The CSIR-IMMT (Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology), Bhubaneswar celebrated it 57th Foundation Day on 8th Oct. 

IMMT is a premier national laboratory of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi. The institute is dedicated to harness the potential of minerals, materials and other natural resources of India. Established in the year 1964 as Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) Bhubaneswar, it was renamed as Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology (IMMT) on 13thApril 2007 with a renewed mandate, vision and focus. 

Main thrust of R&D at IMMT has been to empower Indian industries to meet the challenges of self-reliance by providing advanced process know-how and consultancy services for commercial exploitation of indigenous natural resources while simultaneously conducting basic research of high calibre in the areas of science and engineering applications.

Noted achievements of IMMT

    • Immensely contributed towards alleviating people’s problems during super-cyclone Amphan early this year, with its various technologies, especially in water purification etc.

    • has established a NABL accredited centre of excellence for chemical and biological testing of drinking and industrial water sources.

    • IMMT’s water filtration media, popularly known as “Terafil”, provides a very low cost solution to water treatment technology. 

    • Institution played a vital role in fighting Covid-19 pandemic situation by developing hospital assistive devices and PPEs which include hands free hand wash and hand sanitization equipment, liquid hand sanitizers, antiviral spray machine to combat pandemic situation.

    • IMMT is leading a multi-lab farm based S&T intervention programme for socio-economic development in the aspirational district Navarangpur of Odisha under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY).

    • It has started the DSIR funded Common Research and Technology Development Hub (CRTDH) in the area of New Materials and Chemical processes with aim to impart training to MSMEs and Start-ups in the relevant areas for Research & Business.

    • The institute also undertakes programmes to monitor and assess coastal environment and atmospheric pollution round the year. IMMT is collaborating with ISRO in this respect. 

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)