Maharashtra clears five-year ‘CM-SRISTHI’ scheme to boost research, innovation in higher education

The Maharashtra government has cleared the CM-SRISTHI Scheme (Scheme for Research, Innovations and Technological Hubs in Higher Education Institutions). This scheme will boost the development of research, innovation and technology in universities and higher education institutions across the state.

Recently, a Cabinet meeting was held where Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and other members took this decision. Devendra Fadnavis said, “As part of the Maharashtra 2047 vision, the CM-SRISTHI Scheme will be implemented for a duration of five years.”

Public universities, government higher and technical education institutions and government polytechnics under the Higher and Technical Education Department will be included in the scheme. Institutes like Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, College of Engineering and Technology University and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere, will also be a part of this scheme.

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CM-SRISTHI to promote deep-tech researc

Under the scheme, universities will establish centres of excellence that will support research in deep-tech technology. They will also set up dedicated technology departments whose main focus will be on postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral research.

The Maharashtra government will align academic training with business partnerships. The curricula of government engineering colleges and polytechnics will also be updated based on industry trends. The scheme will encourage foreign universities to establish branches and campuses in the state

CM-SRISTHI will also include artificial intelligence centres of excellence, research parks, research funding, meta-universities, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) support. The women students will also get funding from the scheme.

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Steering committee to oversee CM-SRISTHI implementation

The government said that “Research will remain the primary focus of the scheme, while construction activities will be kept to a minimum. Institutions will be expected to benchmark themselves against national and global standards and collaborate with leading institutions in India and abroad.”

A steering committee will be formed and the Secretary of the Higher and Technical Education Department will monitor the process of implementation. The committee will also include government officials, higher education administrators and other experts.

The committee might also have representatives from institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai, IIM Nagpur, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, ICT Mumbai, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University. The State Project Director of the National Higher Education Mission will be the member secretary of the committee.