Ajit Kumar Sharma: Difference between revisions

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| keywords=Ajit Kumar Sharma, Ajit K Sharma, Open Science Leader India, Scientific Publishing Expert, SciFront Collective Founder, Royal Society of Chemistry India

| description=Ajit Kumar Sharma is an Indian open science and research strategy leader, ~~Founder of The SciFront Collective~~ and ~~former Managing Director India & South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry~~.

| description=Ajit Kumar Sharma is an Indian global open science and research strategy leader with 28 years of experience across scientific publishing, research intelligence, and digital knowledge ecosystems.

| image=Ajith Sharma.jpeg

| image_alt=Ajit Kumar Sharma profile image

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[[File:Ajith Sharma.jpeg|thumb|Ajit Kumar Sharma]]

{{infow

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| nationality = Indian

| occupation = Business Leader

| profession = Open Science and Research Strategy Leader

| profession = Global Open Science and Research Strategy Leader

| yearsactive = 1998–present

| knownfor = Leadership in scientific publishing and open science advocacy

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Ajit Kumar Sharma is an Indian global open science and sustainability leader with over 25 years of experience across scientific publishing, research intelligence, higher education, digital transformation, and data-driven knowledge ecosystems. He is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective and formerly served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.

'''Ajit Kumar Sharma''' is an Indian global open science and sustainability leader with over 28 years of experience across scientific publishing, research intelligence, higher education, digital transformation, and data-driven knowledge ecosystems. He is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective and formerly served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.

He is widely recognized for advancing open access, equitable research dissemination, policy engagement, and multi-stakeholder collaboration across academia, government, and industry.

He is widely recognized for advancing open access, equitable research dissemination, science diplomacy, policy engagement, and multi-stakeholder collaboration across academia, government, and industry.

==Professional Overview==

Ajit Kumar Sharma has held senior leadership roles across global ~~organizations~~ including ~~Royal Society~~ of ~~Chemistry~~, ~~Elsevier~~, ~~RELX Group~~, ~~Danaher (Sciex)~~, and ~~HarperCollins~~.

Ajit Kumar Sharma has held senior leadership roles across global publishing, education, and scientific technology organisations, including:

* Director Marketing – Elsevier South Asia

* Head of Marketing and Business Management – SCIEX (Danaher Group)

* Marketing Director – RELX Group

* Marketing Manager – HarperCollins Publishers

* Product Manager – McGraw-Hill Education

Across these roles, his work focused on business growth, digital transformation, and expansion of knowledge and research products across emerging markets.

He led regional marketing and commercial strategies across Asia-Pacific, supporting the growth of journals, books, scientific databases, and analytical technology solutions. His responsibilities included demand generation, portfolio strategy, customer segmentation, pricing strategy, and development of go-to-market programmes for academic, corporate, and government customers.

His ~~leadership experience spans:~~

He contributed to the transition from print-led to digital and platform-based business models through the adoption of marketing automation, CRM systems, and data-driven customer analytics. His work also involved building market intelligence capabilities, supporting product launches, and strengthening partnerships with universities, research institutions, and industry stakeholders.

~~Strategic business growth and regional P&L management~~

These roles shaped his expertise in scientific publishing, research intelligence, marketing strategy, and regional business leadership across the knowledge and information sector.

~~Scientific~~ publishing ~~and scholarly communication~~

~~Research data~~, ~~analytics~~, and ~~digital~~ knowledge ~~solutions~~

~~Open science advocacy~~ and ~~responsible research evaluation~~

~~Cross-~~sector ~~partnerships across South Asia and Asia-Pacific~~

==~~The SciFront Collective~~==

==Royal Society of Chemistry==

Ajit Kumar Sharma is the ~~Founder and Chief Steward~~ of ~~The SciFront Collective, a collaborative science-policy-education platform based in India~~.

Ajit Kumar Sharma served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2022 to 2025.

~~The initiative focuses on:~~

He led the Royal Society of Chemistry’s strategy and operations across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. He owned full regional P&L responsibility and long-term growth strategy, directing a multi-country team and large partner network across academia, government, industry, and research institutions.

~~Open science~~ and ~~equitable access to knowledge~~

===Regional Leadership and Growth===

~~Teacher empowerment and science education frameworks~~

~~Policy influence through evidence-based engagement~~

~~AI-enabled and data-driven science learning ecosystems~~

~~The Collective works~~ with ~~ministries~~, ~~academic institutions~~, ~~corporate CSR~~ bodies, and ~~civil society stakeholders to strengthen national research ecosystems.~~

* Drove sustained publishing and membership growth across South Asia

* Expanded institutional partnerships with universities, research institutes, and government bodies

* Strengthened RSC brand presence and influence across the region

* Built high-performing regional teams and leadership capability

==~~Royal Society of Chemistry~~==

===Research, Publishing and Open Science===

~~From 2022 to 2025~~, ~~Ajit Kumar Sharma served as Managing Director – India~~ and ~~South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.~~

* Accelerated adoption of open science and open access publishing

* Supported national research capability through data, analytics, and policy engagement

* Led regional strategy for journals, books, databases, and professional services

* Built strong engagement with researchers, librarians, and funding bodies

~~In this role, he led regional strategy across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh,~~ and ~~the Maldives, advancing:~~

===Government and Policy Engagement===

~~Publishing~~ and ~~membership growth~~

* Represented RSC with central and state governments, embassies, and policy institutions

~~Open~~ science ~~expansion~~

* Contributed to science diplomacy and research collaboration between the UK and South Asia

~~UK–India Innovation~~ and ~~Sustainability Consortium initiatives~~

* Supported policy dialogue on research assessment, open access, and research infrastructure

~~STEM diversity~~ and ~~researcher engagement~~

* Strengthened RSC’s position as a trusted partner in national research ecosystems

~~Multi-stakeholder academic and policy partnerships~~

~~He also previously served as Country General Manager – South Asia.~~

===UK–India Innovation and Sustainability Consortium===

~~==Earlier Leadership Roles==~~

* Co-led creation and growth of the UK–India Innovation and Sustainability Consortium

* Enabled cross-border research partnerships and funding collaborations

* Brought together academia, industry, and policymakers on sustainability priorities

~~Ajit Kumar Sharma has held leadership positions including:~~

===STEM Diversity and Researcher Development===

~~Director Marketing – Elsevier South Asia~~

* Championed diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM

~~Head of Marketing~~ and ~~Business Management – Sciex (Danaher)~~

* Expanded programmes supporting early-career researchers and women in science

~~Marketing Director – RELX Group~~

* Led engagement initiatives for students, teachers, and scientific communities

~~Marketing Manager – HarperCollins~~

~~Product Manager – McGraw-Hill Education~~

~~His work across these organizations focused on digital transformation, CRM innovation, market intelligence, revenue growth, strategic partnerships,~~ and ~~product innovation.~~

===Partnerships and Ecosystem Building===

~~==Open Science~~ and ~~Research Advocacy==~~

* Built multi-stakeholder partnerships across academia, corporates, NGOs, and scientific bodies

* Supported industry–academia collaboration and skills development initiatives

* Strengthened engagement with professional societies and scientific networks

~~Ajit Kumar Sharma is known for promoting:~~

===Earlier Role===

~~Equitable access~~ to ~~scientific knowledge~~

Prior to his appointment as Managing Director, he served as Country General Manager – South Asia, progressing into the regional leadership role after successfully leading commercial, publishing, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

~~Responsible research evaluation practices~~

~~Data-driven research ecosystems~~

~~Collaboration between governments~~, ~~funding agencies~~, ~~universities~~, and ~~industry~~

~~Science communication and public policy alignment~~

~~His philosophy emphasizes that science belongs to everyone and must be accessible, inclusive, and transformative.~~

==The SciFront Collective==

~~==Education==~~

Ajit Kumar Sharma is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective, a collaborative science-policy-education platform focused on advancing open science, equitable research access, and sustainability.

~~Executive Program in Marketing – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad~~

The initiative works to:

~~Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) – Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya~~

* Inspire curiosity through science education frameworks

* Champion open knowledge and democratized access to research

* Influence policy through evidence-based engagement

* Build bridges between science, society, and future generations

~~Additional executive learning includes strategic marketing programs~~ and ~~advanced~~ research ~~engagement initiatives~~.

The Collective collaborates with ministries, academic institutions, CSR bodies, and civil society stakeholders to strengthen national research ecosystems.

==~~Awards and Recognition~~==

==Open Science Philosophy==

~~Top 10 Leaders~~ to ~~Watch – Times Now (2024)~~

Ajit Kumar Sharma advocates that science belongs to everyone and must be accessible, inclusive, and transformative. His work emphasizes responsible research evaluation, equitable access to knowledge, and long-term sustainability of global research systems.

~~Elsevier Health Sciences Pearls Top Performer~~

~~IBM MITR Top 20~~

~~Digiratti Award for Marketing Excellence~~

~~Innovation Champion Recognition~~

==~~Volunteering and Environmental Advocacy~~==

==Education==

~~Ajit Kumar Sharma is also the Founder and Fundraiser~~ of ~~Aravali Bird, Bees and Forest Conservation, an initiative focused on urban biodiversity protection, pollinator conservation, and habitat restoration.~~

* Executive Program in Marketing – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

* Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) – Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya

==~~Areas of Expertise~~==

==Awards and Recognition==

~~Scientific publishing and scholarly communication~~

* Top 10 Leaders to Watch – Times Now (2024)

~~Open access strategy and policy advocacy~~

* Elsevier Health Sciences Pearls Top Performer

~~Research data and analytics solutions~~

* IBM MITR Top 20

~~Digital transformation in education and publishing~~

* Digiratti Award for Marketing Excellence

~~Strategic leadership and revenue growth~~

* Innovation Champion Recognition

~~Cross-sector ecosystem building~~

==External Links==

* https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajitksharma

* https://twitter.com/ajitksharma

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | title_mode=append
 | keywords=Ajit Kumar Sharma, Ajit K Sharma, Open Science Leader India, Scientific Publishing Expert, SciFront Collective Founder, Royal Society of Chemistry India
-| description=Ajit Kumar Sharma is an Indian open science and research strategy leader, Founder of The SciFront Collective and former Managing Director India & South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.
+| description=Ajit Kumar Sharma is an Indian global open science and research strategy leader with 28 years of experience across scientific publishing, research intelligence, and digital knowledge ecosystems.
 | image=Ajith Sharma.jpeg
 | image_alt=Ajit Kumar Sharma profile image
 }}
+[[File:Ajith Sharma.jpeg|thumb|Ajit Kumar Sharma]]
 {{infow
@@ Line 15: / Line 17: @@
 | nationality = Indian
 | occupation = Business Leader
-| profession = Open Science and Research Strategy Leader
+| profession = Global Open Science and Research Strategy Leader
 | yearsactive = 1998–present
 | knownfor = Leadership in scientific publishing and open science advocacy
@@ Line 24: / Line 26: @@
 }}
-Ajit Kumar Sharma is an Indian global open science and sustainability leader with over 25 years of experience across scientific publishing, research intelligence, higher education, digital transformation, and data-driven knowledge ecosystems. He is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective and formerly served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.
+'''Ajit Kumar Sharma''' is an Indian global open science and sustainability leader with over 28 years of experience across scientific publishing, research intelligence, higher education, digital transformation, and data-driven knowledge ecosystems. He is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective and formerly served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.
-He is widely recognized for advancing open access, equitable research dissemination, policy engagement, and multi-stakeholder collaboration across academia, government, and industry.
+He is widely recognized for advancing open access, equitable research dissemination, science diplomacy, policy engagement, and multi-stakeholder collaboration across academia, government, and industry.
 ==Professional Overview==
-Ajit Kumar Sharma has held senior leadership roles across global organizations including Royal Society of Chemistry, Elsevier, RELX Group, Danaher (Sciex), and HarperCollins.
+Ajit Kumar Sharma has held senior leadership roles across global publishing, education, and scientific technology organisations, including:
+* Director Marketing – Elsevier South Asia
+* Head of Marketing and Business Management – SCIEX (Danaher Group)
+* Marketing Director – RELX Group
+* Marketing Manager – HarperCollins Publishers
+* Product Manager – McGraw-Hill Education
+Across these roles, his work focused on business growth, digital transformation, and expansion of knowledge and research products across emerging markets.
+He led regional marketing and commercial strategies across Asia-Pacific, supporting the growth of journals, books, scientific databases, and analytical technology solutions. His responsibilities included demand generation, portfolio strategy, customer segmentation, pricing strategy, and development of go-to-market programmes for academic, corporate, and government customers.
-His leadership experience spans:
+He contributed to the transition from print-led to digital and platform-based business models through the adoption of marketing automation, CRM systems, and data-driven customer analytics. His work also involved building market intelligence capabilities, supporting product launches, and strengthening partnerships with universities, research institutions, and industry stakeholders.
-Strategic business growth and regional P&L management
+These roles shaped his expertise in scientific publishing, research intelligence, marketing strategy, and regional business leadership across the knowledge and information sector.
-Scientific publishing and scholarly communication
-Research data, analytics, and digital knowledge solutions
-Open science advocacy and responsible research evaluation
-Cross-sector partnerships across South Asia and Asia-Pacific
-==The SciFront Collective==
+==Royal Society of Chemistry==
-Ajit Kumar Sharma is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective, a collaborative science-policy-education platform based in India.
+Ajit Kumar Sharma served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2022 to 2025.
-The initiative focuses on:
+He led the Royal Society of Chemistry’s strategy and operations across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. He owned full regional P&L responsibility and long-term growth strategy, directing a multi-country team and large partner network across academia, government, industry, and research institutions.
-Open science and equitable access to knowledge
+===Regional Leadership and Growth===
-Teacher empowerment and science education frameworks
-Policy influence through evidence-based engagement
-AI-enabled and data-driven science learning ecosystems
-The Collective works with ministries, academic institutions, corporate CSR bodies, and civil society stakeholders to strengthen national research ecosystems.
+* Drove sustained publishing and membership growth across South Asia
+* Expanded institutional partnerships with universities, research institutes, and government bodies
+* Strengthened RSC brand presence and influence across the region
+* Built high-performing regional teams and leadership capability
-==Royal Society of Chemistry==
+===Research, Publishing and Open Science===
-From 2022 to 2025, Ajit Kumar Sharma served as Managing Director – India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry.
+* Accelerated adoption of open science and open access publishing
+* Supported national research capability through data, analytics, and policy engagement
+* Led regional strategy for journals, books, databases, and professional services
+* Built strong engagement with researchers, librarians, and funding bodies
-In this role, he led regional strategy across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, advancing:
+===Government and Policy Engagement===
-Publishing and membership growth
+* Represented RSC with central and state governments, embassies, and policy institutions
-Open science expansion
+* Contributed to science diplomacy and research collaboration between the UK and South Asia
-UK–India Innovation and Sustainability Consortium initiatives
+* Supported policy dialogue on research assessment, open access, and research infrastructure
-STEM diversity and researcher engagement
+* Strengthened RSC’s position as a trusted partner in national research ecosystems
-Multi-stakeholder academic and policy partnerships
-He also previously served as Country General Manager – South Asia.
+===UK–India Innovation and Sustainability Consortium===
-==Earlier Leadership Roles==
+* Co-led creation and growth of the UK–India Innovation and Sustainability Consortium
+* Enabled cross-border research partnerships and funding collaborations
+* Brought together academia, industry, and policymakers on sustainability priorities
-Ajit Kumar Sharma has held leadership positions including:
+===STEM Diversity and Researcher Development===
-Director Marketing – Elsevier South Asia
+* Championed diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM
-Head of Marketing and Business Management – Sciex (Danaher)
+* Expanded programmes supporting early-career researchers and women in science
-Marketing Director – RELX Group
+* Led engagement initiatives for students, teachers, and scientific communities
-Marketing Manager – HarperCollins
-Product Manager – McGraw-Hill Education
-His work across these organizations focused on digital transformation, CRM innovation, market intelligence, revenue growth, strategic partnerships, and product innovation.
+===Partnerships and Ecosystem Building===
-==Open Science and Research Advocacy==
+* Built multi-stakeholder partnerships across academia, corporates, NGOs, and scientific bodies
+* Supported industry–academia collaboration and skills development initiatives
+* Strengthened engagement with professional societies and scientific networks
-Ajit Kumar Sharma is known for promoting:
+===Earlier Role===
-Equitable access to scientific knowledge
+Prior to his appointment as Managing Director, he served as Country General Manager – South Asia, progressing into the regional leadership role after successfully leading commercial, publishing, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
-Responsible research evaluation practices
-Data-driven research ecosystems
-Collaboration between governments, funding agencies, universities, and industry
-Science communication and public policy alignment
-His philosophy emphasizes that science belongs to everyone and must be accessible, inclusive, and transformative.
+==The SciFront Collective==
-==Education==
+Ajit Kumar Sharma is the Founder and Chief Steward of The SciFront Collective, a collaborative science-policy-education platform focused on advancing open science, equitable research access, and sustainability.
-Executive Program in Marketing – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
+The initiative works to:
-Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) – Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya
+* Inspire curiosity through science education frameworks
+* Champion open knowledge and democratized access to research
+* Influence policy through evidence-based engagement
+* Build bridges between science, society, and future generations
-Additional executive learning includes strategic marketing programs and advanced research engagement initiatives.
+The Collective collaborates with ministries, academic institutions, CSR bodies, and civil society stakeholders to strengthen national research ecosystems.
-==Awards and Recognition==
+==Open Science Philosophy==
-Top 10 Leaders to Watch – Times Now (2024)
+Ajit Kumar Sharma advocates that science belongs to everyone and must be accessible, inclusive, and transformative. His work emphasizes responsible research evaluation, equitable access to knowledge, and long-term sustainability of global research systems.
-Elsevier Health Sciences Pearls Top Performer
-IBM MITR Top 20
-Digiratti Award for Marketing Excellence
-Innovation Champion Recognition
-==Volunteering and Environmental Advocacy==
+==Education==
-Ajit Kumar Sharma is also the Founder and Fundraiser of Aravali Bird, Bees and Forest Conservation, an initiative focused on urban biodiversity protection, pollinator conservation, and habitat restoration.
+* Executive Program in Marketing – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
+* Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) – Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya
-==Areas of Expertise==
+==Awards and Recognition==
-Scientific publishing and scholarly communication
+* Top 10 Leaders to Watch – Times Now (2024)
-Open access strategy and policy advocacy
+* Elsevier Health Sciences Pearls Top Performer
-Research data and analytics solutions
+* IBM MITR Top 20
-Digital transformation in education and publishing
+* Digiratti Award for Marketing Excellence
-Strategic leadership and revenue growth
+* Innovation Champion Recognition
-Cross-sector ecosystem building
 ==External Links==
 * https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajitksharma
 * https://twitter.com/ajitksharma