About Us
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) - established through an Act of Parliament: ANRF Act, 2023, to provide high-level strategic directions for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences, including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture, and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been established to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, and R&D laboratories. ANRF acts as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy. ANRF forges collaborations among the industry, academia, research institutions and government departments.
“ANRF strategies should align with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047 and implementation should follow global best practices adopted by research and development agencies across the world” – ANRF Governing Body
ANRF represents India’s pioneering efforts to unleash Indian research and innovation talent to achieve global scientific and technological excellence with the following objectives:
- Preparing the roadmap for short, medium, and long-term research and development.
- Seeding, growing, and facilitating research at academic and research institutions, particularly at universities and colleges where research capacity is at a nascent stage, through programs such as research and development projects, fellowships, academic chairs, and creation of centers of excellence.
- Funding competitive peer-reviewed grant proposals to eligible persons.
- Assisting in setting up research infrastructure and an environment conducive for scientific pursuit, with a specific focus on matters of national priorities, emerging frontiers, and strategic research.
- Increasing India's role and participation in key areas of national and global importance.
- Supporting the translation of research undertaken into capital-intensive technologies.
- Evolving nationally coordinated programs to identify scientific and practical solutions for societal, developmental, financial, and techno-economic challenges.
- Coordinating across the Central Government, State Governments, public authorities, industries, and research institutions to document and analyze the expenditure on scientific research and its outcomes during each financial year, and report the same to the Central Government.
- Evolving participation in international collaborative projects and fostering the exchange of scientific information.
- Encouraging collaboration with scientists from within and outside India, including scientists of Indian origin, to enrich the Indian scientific ecosystem.
- Encouraging Public Sector Enterprises and private sector entities to invest in the activities of the Foundation.
- Undertaking an annual survey of outcomes of scientific research in India, with a view to creating a central repository for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of information and data surrounding such research. The aim of the repository includes providing information for policy formulation and advising the Central Government, State Governments, and the private sector (excluding any strategic areas of research as determined by the Governing Board).