Workshop on Research Assessment Practices in Indian Funding Agencies

Abstract

Major funding agencies in India mainly determine the national research agenda. They remain essential stakeholders in research assessment and fund a significant number of projects across the nation. The Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India convened a workshop on April 21, 2022 to understand how the funding agencies assess research projects, where these agencies stand in addressing the inherent challenges of evaluating impactful research, and how to ensure a responsible research culture. The workshop had two objectives: to understand the current research assessment practices of India’s funding agencies and to explore the adoption of broad-based assessment criteria beyond journal-based matrices, incorporating national priorities, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, and the societal impact of research into the research assessment frameworks. This report discusses the workshop's objective and structure, each component of the workshop and its intended outcomes, and policy recommendations for funding agencies in the research ecosystem. The intended audiences for this report are funding agencies, constituents of national and state universities, internal funding committees, and those who want to acquire a broader perspective on existing research assessment practices, look beyond the quantitative journal indicator-based metrics and make existing assessment practices more effective and inclusive. This report aims to assist in developing research assessment agendas that balance local relevance and globalization.