GITAM (Deemed to be University) claims to have secured funding totaling Rs 28.87 crore from government institutions, which falls into four main categories: Tribal Empowerment and Empirical Research, Scientific Advancements, Innovation in Engineering and Academia-Industry Partnership. These grants aim to support a range of projects, spanning from cutting-edge engineering advancements and technology transfer to comprehensive studies on tribal and gender issues, according to an official release.
The university claims that Department of Science and Technology (DST) SEED Division has awarded three research projects aimed at bringing positive changes to the lives of tribal communities in remote areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. These projects, funded under the PVTG, CRRC, and TITE schemes, focus on leveraging Science and Technology to create alternative livelihoods and empower marginalised communities, reflecting GITAM’s commitment to inclusivity and social impact, the release mentioned.
In the field of social sciences, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has sanctioned five research projects to various schools within GITAM. These projects, undertaken by the Kautilya School of Public Policy, GITAM School of Humanities and Social Sciences (specifically the Department of Political Science and the Department of Applied Psychology) and the GITAM School of Business, investigate the effects and implementation of government initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Digital India’s role in grassroots governance, and the impact of the National Education Policy (2020) on children with special needs, as per the release.
The Ministry of Education has approved a project focused on promoting safe behavior on the Internet through research and training for teachers, parents, and adolescents.
“At GITAM, we embrace multidisciplinary research as we acknowledge the future of innovation and problem-solving at the crossroads of various fields. In an age where the most ground-breaking discoveries often occur at the intersection of different fields, GITAM (Deemed to be University) is proud to champion multidisciplinary research. Our commitment to crossing boundaries and collaborating across disciplines is essential for solving complex challenges and driving innovation,” Dayananda Siddavattam, vice-chancellor, GITAM (Deemed to be University), said.
Furthermore, the institution claims that its Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has granted twelve research projects under various schemes including Core Research Grant (CRG), Startup Research Grant (SRG), State University Research Excellence (SURE), and Teachers Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE). These projects explore topics such as Molecular Mechanisms in Cellular Function, Prebiotic Protein Synthesis, and Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction. Additionally, the Department of Microbiology and Food Science Technology has received support for research focusing on the utilisation of Elephant foot yam starch as a low-calorie food ingredient, among other projects, it added.