ANRF Launches Two Key Initiatives to Drive Research and Innovation in India

New Delhi: The newly operationalised Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) announced the launch of its first two landmark initiatives today: the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) and the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas – Electric Vehicle (MAHA-EV) Mission.

These initiatives aim to foster India’s scientific excellence and innovation while addressing national priorities in cutting-edge sectors like electric vehicles. ANRF CEO, Professor Abhay Karandikar, highlighted the transformative potential of these programs, saying, “Both initiatives can play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application, a key goal of ANRF. The PMECRG will enhance the creativity and innovation of early career researchers, while the MAHA-EV Mission will propel industry-aligned translational research in the high-priority EV sector.”

The PMECRG is designed to support early career researchers in their pursuit of groundbreaking research. With a flexible budget and innovative policies to ease the research process, the grant aims to foster high-quality projects that push the boundaries of knowledge and drive technological progress. This initiative reflects ANRF’s commitment to nurturing young talent and positioning India as a global leader in science and technology.

“By investing in the next generation of researchers, the PMECRG will help cultivate a robust culture of research and innovation across the country,” said Karandikar. ANRF views early career researchers as central to India’s ambition to become a global research powerhouse, with the grant intended to seed and grow transformative ideas that will advance the nation’s scientific standing.

The MAHA-EV Mission focuses on building a robust research and development (R&D) ecosystem for critical electric vehicle technologies, particularly in areas like Battery Cells, Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD), and Charging Infrastructure. The initiative aims to reduce dependency on imports and promote domestic innovation, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision.

As part of ANRF’s Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA) program, the MAHA-EV Mission is designed to promote multi-disciplinary collaboration between institutions and researchers to tackle the critical challenges in EV development. Concentrating on Tropical EV Batteries, PEMD, and charging infrastructure, the mission will enhance India’s capabilities in designing and developing essential EV components, positioning the country as a global leader in the electric vehicle sector.

“By accelerating the shift towards electric mobility, the MAHA-EV Mission will contribute to a greener, sustainable future while boosting the nation’s competitiveness in the global EV market,” remarked Karandikar. The mission also aims to foster collaboration between academic, research, and industrial sectors, creating a vibrant ecosystem to drive innovation.

The launch of these two initiatives follows the operationalisation of ANRF after its First Governing Board Meeting on September 10, 2024, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting discussed ANRF’s strategic interventions in aligning research and development with national priorities, promoting inclusive growth, and fostering innovation.

With the PMECRG and MAHA-EV Mission as its first initiatives, ANRF is taking bold steps to strengthen India’s R&D ecosystem and push for scientific and technological advancements. These programs will serve as the foundation for future efforts aimed at propelling India toward its goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the centenary year of India’s independence.