The PAIR programme aims to enhance the research capacity of higher education institutions where research is still in its early stages but which hold significant potential. It encourages collaborative research networks and seeks to strengthen the academic and scientific ecosystem of such institutions.

CUHP Vice Chancellor Prof Sat Prakash Bansal shared that the grant included funding for five major research instruments, in addition to support for various academic and scientific activities. Prof Rajesh Kumar, Dean of the School of Physical and Material Sciences, is serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project.

The departments of Physics, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences will be actively involved in the project, which focuses on three key research areas: electronic materials and devices, engineering-related devices and materials for energy production and storage. The initiative is expected to foster close collaboration between CUHP and IIT Ropar, paving the way for high-quality research and innovation.

“This is a proud moment for CUHP. It highlights the university’s evolving research ecosystem and opens up new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in emerging areas of science and technology,” the Vice Chancellor said.

The establishment of a state-of-the-art instrumentation facility under this project is set to significantly enhance CUHP’s research infrastructure. It will allow researchers to precisely characterise materials, accelerate experimental workflows and produce high-impact research suitable for international publication. On this occasion, Registrar Prof Suman Sharma and Dean Academic Prof Pradeep Kumar accompanied the VC.

Himachal Tribune