UGC Approves STRIDE to Boost Research Projects in India; Know Its Benefits, Objectives, Last Date to Apply

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a new scheme - 'Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India's Developing Economy' (STRIDE). STRIDE will provide support to research projects that are socially relevant, locally need-based, nationally important and globally significant.  

It shall also support research capacity building and basic, applied and transformational action research that can contribute to the national interest. STRIDE shall support creation, development, and integration of new ideas, concepts, and practices for the public good and strengthening civil society. 

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank states that, “STRIDE scheme will strengthen research culture and innovation in colleges and universities. It will help students and faculty to contribute towards India's developing economy with collaborative research. Also, focus on humanities and human sciences will boost quality research on Indian languages and knowledge systems.” 

What is Trans-disciplinary research? 

It is a team effort of investigators from different disciplines to create new conceptual, theoretical, methodological innovations that integrate and transcend beyond discipline-specific approaches to address a common problem. 

This research goes beyond the mere production of knowledge and extends to the practical use of the knowledge outside academic endeavor. 

Adding to it, it takes into consideration the societal impact of knowledge enunciating as what should be the main aim of the research which creates unity of intellectual frameworks beyond the disciplinary perspectives and solves problems by going beyond the boundaries of disciplines to involve various stakeholders.  

It generates knowledge through the use of multi and inter-disciplinary concepts and integrates new theories among science and society. 

What are the STRIDE Objectives? 

• Identifying young talent, strengthening research culture, building capacity, promoting innovation and supporting trans-disciplinary research for India's developing economy and national development

• To fund multi-institutional network high-impact research projects in humanities and human sciences is also the objective of STRIDE.

What are the STRIDE components? 

Component 1:  

It will endeavor to identify the motivated young talents with research and innovation aptitude in universities and colleges. This scheme will provide research capacity building in diverse disciplines by mentoring, nurturing and supporting young talents to innovate pragmatic solutions for local, regional, national and global problems. Also, this component is open to all disciplines for grant upto 1 crore. 

Component 2: 

It will be mainly to enhance problem-solving skills with the help of social innovation and action research to improve the wellbeing of people so as contributing to India's developing economy. Collaborations between universities, government, voluntary organizations, and industries are encouraged under this scheme. This component is also open to all disciplines for grant upto 50 lakh to 1 crore. 

Component 3:  

It will fund high impact research projects in the identified thrust areas inhumanities and human sciences through a national network of eminent scientists from leading institutions.  

Disciplines eligible for funding under this component are philosophy, history, archaeology, anthropology, psychology, liberal arts, linguistics, Indian languages and culture, Indian knowledge systems, etc. 

The grant which is available for this component is upto 1 crore for one HEI and upto 5 crores for the multi institutional network. 

Last Date to submit an application: 

Applications must be submitted online. STRIDE web portal will be open for receiving applications by July 31, 2019. 

Adding to it, award of grant will be based on merit of the project proposal. STRIDE scheme proposals will be carefully evaluated by peer review and will be assessed by expert committees. Shortlisted applicants may be invited for presentation.