Panjab University Secures Prestigious ANRF-PAIR Grant for Advanced Materials Research

Chandigarh, April 18, 2025: In a significant achievement underscoring its growing prominence in scientific research, Panjab University, Chandigarh, has been awarded the highly prestigious and competitive Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) grant by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). Panjab University will serve as a spoke institution, with the HUB institution being the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar. Under this prestigious PAIR grant, PU is expected to receive funding of ₹10 Crore.

This national-level recognition was granted following a rigorous selection process involving India’s premier academic institutions. The evaluation included comprehensive proposal reviews and an intensive in-person assessment conducted by the APEX Committee of ANRF. A total of 30 research HUBs, along with their respective spoke institutions, were invited based on their performance in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig said, “This recognition marks a proud milestone for PU and highlights the dedication and excellence of our faculty and researchers. With a strong foundation in academic and scientific pursuits, we remain committed to promoting interdisciplinary research that contributes meaningfully to national development and global progress. The ANRF-PAIR grant will not only strengthen our research capabilities but also create new learning and training opportunities for our students, preparing them to be future-ready and globally competitive.”

Dr. Jadab Sharma, Chairperson of the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Panjab University, is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the research proposal. He successfully led a 12-member team representing the university during the evaluation process. The Co-PIs of the PU team are Prof. Yajvender Pal Verma, Prof. Navneet Kaur, Prof. Shuchi Gupta, Dr. Akash Katoch, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Neeru Chaudhary, Dr. Vishal Sharma, Dr. Prashant Jindal, Dr. Varinder Kaur, Dr. Ram Gopal, and Dr. Ravi P. N. Tripathi.

The awarded research proposal is highly interdisciplinary, focusing on three major verticals—Photonics, Sensors, and Renewable Energy—unified under the overarching theme of Advanced Materials. This thematic focus necessitates cross-disciplinary collaboration among spoke institutions, with IIT Ropar as the lead HUB. The collaborative effort aims to propel scientific research in advanced materials, envisioned as a cornerstone of India's growth into a global manufacturing hub. The project reinforces Panjab University’s role in nation-building and its commitment to bridging gaps in cross-disciplinary research.

The ANRF-PAIR initiative is designed to foster long-term collaborative research, capacity building, and transformative innovation among partner institutions in key thematic areas. Notably, out of the 30 HUB applicants, only seven were selected to receive significant research funding. This achievement once again places Panjab University’s science departments among the elite research institutions in the country.

In addition to critical financial support, this recognition is expected to unlock new avenues for impactful and globally relevant scientific research at Panjab University. The initiative aligns with ANRF’s vision of leveraging collective expertise to drive holistic knowledge creation for societal advancement.

Principal Investigator Dr. Jadab Sharma has expressed his gratitude to PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig, Dean of University Instruction Prof. Yojna Rawat, and Director of the Research and Development Cell Prof. Meenakshi Goyal for their trust and support, and acknowledged the efforts of the entire team.