Effective research management is crucial for driving research, fostering innovation, and cultivating a strong research culture. Providing institutional support for partnership building, grant management (pre- and post-award), and compliance oversight enables researchers to access diverse funding sources. Though still emerging in India, research management is increasingly recognized as a vital scientific administrative discipline, offering growing career opportunities for research managers and administrators (RMAs).
The India Research Management Initiative (IRMI) by DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance serves as a platform for the growing RMA community to connect and collaborate, further strengthening research management efforts across the country.
This report highlights the key moments of the 12th DBT/WT India Alliance Conclave, held from August 28-30, 2024, in Hyderabad. It provides a snapshot of the Conclave's sessions, which served as a crucial platform, uniting researchers, fellows, reviewers, stakeholders, and donors. The event facilitated grant reviews, knowledge exchange, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Furthermore, the report also showcases the Poster that HSTP presented in the Poster Presentation session in the Conclave. The poster highlights the accomplishments of HSTP that have advanced the research management of the organization throughout the 2022-2024 period. Further to this, it showcases the high-energy, insightful, lightning talks by Early Career Fellows, setting the tone for what would come.
The report documents the special sessions by Simon Kerridge, Honorary Staff at the University of Kent and Kerridge Research Consulting, UK, who explored the evolving role of research management. Kerridge highlighted the critical responsibilities of research managers, from securing funding to ensuring ethics compliance, and emphasized the importance of this profession in the success of scientific endeavors. His talk underscored why researchers must understand the significant impact research management has on outcomes and integrity, making it a crucial career path in today’s scientific landscape.
Additionally, the report covers a key session featuring representatives from global funding agencies such as the Wellcome Trust, Swissnex, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This session provided valuable insights into international funding partnerships with India, stressing the importance of global collaborations to advance scientific excellence.
