IIT Bombay and IISER Pune named hub institutions in the PAIR initiative, with nine Maharashtra institutes selected as spokes for research collaboration | File Photo
Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune have been selected as Hub institutions under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation’s (ANRF) Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) initiative.
Both institutions will lead networks of collaborating universities and colleges, known as Spokes, to promote research mentorship and inter-institutional cooperation. Between them, they will work with 14 institutions, nine of which are from Maharashtra, that have been selected as Spokes under the programme.
The PAIR initiative, launched in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is one of ANRF’s most ambitious efforts to revitalise India’s research ecosystem by fostering structured partnerships between leading research institutions and universities across regions. A total of 18 institutions have been named as Hubs and 106 as Spokes following a rigorous review of 30 Hub proposals and 166 applications for Spoke institutions.
The Hubs are grouped into two categories — seven in Category A with 45 Spokes institutions and eleven in Category B with 61 Spokes — based on their scale, infrastructure, and mentorship capabilities. Along with IIT Bombay and IISER Pune, other leading institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and various IITs in Delhi, Kanpur, Indore, Hyderabad, and Guwahati are also part of the Hub network.
IIT Bombay, which has been selected as a Category A Hub, will lead seven Spoke institutions, including four from Maharashtra: University of Mumbai (MU), COEP Technological University, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Pune, and IIIT Nagpur. The research focus under this cluster includes key areas such as Industry 4.0, green energy and sustainability, advanced materials, and next-generation technologies. A grant of ₹100 crore has been allocated to this network for a period of five years to support research infrastructure, collaborative projects, and academic exchanges.
MU’s inclusion in the IIT Bombay-led cluster marks a significant advancement in its research profile. Professor Farookh Kazi, Director of the Research Development Cell at MU and principal investigator for the PAIR initiative from the university, said, “This research grant received by the MU will provide a significant opportunity for the university to establish its presence in emerging and advanced fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Semiconductor Technology, and Nanotechnology.” Professor V.M. Gadre will be leading the initiative from IIT Bombay.
Vice-Chancellor of MU, Prof. Ravindra Kulkarni, welcomed the development, saying, “The ‘PAIR’ initiative by ANRF will significantly enhance the research capabilities of MU and foster inter-institutional collaboration. The focus on advanced and emerging fields such as ‘Industry 4.0’, ‘Advanced Materials’, and ‘Green Energy & Sustainability’ will provide researchers with access to cutting-edge research facilities and cultivate a vibrant research culture within the university. This significant partnership will bring about a positive transformation not only in the university’s research landscape but also in the broader higher education sector.”
IISER Pune, chosen as a Category B Hub, will mentor seven Spokes, three of which are from Maharashtra: Savitribai Phule Pune University, North Maharashtra University in Jalgaon, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad.
The remaining Spoke institutions in its network are Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Islamic University of Science and Technology, University of Kashmir, and Manipur University. IISER Pune is expected to guide research efforts across disciplines, facilitate collaboration through shared infrastructure, and support capacity building in science and technology.
According to the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, “the PAIR Program is a pivotal step in ANRF’s mission to unlock the untapped research potential of India’s academic landscape. By fostering strategic partnerships and mentorship, the initiative is set to transform institutions into centres of innovation, leadership and global relevance.”
