PU plans multi-year expansion of research ecosystem under IDP 2025

Chandigarh: Panjab University has outlined a multi-stage strategy to expand its research and innovation ecosystem as part of its Institutional Development Plan (IDP) 2025. The roadmap includes the establishment of new research centres, funding support for faculty and scholars, incentives for patents and publications, and integration of undergraduate and postgraduate students into research activity.

The plan aims to align university research with societal and industrial needs while supporting India's goals under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It proposes a phased implementation over five years, beginning with the creation of core infrastructure and research clusters in selected disciplines.

In the first phase, the university intends to identify thrust areas and set up laboratories and core facilities. Faculty will be encouraged to take up at least one research project and establish national or international collaborations. Weekly research group meetings involving UG and PG students are planned at the departmental level.

Subsequent phases include increasing the intake of research scholars, expanding interdisciplinary PhD programmes, and raising the value and number of fellowships. The plan also recommends the publication of internal research journals, seed funding for new faculty, and the involvement of guest faculty in research activities with mentorship from senior professors.

Research topics outlined span across sciences, engineering, law, environment, social sciences, public health, data science, and AI. The university also proposes dedicated funding for training in patent filing and research commercialisation.

The IDP includes creation of incubation centres, support for startups, and a framework for industry-sponsored projects. Panjab University plans to strengthen its consultancy system, develop a web portal for faculty expertise and services, and establish joint research labs with industry partners.

Notably, the plan comes at a time when the university has acknowledged areas for improvement in its research output. In the 2024 NIRF rankings, Panjab University's score in the research dropped to 42.01, down from 46.65 in 2023—its lowest in nine years.

The plan sets performance benchmarks for each year, including increased publication in indexed journals, filing of patents, organisation of conferences, and the setting up of research databases and monitoring systems. A Research Advisory Council has been proposed to oversee implementation.

The university has also identified long-term goals such as participation in international research consortia, hosting global faculty, and establishing research chairs. The IDP was submitted to the Ministry of Education earlier this year.