Researchers of IIT Madras have joined hands with German researchers on a project to develop new materials for green energy (clean energy) solutions. It aims to develop alternative technologies to produce ‘green hydrogen’ as the world is expected to eventually transit to a hydrogen-based economy.

“Depletion of conventional fossil fuels and natural gases combined with increasing demand for alternative sources of energy necessitates prioritising research on producing and storing non-polluting energy forms or green energy. In this context, the hydrogen-based economy is a promising area to invest scientific interest in the humanitarian quest to reduce carbon footprint,” a statement said.

This research project was taken up under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), an initiative of the HRD ministry. A budget of Rs 66 lakh has been allocated for this SPARC project. 

The research was led by N.V. Ravi Kumar from the department of metallurgical and materials engineering, IIT Madras, collaborating with Sanjay Mathur from University of Cologne, Germany and other researchers.

The project stresses on the importance of generating hydrogen using environment-friendly measures. It aims to develop novel, low cost electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions. 

What is SPARC?

The Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations with the best institutions in the world. 

The scheme was launched in October 2018. IIT Kharagpur is the national coordinating institute to implement the SPARC programme.

With an allocation of Rs 418 crore, spread over a period of two years, the scheme aims to support around 600 joint research proposals.

What is the significance of this scheme?

The major outcome of the SPARC initiative will be strong research collaboration between Indian research groups with top research groups in the leading universities of the world, in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to mankind, specifically India.

The strong joint research should lead to tangible result that should include large number of high quality research publications, solution to key national and international problems, development of niche courses, high quality textbooks and research monographs, imbibing of best practices from top international academicians and researchers, strong bilateral cooperation, and improved ranking of Indian Institutions.

How is the scheme implemented?

This scheme will help in collaboration with the best institutions in the world from 28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance. As per the criteria mentioned above, 254 top Indian institutes and 478 top ranked global Institutes have been already identified.

A set of five thrust areas (Fundamental Research, Emergent Areas of Impact, Convergence, Action-Oriented Research and Innovation-Driven) and sub-theme areas in each thrust area have been identified for collaboration based on emergent relevance and importance for the nation.

Each thrust area will have a Section Chair. The role of Section Chair is to review, shortlist and recommend the potential joint-proposals submitted.

A set of nodal institutions for each participating foreign country has been identified which will help institutions to forge alliances for academic and research collaboration.

The scheme also includes: 

* Visits and long-term stay of top international faculty/researchers in Indian institutions to pursue teaching and research. 

* Visits by Indian students for training and experimentation in premier  laboratories worldwide.

* Joint development of niche courses, translatable patents, demonstrable technologies or action oriented research outcomes and products.

* Publication, dissemination and visibility through a high profile annual international conference in India.

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