**Executive Summary**
On 20 May 2026, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) announced the selection of ten institutions to establish Convergence Research Centres of Excellence (CoEs). This flagship initiative integrates social sciences and humanities with science and technology to address complex societal challenges. The program aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 to drive sustainable development through interdisciplinary research.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Objectives and Framework**
* Promote the deep integration of scientific knowledge within social science and humanities frameworks.
* Address systemic societal challenges and regional issues through a multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary research approach.
* Leverage advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data analytics, to support Sustainable Development Goals.
**Collaborative Requirements**
* Each Centre is required to facilitate intra- or inter-disciplinary collaboration, either within the same institution or across different public and private organizations.
* The initiative involves a network of 20 collaborating institutes, including State and Central Universities, IITs, NITs, and recognized R&D institutions.
* The program saw high competitive interest, with the ten centers selected from a pool of 945 proposals.
**Thematic Areas and Projects**
* **Archaeology and Traditional Knowledge:** Projects include human-climate interactions, archaeometallurgy, and Sanskrit-based AI for music and yoga.
* **Digital Humanities:** Research focuses on AI-assisted digital curation of folklore and the impact of generative AI on the Indian labor market.
* **Rural Development:** Centres will focus on rural livelihoods, integrated planning for sustainability, and digital empowerment for artisans.
* **Specialized Social Research:** Includes projects on language performance research, emerging technologies for social issues, and techno-managerial frameworks for MSME transitions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Selected Host Institutions (e.g., IITs, NITs, IIM Jammu)**
**Impact**
These institutions will lead pioneering research hubs, gaining national recognition and resources to drive interdisciplinary solutions.
**Action Required**
They must establish the designated Centres of Excellence and initiate the proposed research projects in collaboration with their partner networks.
**Collaborating Institutes (State/Central Universities and Private R&D Institutions)**
**Impact**
Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) from 20 diverse organizations will be integrated into a high-level research network, fostering cross-institutional knowledge exchange.
**Action Required**
Collaborators must provide the necessary academic and technical support to the primary CoEs to meet the program's transdisciplinary goals.
**Societal Stakeholders (Artisans, MSMEs, and Rural Communities)**
**Impact**
These groups are the primary beneficiaries of research outcomes related to digital empowerment, livelihood development, and technological modernization.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders within these sectors may eventually be required to engage with the CoEs to implement or benefit from the developed frameworks and technologies.
Key Entities Referenced
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): The primary body responsible for selecting institutions and overseeing the multidisciplinary research framework to address complex societal challenges.
Convergence Research Centres of Excellence (CoE) Program: A flagship initiative aimed at establishing pioneering centres that integrate social sciences, humanities, science, and technology for sustainable development.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The referenced policy framework that mandates multidisciplinary education and the integration of research across different knowledge domains.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The national vision document aimed at transforming India into a developed nation by its centenary, which the CoE program is designed to support.
Ministry of Science & Technology
ANRF ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF 10
INSTITUTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING
CONVERGENCE RESEARCH CENTRES OF
EXCELLENCE (COES)
CONVERGENCE RESEARCH COES TO DRIVE
INTERDISCIPLINARY SOLUTIONS FOR SOCIETAL
CHALLENGES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Posted On: 20 MAY 2026 10:19AM by PIB Delhi
To promote the deep integration of scientific knowledge within social science and humanities frameworks
for addressing complex and systemic challenges through a multi-disciplinary research approach, the
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced the selection of ten Convergence
Research Centres of Excellence (CoEs) institutions under one of its flagship initiatives, the Convergence
Research Centres of Excellence (CoE) program. The initiative seeks to establish pioneering Centres that
bring together Social Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Technology to address complex societal
challenges through integrated and transdisciplinary research.
The ten ANRF-CoEs selected under the various thematic areas are listed below:
Sl. Name of the Project Title Broad Thematic Area
No. institute
1 Indian Institute of Centre for Human-Climate Archaeology and Traditional
Technology (IIT), Interactions and Environmental Knowledge systems
Gandhinagar Histories (CHIEH)
2 National Institute of Centre For Excellence in Archaeology and Traditional
Advanced Studies Archaeomaterials, Archaeometallurgy, Knowledge systems
(NIAS), Bengaluru Earth Sciences & Conservation
Research
3 Indian Institute of SAṂYoga - Center for Sanskrit AI Archaeology and Traditional
Technology (IIT) Music and Yoga Knowledge systems
Madras4 National Institute of AI-assisted Digital Curation and Digital Humanities
Technology (NIT) Global Promotion of North-East
Agartala Indian Folklore: A Focus on Manipur
and Tripura
5 Institute for Human Transformative AI and the Indian Digital Humanities
Development (IHD), Labour Market: A Multidisciplinary
Delhi Study on the Impact of Generative AI
in Select High-Adoption Service
Sectors
6 Indian Institute of Centre of Excellence for Rural Rural Development
Technology (IIT) Livelihoods and Development (CoE-
Dharwad RLD): A Hub for Integrated Planning
for Rural Sustainability and Resilience
7 Indian Institute of Centre of Excellence on Digital Rural Development
Management (IIM) Empowerment and Livelihood
Jammu Development of Artisans (CoE-
DELDA)
8 Indian Institute of Centre of Excellence: Centre for Health and Psychology
Technology (IIT) Research and Intervention in
Kanpur Language Performance
9 Chanakya University Center for Languages and Lifeworlds Emerging Technologies for
Social Issues
10 PSGR Krishnammal Developing a Techno-Managerial Computational Economics
College for Women Framework to Accelerate MSMEs
Transition from Conventional to
Contemporary Technologies through
Academia-Industry Partnerships
towards a Resilient, Sustainable, and
Smart Innovation Ecosystem
The program requires that each Centre involves intra- or inter-disciplinary collaboration, either within the
same institution or across different academic, publicly funded organizations under various
Ministries/Departments, or private institutions. The Co-PIs associated with these Centres represent a
diverse network. Collectively, they come from 20 collaborating institutes which includes State
Universities, Central Universities, Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), National Institute of
Technology (NITs), Private Universities, Colleges and recognized R&D institutions.
The program received an overwhelming response from academic and research institutions, with 945
proposals submitted, reflecting its strong relevance and national significance.The ANRF Convergence Research Centres of Excellence Program draws inspiration from the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for multidisciplinary education, research, and stronger
integration across knowledge domains. It is also aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, which
seeks to transform India into a developed, inclusive, innovative, and self-reliant nation by the centenary of
independence.
By combining scientific depth with contextual understanding, the program aims to address regional and
national challenges through holistic approaches. In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, robotics, and
big data analytics, such convergence can unlock new pathways for socioeconomic progress and support
the Sustainable Development Goals.
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NKR/FT/NM
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