Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation

Parul University has established a formal, structured framework for measuring the success of interdisciplinary science research across all applicable disciplines — Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences — as well as their combinations with Social Sciences, Law, Psychology, Clinical & Health, and Economics. These measures are administered by the Research and Development Cell (RDC) and the Center for Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Education (CMIE), reviewed annually, and tracked through institutionally constituted evaluation committees.

Formal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Parul University tracks the following specific, quantified KPIs as official measures of interdisciplinary science research success:

Interdisciplinary Publications Annual count of peer-reviewed publications spanning two or more applicable science disciplines, indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, tracked by the RDC Publication Monitoring Committee. Achievement: 1,283+ interdisciplinary research publications.

Sponsored Research Grants Externally generated research income for interdisciplinary science projects, reviewed by the EMR Evaluation Committee before submission to national and international funding agencies. Achievement: 135 sponsored research projects with total grants exceeding ₹62 Crore.

Patents Filed Across Disciplines Number of patents arising from formally registered interdisciplinary science projects, tracked by the RDC IPR Committee — which covers all costs of filing, prosecution, and commercialisation. Achievement: 270+ patents filed from interdisciplinary research.

Intramural Seed Money Projects Number and value of interdisciplinary research projects sanctioned through internal seed funding, evaluated by the IMR Evaluation Committee for cross-disciplinary scope and research quality. Achievement: ₹4.75 Crore in Intramural Research Projects sanctioned.

Cross-Department Student Research Projects PG and PhD research projects formally registered as interdisciplinary, involving supervision from faculty across two or more applicable science departments. Achievement: 2,640+ interdisciplinary PG and PhD research projects.

Startups Incubated from Interdisciplinary Research Startups successfully incubated from cross-disciplinary science research, validated through Parul University's Innovation and Incubation Centre. Achievement: 71 startups incubated.

Industry Collaborations and MoUs Active MoUs with industry partners, national institutes, research bodies, and clinical organisations involving interdisciplinary science research — including Springer-Nature, Taylor & Francis, IITs, NITs, CROs, and Clinical Trial Units.

Evaluation and Monitoring Committees

Parul University has constituted the following formal committees that govern the measurement, approval, and outcome monitoring of interdisciplinary research:

IMR (Intramural Research) Evaluation Committee — Reviews and sanctions internal seed money proposals, verifying cross-disciplinary collaboration and research quality before funding is approved.

EMR (Extramural Research) Evaluation Committee — Reviews all interdisciplinary proposals against prioritised thrust areas before submission to national, international, or state-level funding agencies — ensuring genuine interdisciplinary design at the institutional level.

Publication Monitoring Committee — Tracks interdisciplinary publication output across all departments, monitors journal quality (Q1–Q4 indexed journals), and reports directly to the RDC.

IPR Committee — Tracks patents and technology transfer arising from interdisciplinary science research. Covers full expenses of patent filing, prosecution, and technology development up to and beyond TRL-5.

Seed Money Evaluation Committee — Reviews and sanctions seed funding with priority given to proposals integrating two or more applicable science disciplines.

Central Instrumentation Development Committee — Oversees shared scientific instrumentation development and allocation for interdisciplinary research use across all departments.

In 2024 alone, Parul University awarded over ₹1 Crore in incentives specifically for interdisciplinary research contributions — establishing a direct, measurable, and verifiable link between ISR output and institutional reward.

Technology Transfer and Commercialisation

Technology transfer is tracked as a formal ISR success measure through the RDC's IPR Committee, covering patent filing, technology development above TRL-5, licensing, and commercialisation. Notable examples of interdisciplinary research translated into real-world impact include:

Yield Pro Earth Private Limited — An interdisciplinary Agritech startup integrating Engineering, Environmental Science, and Agriculture. Its flexible irrigation technology reduces costs by 90%, saves 20% electricity and water, and expands cultivable land by 15%. Backed by Startup India funding and patents, it secured a ₹75 lakh purchase order from ICICI Foundation — benefiting 2,000+ farmers in Kutch & Banaskantha and currently supporting 15,000+ farmers in Vadodara.

Dr. Cardio — An interdisciplinary Healthtech startup combining Healthcare, AI, and Biomedical Engineering that developed the world's smallest 12-channel ECG machine for instant virtual cardiac diagnostics. 350+ devices sold globally. Recognised by Hon. Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, and recipient of the Impact Creator Award 2021 at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai.

Research Integrity and Monitoring

All interdisciplinary research manuscripts undergo centralised Turnitin-iThenticate plagiarism screening at the Central Library before submission — ensuring research integrity across all disciplinary outputs.

Faculty are reimbursed for analytical charges paid to national laboratories for interdisciplinary research experiments, with each reimbursement logged and tracked through the RDC as part of ongoing project monitoring.

Regular audits and performance evaluations are conducted against all KPIs listed above, with outcomes reported to the University Research Committee and Academic Council annually — ensuring the efficient, transparent, and impact-driven use of interdisciplinary research resources.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Completed Interdisciplinary Research Projects
• Patent for ISR
• Research Publications
• Startups Incubated
• Sponsored Research Projects

Parul University has invested over ₹15 Crore in dedicated physical infrastructure to support interdisciplinary science research across all applicable disciplines — Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences — and their combinations with Social Sciences, Law, Psychology, and Clinical & Health.

All facilities described below are purpose-designated for interdisciplinary science research and are not used for routine teaching or single-department activities. Access is administered by the Research and Development Cell (RDC) and the Parul Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Centre (PIERC).

Facility 1: Research and Development Cell (RDC)

The Centre of Research and Development Cell (RDC) is Parul University's primary shared research facility, housing advanced scientific instrumentation accessible to research teams from multiple applicable science disciplines simultaneously. The Research and Development Cell (RDC) operates two dedicated interdisciplinary research sub-labs — the Animal Cell Culture Laboratory and the Cell Development Biology Laboratory — in addition to its central analytical instrumentation floor.

All instrumentation in the Research and Development Cell (RDC) is accessible across departments on the basis of approved interdisciplinary research projects. No single department owns or controls the facility — it is governed centrally by the RDC specifically to enable cross-disciplinary research access.

Analytical and Characterisation Instruments — serving Physical Sciences × Life Sciences × Engineering × Pharmacy:

Cell Development Biology Laboratory instruments include: ABIGEN gel electrophoresis systems, PAGE and transfer apparatus, bacteriological and orbital incubators, inverted microscope (Labomed TCM-400), mPAGE Mini Wet Transfer System (Millipore), and mPAGE Mini Gel Tank — all supporting research at the intersection of Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, and Clinical & Health.

The Research and Development Cell (RDC) is a genuinely interdisciplinary facility — its instrumentation spans Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Clinical & Health simultaneously. No single department in the university possesses this breadth of analytical capability, making the Research and Development Cell (RDC) the critical shared infrastructure that enables cross-disciplinary experimental research at Parul University.

Facility 2: Micro–Nano Research & Development Centre

The Micro–Nano Research and Development Centre at Parul University is a specialized interdisciplinary facility established to advance research in micro and nano-scale technologies. The centre was established in 2024 under the support of the Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat, through the Scheme for Assistance for Research & Development Activities under the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020, with the objective of promoting cutting-edge research and innovation in emerging technological domains.

The facility provides advanced infrastructure for fabrication, characterization, and analysis at micro and nano scales, enabling high-end research across multiple disciplines including materials science, physics, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, electronics, and applied sciences. It supports interdisciplinary experimentation involving nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and biomedical nanotechnology, fostering collaborative research across academic, industrial, and governmental domains.

The centre is equipped with specialized instrumentation and testing systems that facilitate precision analysis of material properties, device performance, and nanoscale interactions. For instance, facilities such as advanced material testing systems and electrical characterization tools enable detailed evaluation of mechanical, electrical, and dielectric properties of materials under varying environmental conditions. These capabilities support research in areas such as semiconductor materials, energy systems, biomaterials, and advanced composites.

The Micro–Nano R&D Centre also emphasizes application-oriented research and technology development. It supports innovation in domains such as advanced materials, sensor technologies, semiconductor devices, energy systems, and healthcare applications, thereby enabling translation of fundamental research into industrial and societal solutions. As highlighted in the facility documentation, key research sectors include Material Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Biomedical & Health Sciences, Engineering, Semiconductor Technology, and Energy systems, demonstrating its broad interdisciplinary scope.

In addition to research infrastructure, the centre actively contributes to capacity building through postgraduate research, training programs, workshops, and interdisciplinary collaborations. These initiatives aim to develop skilled human resources in micro and nanotechnology while promoting integration of theoretical knowledge with experimental research.

Overall, the Micro–Nano Research and Development Centre functions as a centralized, high-end interdisciplinary research platform, supporting the full research lifecycle from material development and characterization to device fabrication and application-driven innovation, thereby strengthening Parul University’s capabilities in advanced science and technology research.

Facility 3: Fabrication Laboratory — FabLab 

The Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), housed within the Parul Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Centre (PIERC), is a dedicated technical prototyping and innovation facility serving interdisciplinary research teams that require physical fabrication, device development, and prototype realisation. The FabLab was inaugurated in 2022 and has been supported by a ₹3 Crore grant under the Startup India initiative (Govt. of India) and ₹5.6 Crore SSIP grant from the Government of Gujarat.

The FabLab is specifically designed to support interdisciplinary research projects that require integration of engineering design, computer-aided fabrication, materials science, and biomedical or social applications — research that cannot be completed within any single department's workshop alone.

FabLab Equipment and Interdisciplinary Research Applications:

Equipment	Interdisciplinary Research Application
3D Printer — FDM Technology	Engineering × Computer Science × Biomedical Engineering (functional prototypes)
3D Printer — High Speed Multicoloured (Bambu Lab)	Engineering × Product Design × Materials Science
DLP Resin Printer	Engineering × Biomedical Engineering × Physical Sciences (high-precision micro-fabrication)
3D Laser Scanner	Engineering × Computer Science × Physical Sciences (reverse engineering, digital twin research)
Laser Cutter (CNC-controlled)	Engineering × Physical Sciences × Biomedical Engineering (precision material cutting)
CNC Router	Engineering × Materials Science × Computer Science (computer-controlled fabrication)
Vacuum Forming Machine	Engineering × Biomedical Engineering × Chemical Engineering (thermoforming applications)
PCB Milling (Roland CAMM-1)	Engineering × Computer Science × Electronics (interdisciplinary circuit prototyping)
Vinyl Cutter (DGShape SRM-20)	Engineering × Computer Science × Social Sciences (product and communication design)
Mechanical Workbench	Engineering × Physical Sciences × Materials Science (manual fabrication)
ESD Workstation	Engineering × Computer Science (electrostatic-sensitive device assembly and testing)
Power Tools	Engineering × Physical Sciences × Materials Science (model fabrication)
Hand Tools	Engineering × Biomedical Engineering × Materials Science

The FabLab has produced tangible interdisciplinary research outputs, including prototypes for biomedical devices and agritech solutions that integrate engineering with Clinical & Health and Environmental Sciences respectively. The FabLab also conducts cross-disciplinary workshops in 3D printing, PCB milling, laser cutting, CNC routing, robotics, and IoT — training researchers from Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences in unified fabrication methodologies.

Facility 4: Centre for Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Education (CMIE)

The Centre for Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Education (CMIE) at Parul University operates under the National Education Policy (NEP) Cell, serving as a centralized institutional hub dedicated exclusively to facilitating and coordinating interdisciplinary science research across all applicable disciplines. The centre plays a strategic role in implementing the vision of NEP 2020, promoting integration of knowledge across Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, along with Clinical & Health, Social Sciences, Law, and Psychology.

CMIE is a purpose-designed, centrally administered facility, distinct from departmental spaces, and is exclusively accessible for interdisciplinary research activities. It provides a neutral and collaborative platform where faculty members, researchers, and postgraduate scholars from diverse disciplines can jointly engage in research planning, development, and execution of cross-disciplinary projects addressing complex societal and technological challenges.

The facility is equipped with dedicated collaborative infrastructure, including advanced seminar halls, interdisciplinary meeting rooms, and coordination spaces that support:

Cross-departmental research discussions and proposal development
Interdisciplinary project planning, monitoring, and review
Joint doctoral research supervision and evaluation panels
National and international collaborative research interactions

CMIE also offers technology-enabled research environments with high-speed connectivity, integrated video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet), and digital presentation systems. These enable seamless collaboration among interdisciplinary teams and facilitate global academic engagement.

Functioning under the NEP Cell, CMIE actively contributes to:

Implementation of NEP 2020 principles in interdisciplinary education and research
Identification of interdisciplinary research thrust areas
Facilitation of multi-investigator and cross-disciplinary research proposals
Organization of interdisciplinary workshops, training programs, and academic forums

The centre works in close coordination with the Research and Development Cell (RDC), ensuring streamlined support in research funding, proposal submission, and project execution for interdisciplinary teams.

By providing a dedicated, policy-driven, and centrally governed environment, CMIE strengthens Parul University’s interdisciplinary research ecosystem, enabling integration across disciplines and fostering innovation-driven, impactful research outcomes aligned with national priorities and global research standards.

Facility 5: Smart Collaborative Research and Innovation Spaces

Parul University provides dedicated collaborative research spaces equipped with advanced audiovisual technology, digital whiteboards, high-bandwidth connectivity, and integrated video-conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) — reserved exclusively for interdisciplinary research team meetings, joint doctoral review panels, and international research collaboration sessions. These spaces are not available for routine academic instruction.

The University's dedicated incubation centre under PIERC houses 71 interdisciplinary research-derived startups, with four regional Startup Studio units (Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot) providing additional space and infrastructure for interdisciplinary research commercialisation.

Facility 6: Pragya – Advanced Skills and Simulation Centre

The Advanced Skills and Simulation Centre (Pragya) is a dedicated interdisciplinary facility for clinical and healthcare research, training, and simulation-based learning.

The facility spans over 16,000 square feet and includes specialized units such as Critical Care Simulation, Trauma Simulation, Surgical Units, Obstetrics and Neonatal Units, and Emergency Response Systems. It enables interdisciplinary collaboration between medicine, biomedical engineering, healthcare technology, and applied sciences.

The centre provides high-fidelity simulation environments for research in clinical decision-making, patient care systems, and healthcare innovation, supporting integration of multiple disciplines in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Parul University has established a structured administrative framework to support and strengthen interdisciplinary research across applicable disciplines. This framework ensures that research teams receive coordinated support in planning, execution, funding, and dissemination of interdisciplinary research activities.

The University has designated specialized administrative bodies including the NEP Cell, the Centre for Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Education (CMIE), and the Research and Development Cell (RDC) to facilitate interdisciplinary research coordination. These bodies collectively support curriculum alignment with NEP 2020, promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, and ensure integration of interdisciplinary research into academic and research practices.

Institutional Coordination and Research Governance

The NEP Cell and CMIE function as central coordinating units for interdisciplinary initiatives by:

• Aligning academic and research activities with NEP 2020 interdisciplinary objectives 
• Facilitating collaboration across Engineering, Sciences, Health, and Social Sciences 
• Providing structured platforms for interdisciplinary research planning and coordination 

The Research and Development Cell (RDC) serves as the primary administrative body responsible for managing interdisciplinary research activities, including identification of funding opportunities, facilitation of proposal submissions, and coordination with funding agencies and industry partners.

Dedicated Administrative Support for Research Teams

Parul University provides structured administrative assistance to interdisciplinary research teams through:

• RDC Coordinators assigned to guide faculty in proposal development, budgeting, and grant submission 
• Support for extramural funding applications at national and international levels 
• Assistance in research documentation, compliance, and reporting 
• Facilitation of industry collaborations and sponsored research projects 

The University also conducts regular training and capacity-building programs, including workshops on research methodology, proposal writing, intellectual property, and grant acquisition, to enhance interdisciplinary research capabilities.

Faculty-Centric Research Support Mechanism

To promote interdisciplinary research engagement, the University has implemented a dedicated Research Cadre system, comprising over 200 faculty members with reduced teaching loads (less than 8 hours per week), enabling them to focus on research activities.

These research cadre faculty members function as departmental research coordinators and provide:

• Mentorship in interdisciplinary research topic identification 
• Guidance on publication in indexed journals (Q1–Q4) 
• Support in scientific writing and proposal preparation 
• Monitoring of departmental research outputs including publications, patents, and funded projects 

Incentives, Recognition, and Funding Support

The University has established structured policies to promote interdisciplinary research through:

• Seed funding and internal research grants for interdisciplinary projects 
• Incentives for publications, patents, and funded research 
• Recognition through research awards and performance-based evaluation systems 
• Consideration of interdisciplinary research contributions in faculty promotions 

Industry and International Collaboration Support

Dedicated administrative units for Industry and International Collaboration facilitate interdisciplinary engagement through:

• Global research partnerships and MoUs 
• Faculty and student exchange programs 
• Training in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and computational tools 
• Support for joint research projects and international funding opportunities 

Additionally, the University is strengthening its technology transfer mechanisms to support commercialization and translation of interdisciplinary research outcomes into real-world applications.

Policies & Guidelines

Research Excellence Awards

A Glimpse of the Awards

Parul University has established a structured tenure and career progression system that explicitly recognizes and rewards faculty contributions to interdisciplinary research across applicable disciplines. The University integrates interdisciplinary research performance as a key component in faculty evaluation, promotion, and recognition frameworks, aligning with its commitment to addressing complex global challenges through collaborative research.

Integration of Interdisciplinary Research in Evaluation Systems

Faculty engaged in interdisciplinary research are evaluated based on clearly defined performance indicators, including:

• Publications in Q1–Q4 indexed journals across multiple disciplines 
• Successful acquisition of interdisciplinary research grants 
• Patent filings, technology development, and commercialization outcomes 
• Participation in cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional research projects 
• Industry collaborations and societal impact of research 

These criteria ensure that interdisciplinary contributions are systematically recognized within tenure and promotion decisions.

Structured Faculty Support and Incentive Mechanisms

To encourage interdisciplinary engagement, the University provides targeted support mechanisms, including:

• Reduced teaching load for research-active faculty involved in interdisciplinary projects 
• Seed funding and internal research grants for cross-disciplinary research initiatives 
• Financial incentives for publications, patents, and funded research projects 
• Special recognition for faculty serving as Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs in interdisciplinary grants 

In 2024, the University awarded over ₹1 Crore in research incentives, reinforcing its commitment to promoting interdisciplinary excellence.

Performance Monitoring and Career Advancement

The Research and Development Cell (RDC) plays a central role in monitoring and documenting interdisciplinary research contributions, including:

• Collaborative research outputs and publications 
• Funded projects and grant success rates 
• Intellectual property generation and technology transfer 
• Industry partnerships and societal impact 

These metrics are incorporated into annual performance appraisals, tenure reviews, and promotion decisions, ensuring that interdisciplinary research achievements directly contribute to career advancement.

Mentorship and Research Ecosystem Integration

Faculty contributions to interdisciplinary research are further evaluated based on their role in:

• Mentoring postgraduate and doctoral students in interdisciplinary research 
• Guiding students toward high-quality publications and funded research projects 
• Supporting collaborative research initiatives across departments 

This approach strengthens the overall research ecosystem and promotes sustained interdisciplinary engagement.

Policies