The National Institute of Technology - Tiruchi (NIT-T) has embarked on creation of new Centres of Excellence in emerging and niche areas to carry out industry-oriented research.
Two CoEs — Centre for Excellence in Electronic System Design and Manufacturing and Centre of Excellence in Corrosion and Surface Engineering — were inaugurated recently by T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.
The inter-departmental research at these CoEs will focus on executing high-value sponsored projects, and offer M.Tech programmes. “These Centres will bring together islands of potential present in related departments for promoting totally new fields of research, thus helping the institution to move ahead in the area of Research and Consultancy,” said Director of NIT-T S. Sundarrajan. A Research and Consultancy Council formed with members drawn from all departments will recommend proactive policy and administrative changes for improving project implementation, said Dr. Sundarrajan, who was a leading missile scientist with DRDO before assuming charge as NIT-T Director.
According to B. Venkataramani, Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Head of the Centre for Excellence in Electronic System Design and Manufacturing, the CoE would collaborate with defence laboratories and foreign universities including Suny-Bu and Georgia Tech to develop the expertise on electronic packaging.
With a budget of Rs. 8.41 crore, the CoE would take up consultancy projects on development and deployment of high-end embedded systems; develop expert systems for modelling and simulation; organise short-term courses and conferences for effective knowledge dissemination; and provide scientific and technical manpower for industries, he said.
For starting the Centre of Excellence in Corrosion and Surface Engineering (CECASE), the NIT-T signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi. Most of the engineering materials are prone to corrosion; the country loses around 4.5 per cent of GNP every year due to metallic corrosion. The central facility will cater to requirements of industry and research scientific community in the areas of corrosion damage and surface protection. After designing and developing necessary infrastructure, the CoE will create a databank of industries working on the theme and have liaisons. The Centre will publish newsletters and journals on the theme, S. Natarajan, Professor, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering department, who heads the taskforce for the CoE, said.
CECASE members will be presenting eight research papers in the area of Corrosion and Surface Engineering at a conference in France during June.
