Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

What Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research does

The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) is an Institution of National Importance established in 2011 by an Act of Parliament under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, with interim operations beginning in June 2010. Headquartered in Ghaziabad, AcSIR operates a hub-and-spoke model in which its central HQ provides administrative governance while academic and research activities are delivered across 80 affiliated Research Institutes — 38 CSIR laboratories, 28 ICMR institutions, and 12+ other R&D bodies under DST, ICAR, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Instruction is structured across seven Faculties of Studies: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Medical Research, Mathematical & Information Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences.

AcSIR's product portfolio centers on doctoral and postgraduate credentials — PhD, the industry-linked iPhD, Integrated Dual Degree (IDDP) + M.Tech, standalone M.Tech, M.Sc., Master of Public Health, Master of Healthcare Quality Management, and Post Graduate Diplomas — with additional Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme seats funded by MeitY. Internationally, AcSIR operates Joint PhD (Cotutelle) programs with University of Melbourne, RMIT, Deakin, University of Western Australia, QUT, University of Agder (Norway), University of Turku (Finland), and AIST (Japan) requiring dual supervision and dual-degree awards. In 2024 AcSIR awarded 831 PhDs, the highest single-institution annual count in India, with cumulative research output of 25,000+ publications and 80+ patents.

The business model is government-funded academic: revenue is primarily derived from government allocations under the Ministry of Education and CSIR/ICMR fellowships (e.g., CSIR NET JRF-equivalent for iPhD), supplemented by limited tuition fees and application charges (Rs. 1,000 / Rs. 500 by category for Visvesvaraya scheme). The GTM motion is sales-led and selective: bi-annual admissions advertised through national dailies, web media, and social media, followed by test/interview-driven selection at institute-level Selection Committees. AcSIR ranks 9th in NIRF Research (2025), 11th in Nature Index, 14th in Scimago (2026), and 9th in CWUR (top 3.5% worldwide). The institution is led by Chancellor Prof. P. Balaram (former IISc Director) and Director Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar (former University of Jammu Vice Chancellor).

Name

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

Legal name

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

Website

https://acsir.res.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AcSIR is a government-funded Institution of National Importance that delivers doctoral, master's, and postgraduate diploma programs across 80 CSIR, ICMR, and other national research institutes in India, serving ~6,500 students with 2,748 faculty mentors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Doctoral Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG), Health & Biomedical Research Universities (Academic Medical Center–Affiliated) (EDAHABAC)

Keywords

• Doctoral research education
• Higher education programs
• PhD programs
• STEM research training
• Postgraduate academic programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ghaziabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition and Fellowships: AcSIR operates as a public academic institution funded primarily through government allocations. Students receive fellowships (equivalent to CSIR NET JRF for iPhD program). Revenue is generated through student tuition fees and government funding for research activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AcSIR is a higher education and doctoral research institution offering PhD, integrated M.Tech+PhD, M.Tech, M.Sc., MPH, and Post Graduate Diploma programs across seven faculties. Students conduct research directly within India's premier national laboratories (CSIR, ICMR, and other R&D institutes) under mentorship of globally recognized scientists. The institution also offers distinctive pathways including the industry-linked iPhD program requiring TRL-4 technology development and international Joint PhD (Cotutelle) programs with partner universities in Australia, Finland, Japan, and Norway.

Product overview

The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) is a higher education institution operating under a hub-and-spoke model with headquarters in Ghaziabad and academic activities conducted across 80 affiliated research institutes. AcSIR's product portfolio consists of doctoral and masters-level academic programs including Ph.D. programs, Integrated Dual Degree Programs (IDDP) combined with M.Tech, standalone M.Tech, M.Sc., Post Graduate Diplomas, Master of Public Health, and Master of Healthcare Quality Management. The institution also offers distinctive PhD pathways including the innovative iPhD (industry-linked PhD requiring technology development to TRL-4), Joint PhD Cotutelle programs with international partners (Deakin, QUT, RMIT, University of Melbourne, University of Western Australia, University of Agder), and the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT. Programs are structured across seven faculties: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Medical Research, Mathematical & Information Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences, with students conducting research within CSIR laboratories (38 institutes), ICMR institutes (28 laboratories), and other R&D institutes (12 laboratories).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ph.D. Programs Flagship doctoral programs in Science, Engineering, and Medical Research combining rigorous coursework with hands-on research in India's premier laboratories including CSIR, ICMR, and other associated R&D institutes.
• Integrated Dual Degree Program (IDDP) + M.Tech Seamless progression programs combining M.Tech with Ph.D. in key engineering disciplines hosted at top CSIR institutes across India, including Chemical Engineering, Machine Design, Mechatronics, and Materials Science.
• Master of Technology (M.Tech) Specialized M.Tech programmes in industry-driven fields including Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Computational Biology, Farm Machinery, Mechatronics, Corrosion Science, and Food Technology.
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) Professional M.Sc. programmes focused on emerging and socially relevant areas including Clinical Research, Wildlife Science, Freshwater Ecology, Applied Nutrition, and Sports Nutrition.
• Post Graduate Diplomas (PGD) One-year skill-based diploma programmes with direct industry relevance including Precision Measurement, Patinformatics, Leather Technology, Healthcare Quality Management, and Semiconductor Technologies.
• Master of Public Health (MPH) Public health programs offered in collaboration with PHFI-IIPH Delhi and Max Society of Medical Academics.
• Master of Healthcare Quality Management (MHQM) Healthcare quality management program offered in partnership with Max Society of Medical Academics Innovation and Research, New Delhi.
• iPhD (Innovative, Imaginative, Industry-linked PhD) Program First-of-its-kind PhD program combining Entrepreneurship, Business Proposals, Marketing, Ethics, and IPR courses with technology development requirement (TRL-4) for degree award, with industry representation in Doctoral Advisory Committee.
• Joint PhD Degree (Cotutelle) Program International joint PhD programs with dual supervision from AcSIR and partner universities (University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Deakin University, University of Western Australia, University of Agder), requiring minimum 12 months at each institution with jointly awarded degrees.
• Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme Government-supported PhD program in Electronics and IT (ESDM) funded by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with students placed at CSIR laboratories.
• AcSIR-Deakin University Joint PhD Program Joint PhD Cotutelle program with Deakin University, Australia, focusing on Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, AI/ML, Quantum Technologies, Healthcare Technology, Climate Change, and Agriculture with 12-month fully funded residency.
• AcSIR-QUT Joint PhD Program Joint PhD Cotutelle program with Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, covering Materials Science, Climate Science, Data Science, Energy Systems, Robotics, and Renewable Energy with comprehensive financial support.
• AcSIR-NIF Doctoral Innovation Fellowship Partnership with National Innovation Foundation India providing 15 fellowships equivalent to CSIR NET JRF for identifying and pursuing grassroots innovations in Engineering, Human Health, and Policy domains.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• SINTEF (Norway)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 20262026-2029 collaboration between CSIR and SINTEF for offshore wind and ocean energy technologies, part of India-Norway bilateral research partnership.
• NTNU (Norway)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Norwegian research organization partnering through CSIR in India-Norway science and innovation cooperation covering clean energy, offshore wind, sustainability, and geosciences.
• Research Council of NorwaystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026MoU between DSIR/CSIR and Research Council of Norway as part of India-Norway bilateral agreements signed during PM Modi's visit to Norway.
• Emerald Geomodelling (Norway)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Norwegian geoscience company partnering with CSIR through India-Norway geoscience collaboration agreements supporting offshore renewable energy capabilities.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2026MoU signed on 21 February 2026 to strengthen education, research, training, and policy development in disaster management and risk reduction. Launching PhD programme in Disaster Management and facilitating joint research, policy studies, science communication, and capacity-building programmes.
• CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2026Tripartite partnership with NDMA and AcSIR to institutionalize academic programmes, interdisciplinary research, and policy engagement in Disaster Management and Risk Reduction. PhD Programme in Disaster Management launched under AcSIR at CSIR-NIScPR.
• Deakin University, AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint PhD (Cotutelle) Degree Program offering joint supervision by faculty from both institutions. Students spend minimum 12 months at each institution and receive PhD degree from both institutions. Selected students receive international return airfare, overseas student health cover, visa fees, full tuition fee waiver, and monthly scholarship during residency at Deakin.
• University of Melbourne, AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint PhD (Cotutelle) Degree Program providing bilateral research collaboration and academic mobility with dual supervision and dual degree awards.
• RMIT University, AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint PhD (Cotutelle) Degree Program enabling students to conduct research under joint supervision with international exposure and dual degree recognition.
• University of Western AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint PhD (Cotutelle) Degree Program facilitating international research collaboration with fully funded 12-month research fellowship at partner university.
• University of Agder, NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint PhD collaboration part of broader India-Norway science and innovation partnership strengthening offshore renewable energy and geoscience research.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026MoA signing associating 28 ICMR National Laboratories with AcSIR for doctoral research programs in medical research and health sciences.
• National Innovation Foundation (NIF)-IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026iPhD-NIF Doctoral Innovation Fellowship providing 15 fellowships equivalent to CSIR NET JRF for entrepreneurial-minded master degree holders. NIF identifies grass-root innovations for pursuit by iPhD students and provides fellowships and co-mentorship opportunities.
• University of Turku, FinlandstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MoU signed to facilitate mutual exchanges and collaborative research in science and technology domains.
• AIST, JapanstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MoU signed with National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (AIST) to facilitate mutual exchanges and collaborative research.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• AIIMS Delhi: Premier Indian medical research institution offering MD/MS/PhD programs in biomedical and clinical research. Comparable to AcSIR's Medical Research faculty (28 ICMR-affiliated labs) as a doctoral training destination in medical sciences.

Direct peers

• University of Hyderabad: Public research university established by Act of Parliament focused on doctoral and postdoctoral research across sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Comparable to AcSIR as an institution of national importance with multi-disciplinary doctoral research mandate.
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER): Network of 7 premier Indian research institutions focused on integrated MS-PhD programs in sciences with strong research mandate. Closely comparable to AcSIR for its doctoral-research focus, national importance status, and integrated research training approach across basic sciences.
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore: India's premier multi-disciplinary research university awarding doctoral degrees across sciences, engineering, and design. Directly comparable to AcSIR as a doctoral-granting research institution, though IISc operates as a single-campus university while AcSIR uses a hub-and-spoke model across national labs.
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU): Public research university with strong doctoral research programs across sciences, social sciences, and international studies. Comparable to AcSIR as a government-funded institution awarding doctoral degrees with national research focus.
• Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR): Government of India-funded research university awarding PhDs in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and social sciences. Comparable to AcSIR in offering doctoral research training in fundamental and applied sciences within India's national research ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs): Network of 23+ premier Indian engineering and technology institutions awarding PhDs across engineering and sciences. Broader incumbent peer set for STEM doctoral training in India; AcSIR's engineering sciences faculty and M.Tech programs overlap directly with IIT offerings.
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani: Private deemed university offering integrated doctoral programs with strong industry practice school model across engineering and sciences. Comparable to AcSIR for its practice-oriented, industry-linked doctoral training approach (similar to AcSIR's iPhD model).
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education: Private deemed university offering doctoral programs across health sciences, engineering, and sciences with extensive industry and international linkages. Comparable to AcSIR for multi-disciplinary doctoral offerings and public health programs (MPH).
• National Institutes of Technology (NITs): Network of 31 premier Indian engineering institutions under Ministry of Education offering M.Tech and PhD programs. Comparable to AcSIR for engineering sciences faculty, M.Tech programs, and Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme pathway.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acsir_india
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcSIR.India

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research