Context

To provide a single platform for research internships, capacity building programs, and workshops across the country, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has launched a new scheme called ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ (AV).

About

• The primary objective of this inter-ministerial scheme is to give more thrust on encouraging high-end scientific research and preparing scientific manpower, which can lead to research careers and knowledge-based economy.
  • The vision is to expand the research base, with three broad goals, namely-
    • consolidation/aggregation of all scientific programs
    • initiating high-end orientation workshops
    • creating opportunities for research internships for those who do not have access to such resources/facilities

How will it work?

• The AV will work on mission mode, particularly with respect to its component dealing with consolidation/aggregation of all major scientific events in the country.
• Thus, an Inter-Ministerial Overseeing Committee (IMOC) involving all the scientific ministries/departments and a few others have been constituted for the purpose of supporting SERB in implementing the AV scheme in a successful manner.
• The database of skilled manpower developed across different disciplines so generated and the final outcomes captured in the process through all the sub-components of the AV will serve the cause of all stakeholders in respect of capacity building in the country.
• The scheme also seeks to garner the social responsibility of the scientific community in the country.

Major Components under the Scheme

• ‘ABHYAAS’ programme
  • As for the ‘ABHYAAS’ programme, it is an attempt to boost research and development in the country by enabling and grooming potential PG/PhD students by means of developing their research skills in selected areas across different disciplines or fields.
  • It has two components:
    • High-End Workshops (‘KARYASHALA’)
    • Research Internships (‘VRITIKA’)
  • SAMMOHAN
    • Another new component under AV is ‘SAMMOHAN’ that has been sub-divided into ‘SAYONJIKA’ and ‘SANGOSHTI’.
      • SAYONJIKA is an open-ended program to catalogue the capacity building activities in science and technology supported by all government funding agencies in the country.
      • SANGOSHTI is a pre-existing program of SERB.