DrAkhilesh Gupta, Advisor and Head, Climate Change programme (SPLICE division) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on Friday said the DST will shortly launch a research and Development programme exclusively for Himalayan Universities.

While speaking at the Foundation Day of Dr YS University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Dr Gupta said that there were over 1,000 scientists working on the Himalayan ecosystem research areas and over 145 universities, 38 Central government and over 75 state level institutions in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).

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He said that there was a lack of synergy among R&D institutions and universities and co-ordination between scientists from different universities. He further said the proposed human and capacity building programme will identify potential institutions which can host centers of excellence with selection of few thematic areas for setting up of network programme. The programme will also do a mapping of the research and training leaders in the IHR and establish linkages between Center- State funded institutions and develop international collaborations and partnerships.

A two day event and IHR Vice Chancellor’s round table event is likely to be held in March, 2018.

Dr HC Sharma, VC of Nauni University gave a brief history and also presented the progress report of the university.