Odisha University Research and Innovation Incentivization Plan (OURIIP) – Department of Higher Education

PG Research Fellowship Plan

Problem

• The HEIs could not cater to the needs of young postgraduates and entry-level faculties. 
• Postgraduates often become frustrated due to wanting financial support 
• Need for full-time fellowship, especially for female students.
• The young faculty remains inactive for years without support from the state or laboratory.
• Need for mentoring and inter-disciplinary interactions

Solution

• Providing fellowships to young scholars to help them become full-time researchers.
• Providing research incentives and culture to young faculty.
• Incentivizing and encouraging quality IP generation.
• Promoting multidisciplinary research and conducting project writing workshops on campus.
• The Higher Education Department commissioned 21 Centres of Excellence at eight universities to carry out intensive research in high-priority areas.

Outcomes

• More than 100 papers in Scopus-indexed with a few in Q1 journals are published.
• Eight universities benefitted from the augmentation of the R&D ecosystem on their campuses
• Increase in IP generation through patents applied (Three, so far)
• One AI/ML product is now deployed by Tata Powers Co for grid fluctuation prediction.
• The researchers engaged at the 21 CoEs published more than 300 papers cited in SCOPUS and filed 14 patents

Challenges

• Outbreak of pandemic during project implementation.
• To carry out fieldwork in social science subjects during the pandemic.
• Deficit of NET/LS-cleared candidates.
• For colleges, the transfer of faculty is a cause of concern.
• To identify deserving postgraduate students and young faculty.

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Case Study

 PG Research Fellowship Plan

Introduction

The DHE through its nodal agency, the OSHEC launched the OURIIP project on 14th November 2018. Since then, the OSHEC is working incessantly to ensure that the objectives of the OURIIP are met with utmost transparency.

Problems

The HEIs of most of the States of India usually suffer from financial crunch and therefore, are not able to cater to the needs of young postgraduates and entry-level faculties. Consequently, postgraduates often become frustrated due to wanting financial support to carry out research work leading to a Ph.D. degree.

Solutions

The OURIIP project provides research fellowship, Seed funding for young faculty working in State-funded universities and colleges, support for publication-related expenses, facilitation in project formulation, and extended support for patent filing. The Higher Education Department commissioned 21 centers of Excellence at eight universities to carry out intensive research in high-priority areas.

Outcomes

Today there is a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem in higher education in Odisha. About 156 faculty are now under start-up funding. Despite the pandemic, more than 100 Scopus papers and book chapters were published. Three patents are filed.

Challenges

To carry out fieldwork in social science subjects during the pandemic was a challenging task. Also, there was a deficit of NET/LS-cleared candidates and for colleges, the transfer of faculty was a cause of concern.

Innovation

The project incorporates competitive awards based on the proposal, mentorship, and periodic monitoring. The department prescribes a minimum standard of publishing in Scopus-Index journals and incorporates targeted workshops-cum-training on major project writing.

Opportunities

The department plans to increase the number of fellowships and expand start-up funding to general state-based faculty.

Summary

The nodal agency of the HED, the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) has been managing the OURIIP project meticulously and professionally since 2019. The OSHEC also monitors and mentors all beneficiaries of this project through the annually organized Odisha Research Conclave.

For more information, please contact:
Mr BIRENDRA KORKORA, SPECIAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT at ptc.section@gmail.com

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