Iit Plans To Launch Technology Support Service For Industry

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur plans expansion and diversification to provide technical expertise to industries.

The institute has signed an agreement with Industrial Credit & Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) for a Rs 755 lakh interest free loan to launch a technology support service programme to cater to the needs of various industry segments.

The loan, which will be funded by the World Bank, will be utilised to augment IIT's material testing facility and diversify its low-speed wind tunnel facility.

IIT Kanpur also plans to provide expertise in network management, custom network solutions and internet connectivity. At the outset, it will target small and medium-scale industries in the Kanpur-Lucknow region.

 

IIT Kanpur is currently working for Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Medical Institute, the trade tax department (state) and the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (UPSEB). It expects to secure more orders following expansion of the programme.

The institute has developed a low-speed wind tunnel facility in collaboration with Aeronautical Research Development Board (ARDB) and Department of Science and Technology (DST). The Rs 6 crore project is primarily designed to cater to the needs of the aeronautical sector, but can be applied to industrial aerodynamics as well. Sachidanand, dean of IIT Kanpur, said the new facility can study the impact of wind on soil erosion and pollution as also test structures of buildings, bridges and telecommunications.

The institute plans to set up a Technology Incubation & Development Centre (TIDC) in order to establish closer interaction between industry and the institute. Sachidanand said since it is cost-prohibitive for a small and medium-sized company to invest in research, the institute will act as an interface organisation to provide inputs vital to the particular company.

The institute's material testing facility will be expanded to include ferrous and non-ferrous materials. This will enable the companies to test their products to match global standards and fetch higher returns.

IIT's market-oriented venture is expected to generate adequate revenue to repay the ICICI loan.

It has already received Rs 204 lakh from the textile ministry to establish a testing facility for yarns and fabric. To start with, the centre will keep track of banned chemicals in the industry and issue certificates for its non-use.