Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has achieved a significant research milestone by securing a prestigious grant under the Advanced National Research Foundation – Partnerships for Advancing Interdisciplinary Research (ANRF PAIR) program. The PAIR initiative is designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among premier research institutions in India. The funded project, focused on the cutting-edge area of Advanced Materials, is in collaboration with IIT Ropar as the hub institute. Under this PAIR grant, SMVDU will receive a funding of around ₹10 Crore. Prof. Pragti Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, expressed his satisfaction on achieving the milestone and said that “This achievement reflects SMVDU’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to the national R&D ecosystem. We are proud to be a part of this prestigious initiative, and we look forward to impactful outcomes through this collaboration with IIT Ropar and other SPOKE institutes.” Dr. Ankush Raina, Principal Investigator from SMVDU, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with IIT Ropar and other leading institutions under the ANRF framework that allows SMVDU to push through interdisciplinary collaboration. The Co-PIs from SMVDU includes Dr. Sanjeev Anand, Dr. Yatheshth Anand, Dr. V. V. Tyagi, Dr. Mir Irfan Ul Haq, Dr. Ram Prakash, Dr. Pankaj Biswas and Dr. Indu Bhushan. Under this scheme, SMVDU will serve as a vital partner, contributing through its expertise in materials synthesis, characterization, 3D Printing of Functional Materials, Sliding Wear Applications of various materials, and Energy Systems and Conversion Technologies. Prof. A K Das, Dean, Research and Development, SMVDU congratulated the team for the research grant by ANRF and expressed that this grant will strengthen the research ecosystem in the region. This national-level recognition was granted following a rigorous selection process involving India’s premier academic institutions. Pertinent to mention, out of the 30 HUB applicants, only seven were selected to receive the research funding. This achievement once again places SMVDU and its HUB institute among the notable research institutions of the country. This partnership under the PAIR program aligns with India’s vision to strengthen its global research profile in science and technology through strategic academic alliances.