Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, participated in the first meeting of the PAIR (Partnerships for Advancing Interdisciplinary Research) Consortium held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar). The meeting was chaired by Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). Prof. Pragati Kumar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of SMVDU, also attended and interacted with ANRF officials and consortium partners. Prof. Pragati Kumar appreciated the efforts of the research team and expressed that this initiative will significantly enhance the research and development landscape of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Ankush Raina, Principal Investigator (PI) from SMVDU, represented the university during the meeting. Under the Hub and Spoke model of the PAIR initiative, IIT Ropar serves as the Hub, and SMVDU acts as one of the Spoke institutions. The university has been sanctioned ₹10.5 Crore in funding by ANRF to undertake cutting-edge research in the areas of 3D Printing, Materials, and Energy Storage Systems. Pertinent to mention, SMVDU is the only institution from Jammu and Kashmir to receive funding under the Category-A Institute bracket of the PAIR programme. The project will lead to the establishment of a state-of-the-art research laboratory at SMVDU, expected to greatly benefit researchers, scholars, and students in the region. It will also strengthen the local innovation ecosystem and promote collaboration in advanced manufacturing and materials research.
