The India Research Tour 2025, a month-long initiative by Springer Nature in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, concluded today at Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) in Itanagar. The tour, which began on 6 October in New Delhi, also engaged with NERIST and NIT Itanagar, marking the final leg of a journey across 29 institutions in 15 cities and seven states.
The tour aimed to promote Open Access and Open Science, strengthen research integrity through the RISE program, encourage e-book adoption, support editorial board member recruitment, and highlight diversity and inclusion initiatives such as Her Research, Our Future. Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director, Springer Nature India, said, “The conversations and collaborations from this tour have given us a deep understanding of researchers’ needs, institutional priorities, and regional opportunities.”
Professor Dhananjay Singh, ICSSR Member Secretary and RGU alumnus, expressed pride in the Northeast’s inclusion, noting that the initiative helps bridge representation gaps and creates opportunities for collaboration and global visibility. Itanagar welcomed the tour with enthusiasm, with bookshops, research supply stores, and cafés near the university reporting increased activity during the events. Vendors noted higher footfall from students and faculty attending workshops, seminars, and discussions, reflecting growing interest in research resources and academic engagement in the region.
