The All India Council for Technical Education has launched the AICTE AURA (Augmenting Utilisation of Research Assets 2024 Scheme) in order to promote the use of I-STEM (India Science Technology Engineering Facilities Map) by providing financial assistance to teachers and students in AICTE-approved colleges for using I-STEM facilities and boosting research.
AICTE Chairman TG Sitharam launched the scheme at the AICTE headquarters in New Delhi. During the event, he stated that investing in research and development opens up opportunities for collaboration with academic institutions and research organisations.
Sitharam said, “The aim of AURA scheme is to augment existing research by utilization of public funded hardware and software R and D facilities mapped by I-STEM, and thereby developing a culture of research in technical education Institutions.”
Through AICTE AURA Scheme, the use of I-STEM in research will be promoted by providing financial assistance to full time/regular faculty of AICTE approved institutions and students of PG scholarships; AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF) and Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) scheme. The scheme is also beneficial for PG students of AICTE-approved institutions who have not availed PG scholarships.
“Under the scheme, an amount of up to Rs 2 lakh will be given to the researcher for the use of equipment and facilities registered on the I-STEM portal. The project will last for a maximum of two years. There is no age bar to avail the benefit of the scheme. However, an eligible faculty member or a researcher is eligible to use the scheme only twice in his entire career,” as per a press release.
The Government of India has been making investment in research and development infrastructure through different ministries or departments and has created excellent infrastructure that is spread across the country in premier educational institutions and national laboratories.
Through pioneering efforts of the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (OPSA), an India Science Technology Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) portal has been established, towards enhancing the utilisation of public-funded infrastructure.
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