Interdisciplinary, cross-sector research hubs across the Global South to advance Earth system understanding, improve climate and energy models, and accelerate regional decarbonization strategies.
The Research Frontiers Network (RFN) seeks to cultivate regional talent and develop context-specific tools that advance earth system research and inform climate and energy transition pathways. Each network serves to advance interdisciplinary, cross-sector research where scientists, industry experts, and government partners collaborate to address global climate challenges with solutions tailored to local needs. The model targets regional, national, and sub-national scale research in the Global South, starting in India and expanding over time.
These networks serve as a counterpart to the Schmidt Sciences climate-focused Virtual Institutes (VIs). While our five VIs – VESRI, OBVI, VICC, VIEW, and DEVI – span a global ecosystem of projects focused on advancing fundamental Earth and energy system science, our regional Research Frontiers Networks support the development of data and models that reflect the specific economic, social, and resource contexts of the Global South.
Schmidt Sciences is piloting its first Energy Research Frontiers Network (E-RFN) with the launch of two hubs in India. With a mission to balance local energy sufficiency and sustainable development while contributing to global carbon reduction goals, the Energy Network will bring researchers and subject matter experts from around the world to work at premier Indian research centers, deepening place-based expertise through collaborative research that informs climate and energy decision-making and prioritizes open, accessible, and reusable research. Each hub will have autonomous grantmaking authority and will issue requests for proposals informed by the recommendations in our Climate and Energy Frontiers report. Future expansion of the program will be coordinated with our focus areas and could include Earth system modeling, the carbon cycle, ocean biogeochemistry, and freshwater availability.
India Energy Research Frontiers Network:
The first two interdisciplinary hubs will be hosted by IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur
These three-year initiatives will support semester to year-long collaborations between host and visiting researchers from different institutions and countries, focusing on:
• Model development: Creating and refining energy and climate models tailored to regional needs
• Collaborative studies: Joint research addressing local climate and energy challenges
• Dataset synthesis: Building comprehensive, locally-relevant data resources
• Knowledge transfer: Training programs and courses taught at host institutions
Program Structure
Each host institution will have the autonomy to define the research frontiers they seek to tackle. This grant-based model supports targeted projects that build local research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and engage key stakeholders in industry and government. We anticipate the first open call being issued in early 2026.
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IIT Delhi Hub
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IIT Kanpur Hub
