NBCC (India) Limited has provided CSR funding to set up a lab space at the Thaiyur campus (called the Discovery campus) of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). NBCC (India) Limited is a Government of India Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in the category Navaratna. The proposed building will come up over an area of 1018 sq. metres and will have various facilities. It will help meet the growing infrastructure requirements of the institute and its researchers to conduct cutting-edge research to benefit the nation and the world at large.

Senior officials from NBCC (India) Limited, IIT Madras (virtually), and the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser were present while signing the Memorandum of Understanding on 19th July 2021 at NBCC Bhawan.

IIT Madras is known for its various departments and advanced research programmes. Over the years, the institute has built new research centres, academic blocks, and labs. The new lab space, funded by NBCC (India) Limited, will enable the setting up of 12 additional labs of 10x5 sq. metres. IIT Madras has provided land for this new initiative and will also ensure the availability of various utilities such as water, electricity, and sanitation. It will take over the lab space once construction is completed and will also provide the required funds for its upkeep and maintenance.

The partnership was facilitated by the Strategic Alliances division of the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India. Before the MoU signing between NBCC and IIT Madras, Principal Scientific Adviser, Prof. K. VijayRaghavan said, “IIT Madras spearheads several research programmes aligned with the focus areas of national and global interest. Various departments and advanced research centres of the institution have trained numerous students and scholars. These programmes, however, need infrastructure – centres of excellence, academic blocks, lab facilities, among others. NBCC (India)’s support to facilitate a lab space at the Thaiyur campus of IIT Madras is very welcome in this regard.”

Shri P K Gupta, CMD, NBCC India pointed out that NBCC (India) is happy to contribute to research and development at IIT Madras through the organization’s CSR initiative. He noted that such contributions will go a long way in addressing the dearth of low expenditure on R&D in India.

Prof Mahesh V Panchagnula, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Affairs, IIT Madras, expressed his gratitude for the support received from NBCC and talked about the scope of this partnership which begins with CSR and can branch out to collaborate for design. Prof Ligy Philip, Dean (Planning), IIT Madras elaborated on the work to be done at the Thaiyur campus which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March 2021.

The MoU was signed by Shri Debasis Satapathy, GM HR (CSR & Training), NBCC (India), and Prof Mahesh P, IIT Madras.

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