Deadline: 29-Aug-2025
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced a call for proposals to establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs) that bridge Social Sciences and Humanities with Science and Technology. The initiative is designed to support innovative research addressing complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
These centres aim to integrate perspectives from both technical and social science disciplines to address real-world problems. By fostering partnerships among scholars from diverse domains such as science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences, the program seeks to create a knowledge ecosystem that promotes cross-disciplinary research and solutions for global issues.
The research findings from these centres are expected to contribute to social and economic development, promote technological innovation, and benefit society as a whole. Proposals must involve collaboration between Social Sciences or Humanities researchers and professionals from natural or applied sciences. Only impactful and bold projects aimed at solving societal problems will be considered.
The objectives of the program include catalysing interdisciplinary research, establishing platforms for high-impact research, integrating scientific knowledge with humanities and social sciences, and fostering long-term academic partnerships to build public value.
Research proposals should align with thematic areas that include topics like archaeology and traditional knowledge systems, digital humanities, health and psychology, computational economics, climate change resilience, rural development, social issues involving emerging technologies, and public policy using data science.
In archaeology and traditional knowledge, topics may include computational archaeology, digital heritage, and AI applications in cultural preservation. The digital humanities themes range from ethical technology to AI’s effect on the labour market and soft skills.
Health-related topics include using geospatial tools, big data, and AI for public health and well-being. In economics, areas of focus include financial inclusion, digital trade, and behavioural economics aided by technology.
Climate resilience covers urban planning, sustainable development, and social innovation. Rural development themes involve technology applications in e-governance, agriculture, health, and hygiene. Social issues connected to emerging tech include AI ethics, data sovereignty, and platform-based work.
For data science in public policy, themes include tech-driven governance, service delivery improvement, behavioural nudges, and mobile-based interventions.
Funding support of up to ₹25 crore is available for selected projects, which may run for a maximum duration of five years. Eligible applicants must be researchers in the Social Sciences or Humanities with at least a Master’s degree and five years of experience. They must collaborate with experts from science, engineering, or technology.
Both single and multi-institutional project models are accepted. All investigators must hold regular academic or research positions and have at least six years of service remaining before retirement.
Applicants must submit biodata via the user profile, an endorsement letter from the institution head, a certificate from the investigators, and a plagiarism undertaking.
For more information, visit ANRF.
