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Research and Consultancy Cell

About the Cell


A tradition of uncompromising quality-concern has put the Institute in good treads and, over the last decade, several government and non-government funding agencies like MNRE, MHRD, CSIR, DST, DeitY, DAE, DBT, BRNS, DRDO, ISRO, UNICEF, AICTE, UGC, Tata Steel, IBM have come forward to sponsor Research Projects to the faculty members of the IIEST. Presently the Institute is putting a purposeful thrust on collaborative and sponsored research. In the recent past IIEST, Shibpur shared its research accomplishments with IISc (ACRC) Bangalore, IBM, TATA Steel, SAIL, Infosys, DRDL, BRNS, CPRI, TCS, etc. In order to enhance the level of intellectual productivity and efficacy, the Institute has established a Research and Consultancy Cell (R&C Cell) of which the principal objective is to facilitate, on behalf of the Institute, coordination in administration, managerial, liaison, monitoring, etc. of sponsored research and consultancy work within the ambit of the administrative framework of the Institute. This allows research workers to devote more time to research properly without bothering much on not-too-technical but no-less-important other aspects of the projects undertaken.

Research & Consultancy Cell

Earth Science, CSIR, ISRO, DRDO, Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Defense, DAE-BRNS, TATA Steel and international funding agencies like CIDA, USAID, DelPHE, SANEI, UKRI-RCUK etc. bear testimony to the quality of research programs carried out at the Institute. In the year 2019-20, 38 new projects were sanctioned to the institute with an amount of Rs. 14.4 Cr. from different funding agencies.
The faculty members of the Institute are also actively engaged in consultancy works required to fulfill the necessities of the Government / Private agencies. In 2019-20, total 75 new consultancy works were sanctioned with an amount of Rs. 4.74 Cr. from different agencies including Kolkata Municipal Corporation, West Bengal Medical Services Corporation Limited, P.W.DTE, Govt. of West Bengal, Haldia Development Authority, IIT Kharagpur, Weastern Coalfields Limited, Larsen & Toubro Limited, ITD Cementation India Ltd., Coal India Limited, Kolkata Port Trust, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners, Second Vivekananda Bridge, Visva Bharati University, Mackintosh Burn Limited, ECL, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Bridge and Roof Co. (India) Ltd., The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited, Mackintosh Burn Limited, Western Coalfields Limited, Hindalco Industries Ltd., PDCL etc.
A total no. of about 300 research projects worth more than Rs. 140 Cr. and about 550 consultancy projects amounting to about Rs. 55 Cr. sanctioned to the Institute during the period of 2011 – October 2020.
Some highlights of ongoing activities:

  • Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY); MeitY, GoI sanctioned 3 nos. new NaMPET-III projects in the financial year 2020-21.
  • DRDO sanctioned a project on unmanned aerial vehicles in the financial year 2020-21
  • In 2019-20, seven research proposals have been sanctioned by MHRD, Govt. of India under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) to facilitate global research network, improve research eco-system and academic standard.
  • Presently 2 nos. of research projects sponsored by Tata Steel in the area of development of advanced high strength steel are ongoing.
  • Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India sponsored DST Solar PV Hub Project in the year 2018-19.
  • Technology development initiative of MHRD and DST, Government of India has sanctioned impacting research innovation and technology (IMPRINT-2) involving Tata Steel as the participating collaborating industry.
  • Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India has supported to create Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility (SAIF) at IIEST.
  • No. of research scholars and post doctoral fellows in different research and consultancy projects : 60
  • 431 Scopus Index publication (Article – 297, Book Chapter – 58, Conference Paper – 60, Review – 12, Editorial – 2) from January 2020 to August 2020.
At present, the Institute is carrying out advance sponsored research and consultancy projects with a total approved budget of about Rs 35 Cr. Besides the conventional fields, the Institute in recent years has brought many frontier areas of S&T under the purview of its sponsored research activities. Advanced Materials, Green Energy and Sensors, Synthesis of new compounds and catalysis, Computational Chemistry, BioMechanics, Power Electronics, Control System, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Digital Manufacturing, Earthquake Dynamics, Disaster Management, Environmental Remediation, Healthcare Science and Technology, Computational Biology, Mobile Computing, Nano Science and Technology, Remote-sensing and GIS, Structural Engineering, Communication, Sensor Network, Water Resource and Environment, Transportation Planning, Aerospace Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Carbon Sequestration, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Soft Computing, Image processing, Robotics & Mechatronics, Mine Safety, Housing and Human Settlement Planning, Electrochemistry, Sedimentology, Environmental Economics, Mathematical and Statistical Theory of Life Testing and Reliability, Rural Technology etc.

Research Overview


The Research and Consultancy Cell is the single channel for diverse externally funded research and industrial consultancy project at the Institute. In consonance with the 'Make in India' thrust of the Government and in tune with the technology roadmap of the country the Cell has geared up to play a greater role to act as the hinge point for multi and interdisciplinary mega research work. A tradition of uncompromising quality-concern has put the Institute in good treads and, over the last few years, a good number of government and non-government funding agencies have come forward to sponsor research activity which bears testimony to the quality of research programs carried out at the Institute. Presently the Institute is putting a purposeful thrust on collaborative research both at national and international level. Casting a glance at its academic departments, the Institute can boast of commendable performance of its faculty members and research scholars, particularly their quality research output which is reflected by a significant number of publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals. On an average, institute publishes 1000+ publications annually (Web of Science & Scopus, average 2500+ annual citations). Institute shares its research accomplishments with other institutes, research organizations and industry. Institute is also encouraging patent filling, more stress on establishment of academic and research collaboration with International and National institutes/R&D organization, emphasising on innovative product development and corporate interaction. Over the last few years, in tune with the Institute policy of strengthening national and international collaboration, the Institute has signed quite a number of MoUs with various academic/ research/ government organisations and Industry houses. In 2018-19, institute signed 2 MoUs with Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. MoU signed with BPCL on 19th March 2019 for Vocational Training on 6 modules for 250 youth. MoU has been signed with CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI), Kolkata on 26th July, 2019 to promote collaborative research and to facilitate the exchange of ideas, development of new knowledge and to enhance high quality research acumen. Institute also signed MoU with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (Lead organisation: Newcastle University) for international project on intractable challenges faced by developing countries. MoU has been signed with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India for upgrading laboratory facility for green energy. IIEST signed a MoU on 15th October 2020 with IBM India Pvt. Ltd. for faculty development program, technical interaction and exchange, guidance of projects etc.
7 nos. of SPARC Projects have been sanctioned in the FY 2019-20. Dr. Takahiro Iizuka (Hiroshima University), Prof. Hans Juergen Mattausch (Hiroshima University), Prof. Krishnendu Chakrabarty (Duke University), Dr. Arijit Banerjee (University of Illinois, Urbana Champagne) and Prof. Kaushik Roy (Purdue University) visited institute and delivered talks.
Centre for Excellence for Green Energy and Sensors System (CEGESS) has been recognized by Ministry of New Renewable Energy (MNRE) and also by DST Solar Hub with an objective to perform research and development on large scale silicon solar photovoltaic cells, modules and systems including design, fabrication and characterization using novel materials and methods for which financial support has been sanctioned by DST (GoI) in the FY 2018-19.
The Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India through the Central Council of Research in Homeopathy has sanctioned the establishment of Dr. Bholanath Chakroborty Fundamental Research Laboratory on Homeopathy with an objective to undertake focused, evidence-based research on homeopathy formulation and validate their mode of action. The Fundamental Research Laboratory Centre under Healthcare Science and Technology (CHST) is poised to house several high-end equipments and will act as a coordinating centre for different researchers across the country interested in scientific evaluation of medicines belonging to this AYUSH system.
Institute has received multi-institutional research project from DBT, Govt of India in association with IISc Bangalore, IIT Kanpur etc. for design and manufacturing of orthopaedic implants. DST SERB has sanctioned Nanomission project on 3D printing of polymer composites for patient-specific bone tissue engineering and a multi-institutional project on ‘Bioprinting of 3D retina on microfluidic chip. Work is also underway of a multi-institutional project to develop low cost bench-top microscope for early screening of cervical cancer under DST, IDP program. Collaborative projects are also carried out with CGCRI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur and AIIMS New Delhi etc. on different healthcare problems like isolation of active molecules from plants against cancer, RNA delivery and developing vascularised engineered constructs to overcome a major bottleneck in tissue engineering.
Mining Department was awarded a consultancy work for third party monitoring of mine closure activity of 43 mines of Bharat Coking Coal Limited.
A collaborative research hub being executed by a research consortium led by New Castle University, UK in partnership with 24 institutions across the globe including IIEST, Shibpur with financial support from Research Council UK (RCUK) under the Global Challenges Research Fund for the project "GCRF Living Deltas Hub" with an objective to tackle complex challenges of delta degradation and loss of resilience through a trans-disciplinary framework by capturing changing delta trajectories, quantify climate induced threats and develop solutions to realize sustainable development goals (SDGs) and address the challenges of the delta regions of Ganges-Brahamaputra-Meghna.
Technology Development Initiative of MHRD and DST, Government of India has sanctioned impacting research innovation and technology (IMPRINT-2) involving Tata Steel as the participating collaborating industry. Apart from this, Tata Steel has also sanctioned two metallurgy related research projects to the institute.
The Institute also received sanction of another MHRD & ICMR sponsored IMPRINT project in the area of extreme point of care diagnostics on a CD.
Institute has also taken initiative to develop Central Research Facilities (CRF) which includes high end computing, high end software for design, analysis and fabrication as well as high cost equipment for fabrication and characterization.
The following chart provides an idea about the no. of new sponsored research and consultancy projects sanctioned in the FY 2011-12 till October 2020

Major Research Areas


Besides the conventional fields of technology and science, the Institute in recent years has brought many frontier areas of S&T under the purview of its sponsored research activities. Some of such areas are as follows:

  • Advanced Materials
  • Bio-Mechanics
  • Bio-materials
  • Earthquake Dynamics
  • Disaster Management
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Fuel Cell
  • Green Energy and Sensors
  • Healthcare Science and Technology
  • Mobile Computing
  • Nano Science and Technology
  • Power Electronics
  • Remote-sensing and GIS
  • Space Technology
  • Sedimentology
  • MEMs fabrication
  • Mathematical and Statistical Theory of Life Testing
  • Structural Engineering
  • Surface Engineering
  • VLSI and Embedded Systems
  • Communication
  • Sensor Network
  • Mechatronics and Robotics
  • Water Resource
  • Turbulent Flow
  • Carbon Sequestration
  • Atomic and Nuclear Physics
  • Soft Computing
  • Image processing
  • Housing and Human Settlement Planning
  • Electrochemistry
  • Fuel Cell
  • Environmental Economics
  • Reliability and Technology awareness for society, etc.

Major augmentation in infrastructure for facilitating academic, research and administrative activities has been undertaken.

R & D History


IIEST is an institution of international standard and is producing quality manpower for the strategic sector of research and development in our country, research laboratories, modern industries, and also quality teachers for the Institutions of Engineering and Science Education. This reflects the aspirations of the people of India from us.
The world today faces extraordinary challenges and opportunities in several areas, such as energy, healthcare, water and environment, advanced material, fabrics, transportation, and telecommunication. The solutions to the challenges in each of these areas need an interdisciplinary approach. Today's students must be ready to approach and solve the most pressing global problems with an unbiased, innovative, and independent mind. Our Institute today strives hard to contribute significantly in each of these areas.
The clock tower of the Institute has witnessed the growth and development of one of the earliest engineering Institutes in the country. The tower reminds us of our obligations and responsibilities towards our future generations by ensuring a healthy, strong, and self-reliant India. With a deep sense of gratitude for our glorious past and strong conviction for a brighter future, we reaffirm our commitment by dedicating ourselves to the service of the nation.

Featured Research


Centre for Excellence for Green Energy and Sensors System (CEGESS) has been recognized by Ministry of New Renewable Energy (MNRE) and also by DST Solar Hub with an objective to perform research and development on large scale silicon solar photovoltaic cells, modules and systems including design, fabrication and characterization using novel materials and methods.
Two major nationally important projects under Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Energy Mission (JNNSM) on thin-film silicon solar cells and PV systems sponsored by MNRE, Govt. of India and Solar Photovoltaic Hub at IIEST sponsored by DST, Govt. of India were completed at CEGESS. In the year 2018-19, DST (GoI) has sanctioned another project for DST Solar PV HUB at IIEST Shibpur. The Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, through the Central Council of Research in Homeopathy has sanctioned the establishment of Dr. Bholanath Chakroborty Fundamental Research Laboratory on Homeopathy to undertake focused, evidence-based research on homeopathy formulation and validate their mode of action. The Fundamental Research Laboratory Centre, under Healthcare Science and Technology (CHST), is poised to house several high-end types of equipment and will act as a coordinating center for different researchers across the country interested in the scientific evaluation of medicines belonging to this AYUSH system. CHST is also involved in a DBT, Govt of India, funded a multi-institutional project in association with IISc Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, etc. for design and manufacturing of orthopedic implants. DST SERB has sanctioned the Nanomission project on 3D printing of polymer composites for patient-specific bone tissue engineering and a multi-institutional project on 'Bio-printing of 3D retina on microfluidic chip' (with NIT Raipur). Work is also underway to develop a low-cost benchtop microscope with NIT Rourkela and Medical College, Kolkata for early screening of cervical cancer under DST, IDP program. Collaborative projects are also carried out with CGCRI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur, and AIIMS New Delhi, etc. on different healthcare problems like isolation of active molecules from plants against cancer, RNA delivery and developing vascularized engineered constructs to overcome a major bottleneck in tissue engineering.
IIEST in collaboration with Tata Steel is engaged in developing advanced high strength steel and received sanction for IMPRINT-2 project from MHRD & DST, Government of India. Separately, Tata Steel is also working with Metallurgy & Materials Engineering Department through sponsored research projects.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), GoI has sanctioned 3 projects to Electrical Engineering Department under NaMPET-III scheme.

R & D Profile


In 2017-18, Institute received 33 nos. of new sponsored research projects with a sanctioned amount of Rs.7.38 Cr. Almost all the Departments, Schools and Centres received such sponsored projects. Significant funding came from organizations/ agencies like the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; The Royal Society UK; Tata Steel. Ltd.; Murata Business Engineering (India); UNICEF, IC-IMPACTS, Canada; The Institution of Engineers (India); the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India; Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL); Electrosteel Castings Ltd. (ECL); Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA); Dept. of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Dept. of Health Research. Thrust areas of sponsored research included (i) High energy density permanent magnet, (ii) Motor drives (iii) Pollution control of the river Ganges, (iv) Clean energy (v) New Peptide-based synthetic self- replicating system, (vi) Fundamental research in homeopathy (vii) Flexible supercapacitors (viii) Extreme Point of Care Diagnostics on a CD etc.
In 2018-19, a total of 26 new sponsored projects from DST, DBT, Electrosteel Casting Limited, Digital India Corporation, DST-FIST, Indian Council of Medical Research, UNICEF, Ministry of Earth Science, CSIR etc. have been approved with a total sanctioned amount of Rs. 33.56 Cr. Titles of a few important research projects include: i) Flexible polymer nanocomposite films for energy generation and microwave shielding applications. ii) Performance optimization organic solar cells. iii) Scaling up WASH approach in schools in Purulia District. iv) DST Solar PV Hub Phase - II. v) Study of seismic failure possibilities of earthen dams and embankments by dynamic and response analysis etc. In 2018-19, about 134 projects were running in the institute and 23 projects have been completed.
In 2019-20, total 39 new sponsored projects (MHRD-SPARC, DST, DST-FIST, SERB, DBT, CSIR, UKRI-RCUK, WB-DST, WB Pollution Control Board etc.) have been approved with a total sanctioned amount of about Rs. 14.4 Cr. About 155 projects were running in the institute during this period sponsored by various funding agencies like SERB, SPARC, DST, BRNS, CSIR, DBT, UNICEF, ICMR, IC-IMPACTS, IMPRINT, TATA STEEL, WBPDCL, DIC-MLA(VIS), NMPB-MOA, PHED-GOWB, MURATA, NRDC, MoES, DST-SAIF, DEITY-MCIT, MNRE UKRI, etc. In 2019-20, 45 projects have been completed.
Over the last few years, in tune with the Institute policy of strengthening national and international collaboration, the Institute has signed MoUs with various academic/ research/ government organizations and Industry houses. In 2017-18, Institute signed MoU with BHEL, TATA Steel, Murata Business Engineering, TATA Motors Ltd. In 2018-19, the Institute signed 2 MoUs with the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

MoU signed with CSIR-CGCRI on 26th July 2019

Consultancy Projects


Important funding agencies like Kolkata Municipal Corporation, West Bengal Medical Services Corporation Limited, P.W.DTE, Govt. of West Bengal, Haldia Development Authority, IIT Kharagpur, Weastern Coalfields Limited, Larsen & Toubro Limited, ITD Cementation India Ltd., Coal India Limited, Kolkata Port Trust, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners, Second Vivekananda Bridge, Visva Bharati University, Mackintosh Burn Limited, ECL, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Bridge and Roof Co. (India) Ltd., Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited, Mackintosh Burn Limited, Western Coalfields Limited, Hindalco Industries Ltd., PDCL etc are providing many significant consultancy activities.
Some major consultancy projects in 2019-20 include:

  • Analysis of referee coal samples from different mines by South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Bharat Cooking Coal Ltd.
  • Verification of mine closure activities by Lignite Power Private Limited, Singareni Collieries Company Limited.
  • Checking of structural design and stability of Swarnamani Tower, Kolkata by Mani Square Ltd.
  • Re-assessment of Vent Shaft and New Mahakaran Dewatering scheme for Construction of UG Vent Shaft and New Mahakaran Station by Transtonnelstroy - Afcons Joint Venture.
  • Quality Monitoring - Construction of three Bridges & Approach Road at Nayakhali at the 5th Km, at Jalda near Mandermani at 15th Km & at Saulat at 29th Km of Saikat Sarani under Tamluk Highway division in the district of Purba Midnapur by Mackintosh Burn Limited
  • Proof Consultancy Services for 4 laning of Barhi - Koderma Section of NH 31 from km 0.00 to 27.500 in the state of Jharkhand by Ram Kripal Singh Construction Pvt. Ltd.
  • Consultative Collaboration on Research between IIEST, Shibpur and KMRCL for Kolkata East West Metro Project. MoU signed with IBM India Pvt. Ltd. on 15th October 2020
  • Study of EIA/EMP and Bank Protection Study within Port limits in Halisahar Municipality.
  • Renovation of Kedarnath Arogya Bhavan, Bali.
  • Vetting of Structural design and drawings for Logistic Hub at Garden Reach, Kolkata under KMDA.
  • Traffic Survey (7 days, 24 hours) of Vidyasagar Setu.
  • Rain water harvesting of artificial rechanrge for Khagra Joydev Coal Block at Birbhum District of West Bengal.
  • Scientific study for stability of dragline dump at Mungoli OCM of Wani Area, WCL.
In 2017-2018, the Institute carried out about 75 new consultancy works at a sanctioned amount of Rs. 2.25 Cr in different engineering departments. In 2018-19, a total of 60 new consultancy works were sponsored with a value of Rs. 3.00 Cr. In 2019-20, total 75 new consultancy works were sanctioned with an amount of Rs. 4.74 Cr. from different agencies.

List of Projects


Office of Dean of Research and Consultancy
6th Floor, New Science & Technology Building
Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah – 711 103
Ph. (033) 2668 4561 / 62 / 63 Extn. 256 / 271 / 267 Fax (033) 2668 2916
Email: dean.research@iiests.ac.in , director_rc@iiests.ac.in
Website: www.iiests.ac.in

Contact


Office of Dean of Research and Consultancy
6th Floor, New Science & Technology Building
Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah – 711 103
Ph. (033) 2668 4561 / 62 / 63 Extn. 256 / 271 / 267 Fax (033) 2668 2916
Email: dean.research@iiests.ac.in , director_rc@iiests.ac.in
Website: www.iiests.ac.in

Socially relevant research


Funding Agency Title of the Project
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. Process developments for isolation of starch and tannin from sal cake.
UGC, New Delhi Study on production of single cell protein for food and feed application from waste fruits.
Department of Food Processing and Horticulture, Govt of West Bengal. Creation of infrastructural facilities for running degree course in food processing technology.
GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited), Kolkata, Govt. of India undertaking under the Ministry of Defence. Social out-reach programmes.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (Department of Ministry of Food & Public Distribution), Directorate of Vanaspati, Vegetable Oils & Fats, New Delhi. Development of technology to make low cost nutritionally effective ‘ready to eat’ protein rich human food from oil seeds or deoiled edible seed cakes (seed meals) by coextrusion with cereals.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Mumbai Provide vocational training to unemployed youth on various Module/Trades under CSR activity.

Created: 23 November 2019