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ABOUT CRF

We have reached a cross-road where the humanity is leaning to grow a companionship with machine/instruments. Scientists and technologists across the Globe are trying to decipher the mystery of nature to sub atomic precision using more and more sophisticated instruments for sustenance. NIT Rourkela, among all other leading institutions of India has become a strategic partner in this mission and created a massive infrastructure for R & D in most branches of engineering and science utilizing various funding sources. At NITR, the equipment and software procured through various funding resources are available for use by the entire research community. In order to maximize the utilization of all the high end equipments and their better management, these equipments are brought under one umbrella “Central Research Facility” vide resolution of 54th Board of Governors meeting in May 2017.

The Central Research Facility (CRF), is now located in TIIR building with an objective of providing central facility of latest and advanced techniques for research in various areas of science and technology. There are some laboratories planned under the roof of CRF complex and others are existing in various departments. Each laboratory is under the supervision of a designated faculty member from the Institute. The aim is to house several sophisticated and modern analytical equipment that can offer its users, a wide range of methods for chemical/material analysis/ testing/ characterization. This will enable the researchers to uplift the quality of work utilizing the sophisticated equipment facility, to keep pace with developments taking place globally, publish their research findings in peer reviewed high impact factor journals, create greater extent of intellectual property, higher extent of industrial collaboration and technology transfer, etc. The concerted efforts of all will certainly make this facility to contribute towards the growth of our Institute; in particular, and will be percolated towards the overall upliftment of the society at large.

OBJECTIVES

To extend testing and analysis facility to undergraduate, post graduate, doctoral students and faculty members of NITR.
To acquire and develop capability for preventive maintenance and repair of the high end instruments.
To extend its facilities to other academic institutions, R & D labs and industries on payment basis that would improve our perception and increase our IRG (Internal Resource Generation).
To organize short term courses/workshops on the use and application of various instruments and analytical techniques.
To train technicians for maintenance and operation of sophisticated instruments.

Scope of work

CRF is looking after the online booking management of all 290 equipment throughout the institute. Among the instruments present in Institute, 309 equipment from 15 Departments is reflecting in the national portal of I-STEM website https://www.istem.gov.in/. The user can book these instruments through I-STEM gateway. Among the instruments, 180 no. of equipment are planned to be displayed for external booking through CRF external booking GATEWAY. There are various categories of instruments under CRF. Click here to view the list of Instruments

BROADENING THE HORIZON

Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM)

I-STEM is an IP protected Web Portal (https://www.istem.gov.in/) which holds the database of publicly-funded and functioning R&D Equipment/instrument facilities in various institutions and organizations; public and private across India. It is a project initiated and funded by the Office of the PSA in consultation with the Honorable Prime Minister of India at the PMO, GoI on 17th Nov 2017. And the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, was assigned as the Nodal Centre. I-STEM Portal is the gateway for researchers to locate the specific facility they need for their R&D work and identify the one that is either located closest to them or available at their earliest.

In the year 2019, CRF has taken initiative to register NIT Rourkela under the National Web Portal; I-STEM (Indian Science Technology Engineering Facilities Map) as per the MHRD mandate and GOI directives. CRF has registered detail profile of 309 facilities to I-STEM portal pertaining to 15 Departments. Any external user from any corner of the country can book any of the instruments registered for testing, characterization etc. on payment basis. An awareness program / introductory online training was provided by I-STEM IT experts to NITR team members/technologists/operators who are going to facile the external and internal usage of those instruments registered under I-STEM.