Springer Nature India and the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 2 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to deepen their collaboration aimed at advancing research and empowering academic communities across India. This strategic partnership underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to support India’s academic and research infrastructure through inclusive, impactful, and community-driven initiatives.
The MoU marks a new chapter in strengthening India’s research capacity, with an emphasis on accessibility, diversity, and collaboration. Both organizations look forward to implementing impactful programmes that serve the evolving needs of the academic and research community.
Hoping that this collaboration between INFLIBNET and Springer Nature will serve as a catalyst to enhance research capacity, gender inclusivity, and digital literacy across India’s academic landscape, Dr. Devika P. Madalli, Director of INFLIBNET said: “With Springer Nature’s support, we aim to bridge information and gender equity gaps in the country and our initiatives like SHODH CHAKRA and SHERNI will help us foster a more equitable research ecosystem.”
Key Pillars of the Partnership:
- SHERNI (INFLIBNET) and Her Research, Our Future (Springer Nature):
These initiatives aim to empower women researchers in India and will include the first national diversity in research survey hosted on the INFLIBNET website. It will explore perceptions of gender equity in research, awareness of institutional DEI policies, and specific challenges faced by women in academia. Insights from this survey will be shared publicly to shape more equitable and inclusive research environments.
- SHODH CHAKRA (INFLIBNET) and Early Career Research Ambassador Programme (Springer Nature):
Together, these programmes will expand researcher training, foster peer mentorship, and promote ethical publishing practices. Springer Nature will also create curated learning modules and content for INFLIBNET’s Shodh Chakra platform.
- India Research Conclave 2025 and Community Engagement:
The MoU includes plans for co-branded seminars, storytelling sessions, and events to bring together researchers, administrators, and educators from across India.
Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director, Springer Nature India in his comments said his organization was proud to co-create programmes that recognize and respond to the needs of women researchers in the country. “We, at Springer Nature, are committed to help steer India towards becoming the largest and fastest growing global research hubs. Partnerships like this are testimony of our ongoing initiatives to empower researchers, promote open science, and amplify diverse voices within the research community,” he added.
