Special Centres supporting research

The University established special centres to effectively support and monitor the research activities on campus.

Centre for Research and Technology Development (CRTD) 

The Centre for Research and Technology Development (CRTD) (https://b-u.ac.in/159/about-us-crtd) is set up as a single-stop solution for administrative and logistic support for applying and operating extramural-funded research projects, consultancy projects, seed grants, testing assignments, research fellowships, training programs, and other research and developmental activities of the University. The CRTD also undertakes the purchase of equipment and other materials and the maintenance of stock related to the projects.

Centre for Research and Evaluation (CRE) 

The Centre for Research and Evaluation (CRE) at Bharathiar University (https://b-u.ac.in/research-portal) was created to take care of the needs of research scholars and research supervisors of the University Departments as well as the affiliated colleges and research and development (R&D) programme. The functions of the CRE include the reorganization of the research supervisors, admission, and registration of the research scholars, monitoring research progress, and submission of the Ph.D., thesis. The centre also looks after the processes involved in the evaluation of the Ph.D., thesis. The formation of the CRE has benefitted scholars pursuing Ph.D., programmes under various streams by hastening the Ph.D., thesis submission, and evaluation process. The creation of the centre has greatly reduced the workload of the Examination Section which resulted in undue delays in the thesis evaluation process and award of the doctoral degrees. The University also maintains high standards for its Ph.D., programmes by setting up rigorous protocols for obtaining guideships by the research supervisors, periodic monitoring of the research progress, and adjudication of the thesis by a foreign expert in the respective research domain.

DRDO-BU Centre for Life Sciences 

The Scientific collaboration with DRDO started way back in 1987 with the visit of former Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University (BU) to the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, New Delhi. In progression, a team of Scientists from DIPAS visited BU and chose the Department of Environmental Sciences as the initial point for a joint research project. Following that, the DIPAS laboratory was recognized to conduct M.Phil./Ph.D. programs affiliated to Bharathiar University in the relevant areas of Defence needs, which strengthened the interaction even further. The DRDO's intention to improve collaboration with academic institutions to work on futuristic research areas of defence made it possible for a number of Scientists to visit various Departments of the University and sanctioning of various projects based on the expertise available at BU. As a result, new joint projects were added to the faculties of BU which has explored the real potential. In 2001, DIPAS and INMAS began offering PG course in Environmental Biology and Radiation Biology as it relates to defence personnel requirement. The decision to build a centre for cutting-edge R&D for the benefit of Defense led to the establishment of the DRDO-BU Centre for Life Sciences.

The Centre for Life Sciences established in 2005 at BU is an autonomous research institute that conducts both basic and applied research in the life sciences and other fields that are important to armed forces. It was founded as a joint venture by the DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India and BU. The academic partnership between DRDO and BU was established in 1989 and 13 DRDO Labs around the Nation were recognized for conducting research program by BU and so far more than 500 Ph.D., were awarded. Dr. Kalam, the former Secretary of DD R&D at the Ministry of Defence, signed a MoU between DRDO and Bharathiar University for the joint project on April 18, 1998. Based on progress made through joint collaboration, DRDO decided to establish research centre.  His Excellency Dr. Kalam, then President of India, officially launched the centre in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Chancellor and DRDO authorities.

The Phase I research projects of the centre were started on 6th June 2005 with the fund of 1800 lakhs sanctioned by DRDO for 11 projects. Phase II was launched on July 5th, 2012 with 16 projects receiving a total of 2737 lakhs. In addition to the phases I and II, the DRDO contributed about 250 lakhs as extramural funding. Since the establishment of the Centre, DRDO has also constantly supported BU by hosting conferences, seminars, training sessions, etc. The centre also received external funding of 250 lakhs from other agencies like DST, CSIR & DBT. The DRDO-BU CLS produced great R&D results that will soon be transformed into goods, innovations, and procedures. The Centre at Bharathiar University was Re-designated as DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-COE) since 14th October 2022 and a MoU was signed and Exchanged at DEPEXPO 2022 at Gujarat on 20th October 2022 in the presence of Defence Minister, Govt. of India.

It is a very important initiative towards making defence sector as self reliant and sustainable as per the dream of Prime Minster Narendara Modi for "Athmanirbhar Bharat".  Bharathiar University will step up DIA-CoE. BU is already having state of the art unique DRDO-BU Centre for Life Sciences, since 2005 which was the dream of Dr. Kalam. During two phases excellent outcomes were carried out by the researchers including several technologies related to defence, patents, copyrights and human resources. The existing centre is very unique in Bharathiar University and only centre in state Universities of Tamilnadu. The Objective of DIA-CoE, BU will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research in the research verticals Biosensors, micro fuel cells and gas sensors; Environmental Toxicity Management and other areas mutually agreed upon for defence and security needs. The centre will collaborate with the academic researchers and faculties at BU, start-ups, industries and other institutes in the country in facilitating and progressing advanced technology research. It is equipped with state of the art scientific infrastructure facilities in the areas like advanced material, analytical, molecular biology research, etc. the centre is already supporting several institutes for high end R&D.  

DIA-CoE, BU will facilitate focused basic and applied research by utilizing the knowledge base of faculties and researchers at BU and also engage other academic institutions and technology centres, start-ups and industries in the country. For progressing the intended scientific investigations and development of advanced technologies, DRDO scientists with requisite research & technology expertise will be associated along with the academic faculties/ researchers. For critical and emerging technology investigations and development, where researchers from multiple institutes / centres, startups and industries are required to join together for finding solutions to research and technology challenges, DIA-CoE BU will enable such collaborative research through appropriate program definition, work share and MOUs which would lead to develop new technologies; and enhanced technology maturity for cutting edge future defence systems as per the research and technology roadmap. The focus of this centre would promote indigenous technologies to reduce India's defence imports and make India self reliant and sustainable.