The Indian Institute of Technology - Madras has called for companies to contribute from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund for research and development work.
The CSR funds received so far by the institute had helped it enable electrification of rural homes; improve the supply chain and marketing for farmers and producer organisations and integrating urban lakes for efficient water use.
R. Nagarajan, Dean, International and Alumni Relations, said for the institute to continue its research and offer efficient solutions it needed the support of industry.
The institute carried out its research and develops solutions in academic settings but the solutions must be implemented in the community. “It is in this latter phase that IIT Madras sees a huge need and opportunity for CSR funding,” he said.
The institute has been receiving financial support from various companies in sectors such as agriculture and farm technology; water technology; education and entrepreneurship, energy, health, environment and heritage.
The faculty and students have so far taken up a three-year water and waste management in a village near Chennai; been involved in developing free online courses for the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL); and are conducting research on the influence of orthotic and prosthetic devices.
