Annual report (2024-25)

It is my privilege to present the Annual Report of Bose Institute for the year 2024–2025. Established in 1917 by Acharya Jagadis Chandra Bose, the Institute continues to advance his vision of pursuing unfettered scientific inquiry and disseminating knowledge for the benefit of society. As an Autonomous Research Institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, Bose Institute remains committed to addressing fundamental questions of science while simultaneously engaging with contemporary societal challenges.

During the year under review, our scientific community demonstrated sustained productivity and impact. The Institute produced approximately 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals, complemented by 16 book chapters and 15 conference proceedings, yielding an average impact factor of 4.64. In parallel, 34 Ph.D. degrees were awarded, and one patent was filed, reflecting our dual mandate of advancing frontier research and training the next generation of scientists. These outputs are indicative of the Institute’s continuing emphasis on quality and relevance in research, despite constraints in resources. 

The work of our scientists has been recognized at national and international levels. Notable distinctions include the S. Ramanujan Award 2024 (ARAI, India), the Prof. K.C. Bose Gold Medal Award 2024 (NESA, New Delhi), and the ACCT(i) Excellence in Carbohydrate Research Award 2024 (USA). In addition, a faculty member was selected under the prestigious VAJRA Fellowship (DST–ANRF, Government of India). The Institute’s expertise has also contributed to policy-relevant science, with our analysis informing the “Winter Action Plan” for Kolkata, highlighted by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 

At the international collaborative front, Bose Institute continues to serve as the nodal agency for India’s participation in ALICE (CERN) and the FAIR project. Our scientists are actively engaged in developing prototype detectors for the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR, reflecting the Institute’s role in advancing high-energy and nuclear physics. A matter of pride was the selection of our Post-Doctoral Fellow in Physical Sciences as Run Manager for the ALICE experiment at CERN (May–June 2024). Equally significant was the hosting of the 42nd FAIR Council Meeting at the Unified Academic Campus, marking the first time this meeting was organized outside Germany.

The Institute has further expanded its global academic engagement by signing an MoU with the Council of Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and preparing to host the 23rd International Conference on Bioinformatics (InCoB 2025). Distinguished lectures and symposia, including the 85th Acharya J.C. Bose Memorial Lecture by Prof. Sankar K. Pal, and a two-day conference on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at Darjeeling Campus, supported by Velux Stiftung (Switzerland), further enriched the academic environment.

Looking ahead, Bose Institute is focusing on emerging interdisciplinary frontiers. Plans are underway to establish an Interdisciplinary Research Centre with a mandate to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into research on energy, climate change, agriculture, healthcare, and drug discovery. The Institute is also prioritizing research in neurodegenerative and pulmonary diseases, as well as mental health disorders, through national
missions and international collaborations. These initiatives represent an effort to align our research programmes with societal needs and global scientific priorities.

On the academic front, the Institute is working to expand training opportunities through the introduction of integrated M.Sc.–Ph.D. programmes to complement the existing Ph.D. programme. Outreach initiatives continue to encourage participation of students from underprivileged backgrounds and women in science, thus broadening the base of scientific human resource development.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the unwavering support of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and to express my appreciation to the faculty, students, and staff of Bose Institute for their dedicated efforts. I also thank the Annual Report Committee for compiling this volume. With our modern infrastructure, global collaborations, and scientific vision, I am confident that Bose Institute will continue to advance the frontiers of knowledge and contribute meaningfully to both national and global science.

Prof. Kaustuv Sanyal
Director