Pbi varsity to set up research centre

Punjabi University here will set up Centre for Development Economics and Innovation Studies (CDEIS) on its campus with an initial grant of Rs 20 lakh sanctioned in the Union Budget.

The department of economic affairs under the union finance ministry has approved the setting up of the centre, which aims to develop a network of researchers working on development and formulation of policies in emerging economies.

This is the first time that the union finance ministry has sanctioned such a centre in the Budget. Prof Lakhwinder Singh Gill of the department of economics in the university has been made the in-charge of this centre.

"The centre will focus on comparative studies to study the effects of science and technology exchange between countries and those that developed earlier," said prof Gill.

The Centre will conduct research studies, organise conferences and workshops as well as field surveys and training programmes. It will also promote dialogue between researchers working in various departments of the university and those in other institutes in the country and abroad.

The CDEIS has proposed to invite as visiting fellows, well-known scholars from reputed universities and institutions in India and abroad.

"According to the union government's plan, this research centre would be made a centre of excellence. This centre will play a vital role in studying the economics of the state," said Prof Gill.

According to economics experts such centres play an instrumental role in studying economies of Asian countries like South Korea and Japan and are a guiding force in development.