Government approves CSIR's innovation academy proposal
17 Jun 2010
The union cabinet today approved a proposal by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for setting up an Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR.
The bill for setting up the academy that would impart instruction and award degrees in frontier areas of science and technology will be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament.
The academy will primarily focus on research and imparting training in such areas that are not ordinarily provided by the existing universities in India.
"The curricula, pedagogy and evaluation will be innovative and directed towards creating highest quality personnel in cross disciplinary areas," a government release said.
The academy will operate on the hub and spokes model with campuses spread across the country, in the 37 CSIR laboratories linked through National Knowledge Network already approved by the cabinet.
While utilising the existing resources and facilities of CSIR, the academy will operate on a self sustaining mode. The recurring expenses will be Rs19.10 crore in the 11th Plan and Rs61.79 crore in the 12th Plan. There will be no requirement for capital expenditure, the release said.
The aim is to bridge the shortage of institutions that offer PhD and other advanced courses in such areas. AcSIR will make use of the existing state-of-the-art infrastructure and scientific manpower of CSIR. The academy would be a world-class institution of national importance, the release added.