Project Outcomes
This report investigates the current state of Mechanical Engineering research in India, the challenges and barriers faced by Indian researchers, and how ASME can help improve the current scenario. The study aims to understand the challenges that limit the quality and quantity of research submissions from India and provides actionable recommendations to enhance ASME’s engagement with Indian researchers and institutions.
The research methodology involved desk research, competitor analysis, and surveys targeting institutional stakeholders and individual researchers. The desk research analyzed the Mechanical Engineering publication landscape in India and benchmarked ASME’s offerings against other leading publishers like Elsevier and Springer Nature. Subsequently, a set of surveys were designed, which provided insights on journal selection criteria, factors influencing research impact, and challenges affecting research output.
Key findings indicate that Indian researchers prioritize journals with high impact factors, strong reputations, and reasonable turnaround times for publication. Other barriers such as inadequate funding, insufficient infrastructure, and limited collaboration opportunities are common challenges faced by researchers. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineering programs in India are experiencing declining student engagement, particularly at the postgraduate level, as students increasingly opt for industry positions or further studies abroad. As an outcome of these findings, the report recommends that ASME increase its outreach and support in underrepresented areas like Design and Manufacturing through specialized workshops and collaborative initiatives. Offering publication fee waivers for low-income researchers, flexible fee structures, and reducing review turnaround times could make ASME journals more accessible to Indian researchers. Additionally, promoting the visibility of Indian research and fostering student engagement through publication workshops, research competitions, and fellowships would help improve the overall research landscape in India.
Naveen Punnoose / ASME India
