IN FOCUS: CSIR-CMERI, DURGAPUR
CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, known as CSIR-CMERI, was established on 26 February 1958 in the industrial city of Durgapur, West Bengal. This institute was born out of an earnest desire to uplift Indian industries by offering innovative scientific and technological solutions derived from dedicated research and development efforts. In the early days, visionary leaders, including V Cadambe, took on roles that would shape the institute’s future. The planning committee, chaired by Dr BC Roy, laid the groundwork for what would become a cornerstone of India’s industrial advancement. When the governing body of CSIR approved the plan, it set in motion the construction of CSIR-CMERI in April 1959, signalling a commitment to fostering progress.
With support from international partners, such as UNESCO, CSIR-CMERI soon began to thrive. Prof Henry Wright Baker served as a guiding force during this period, helping to usher in a new era of collaboration and growth. The foundation of the main building, laid by renowned educationist and political thinker Humayun Kabir in December 1961, marked a significant step forward for the institute. Throughout its early years, CSIR-CMERI was fortunate to be led by remarkable individuals like Prof H Wright Baker, GS Chowdhury, and MM Suri, who brought dedication and passion to their work. Recognising the importance of supporting research for economic development, the then Finance Minister of India, TT Krishnamachari, allocated special funds after witnessing the potential of CSIR-CMERI during a visit in January 1965. Understanding the diverse needs of industries nationwide, CSIR-CMERI expanded its reach by establishing regional centres—beginning in Pune, then Ludhiana, and finally Madras—enabled by vital international aid. In these formative years, researchers focused on essential fields such as Internal Combustion Engines, Automobiles, and Power Engineering, among others, intending to contribute to a brighter future for India’s industrial landscape.
INITIAL MANDATE
The institute was established with a visionary mandate to advance mechanical engineering technology, aiming to reduce India’s reliance on foreign collaborations significantly. Its mission was to nurture innovations and inventions to showcase Indian talent internationally, enabling Indian products to compete effectively in global markets. A critical focus for the newly founded institute was to actively engage with industrial challenges, laying a strong foundation for future growth. It was vital to dismantle the prevailing biases against indigenous technology, especially in the field of mechanical engineering, leveraging the resources available at the institute. The institute embarked on an ambitious and dedicated journey, and these efforts quickly yielded positive outcomes. The increase in collaborations and the early financial returns from CSIR-CMERI’s research in its initial years showed that, with the right support, Indian talent could effectively diminish the dependency on external mechanical engineering expertise. Acknowledging CSIR-CMERI’s commitment to fostering growth in Indian industries, the then Union Finance Minister responded by increasing the budget for CSIR-CMERI from Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs in 1964-65, and subsequently to Rs 120 lakhs in 1965-66. This financial boost empowered CSIR-CMERI with the necessary resources to serve the industry effectively.
As India’s sole national-level research institute in mechanical engineering, CSIR-CMERI has continuously met the evolving needs of Indian industries and society since its inception. The institute initiated an impressive research agenda during its early years, establishing a strong and distinctive position within the country. Within just a decade of its founding, CSIR-CMERI achieved remarkable milestones, designing approximately 80 machines and pieces of equipment that successfully came to market, contributing significantly to India’s technological advancement.
EARLY ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY
The pioneers at CSIR-CMERI foresaw the critical role of technology in research and development from the very beginning and took decisive action by acquiring computing facilities in March 1966. They imported a ground-breaking IBM 1620 computer, potentially the first in eastern India, which became an invaluable asset for the institute’s scientists. The integration of this state-of-the-art computing machine revolutionised the institute’s capability to perform swift and precise investigations into complex engineering challenges such as structural dynamics, fluid coupling design, thermos-physical properties of materials, linkage designs, low-pressure plasma, fluid logic devices, and the optimisation of screw pump profiles. To harness the full potential of this technological advancement, the staff and scientists were equipped with comprehensive training in computer programming, positioning them at the forefront of the global scientific community. The impact of adopting such a sophisticated computing machine was profound; CSIR-CMERI not only propelled its in-house research projects but also extended these valuable computing resources to other research institutions and industries throughout the nation. This collaborative spirit fostered an environment where innovation flourished, underscoring the institute’s commitment to advancing science and technology in India.
All Images Courtesy: CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur
EARLY TECHNOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
During its early days, the CSIR-CMERI collaborated with several industries in and outside the country and developed a series of technologies. A very prominent name in that series is the first indigenous tractor of the country, which had been named ‘Swaraj’. This first 20 hp tractor from the institute changed the complete dynamics of the tractor market in India and helped the country’s farmers sail through the green revolution. The 20 hp tractor had been developed in collaboration with industries like Mining & Allied Machinery Corporation Ltd., Durgapur, and The Britannia Engineering Co. Ltd., Titagarh. Further, a low-cost indigenous scooter and an indigenous moped were also developed in the institute in collaboration with companies like Escorts Ltd, Faridabad, and Sen & Pandit Pvt Ltd, Calcutta, respectively. Considering the requirements of small farmers and village populations in the country, the institute developed small and affordable tractors like Sonalika, Mark II Hand Pump, hand pump attachable iron removal plant, 50 TPD Oil Expeller, self-propelled combined harvester, solar-electric rickshaw, solar power tree, ginger/turmeric dryer and several agricultural implants for enhancing productivity in agriculture.
PRESENT ACTIVITIES
Over time, the institute has developed into a top research facility known for its proficiency in mechanical engineering and associated fields. At present, the CSIR-CMERI has its main institute in Durgapur with a campus that spans an area of 81 acres and has a regional centre in the name of Centre of Excellence in Farm Machinery (CSIR-CMERI-CoEFM) in Ludhiana. Currently, the Vision, Mission, and Mandate of the institute are as follows:
The vision of the institute is “To emerge CSIR-CMERI as the Key Technology Provider to the Nation in Mechanical Engineering & Allied Areas by 2030 & Play central role in Innovation process in Indian Industry & Socio-Economic development of country”.
Considering the present era of technological requirements in the country, the CSIR-CMERI has restructured itself and created the following contemporary research verticals in the institute:
- Airborne Systems & Technologies
- Autonomous Systems & Robotics
- Electric Mobility, Clean Energy & Green Environment
- Smart Farm Machineries
- Sustainable & Digital Manufacturing
By creating cutting-edge solutions like a mobile drain cleaning vehicle, a strong municipal solid and liquid waste management system, and mob control vehicles, CSIR-CMERI has recently made substantial contributions to society. Robotics, additive manufacturing, farm mechanisation, renewable energy, electric mobility, aeromechanical systems, advanced design and simulation, tribology, smart foundry, NDT, and condition monitoring are just a few of the many fields in which the institute conducts research. To stay up with new trends like artificial intelligence, machine learning, sustainable engineered materials, and the Internet of Things (IoT), CSIR-CMERI has strategically re-aligned its research and development orientation with the country’s technological trajectory.
Cutting-edge research is being conducted by CSIR-CMERI in several essential technology areas, such as Climate Change Deterrence Technologies, which include creating environmentally friendly refrigerants, solar cooking options, and effective Municipal Solid Waste Management systems. Additionally, the institute uses robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation to create cutting-edge solutions and boost productivity and efficiency in various industries. On one side, the Smart Foundry initiative of the institute is promoting innovation in manufacturing processes by following Industry 5.0 standards, while on the other side, the Smart & Precision Farming initiatives are transforming agricultural practices by combining big data, cloud computing, and IoT technologies. Additionally, CSIR-CMERI is leading the way in developing import substitution technologies, from advanced production techniques to fast charging Ultra Capacitors. Besides this, CSIR-CMERI is also actively involved in research on renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and developing domestic technologies for the strategic and societal domains.
Furthermore, carbon neutrality has emerged as a key issue in national policy due to the depletion of fossil fuels, their adverse effects on the environment, and their volatility in price. As a result, CSIR-CMERI is now concentrating its R&D efforts on greener and cleaner technology. By 2030, the goal is to create environmentally safe, green, and clean energy systems using domestically sourced materials with significant entrepreneurial potential. The institute also opens up a new research vertical to increase the country’s energy security. This is mainly through the development of Type IV Hydrogen cylinder for its storage. Developments in the storage of hydrogen technology could have a number of effects on both the domestic and global economies. These initiatives collectively are expected to have a major impact on the improving imports as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative replacement and improvement of exports, and can significantly boost global trade and GDP.
ACADEMIC & SKILL DEVELOPMENT
The institute offers integrated MTech-PhD programmes under the aegis of the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, which is an institution of national importance set up by a special act of Parliament to offer research-oriented degrees in interdisciplinary fields of research. The degree programmes offered by the institute at present comprise of PhD in Engineering, PhD in Science, PG Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Integrated MTech-PhD, and MTech in Mechatronics & Machine Design. Following the Skill India mission of the union government, CSIR-CMERI set up a dedicated Skill and Innovation Promotion Group, which is involved in imparting skill and training programmes at various levels with the objective of training students, MSME workers, unemployed youth, and small entrepreneurs in various cutting edge technological disciplines. The skill development programs of CSIR-CMERI are meticulously designed to cater to the country’s requirement for a skilled workforce to enhance their employability and inculcate the temperament of techno-entrepreneurship inside them. To inculcate the scientific temperament in the school students, CSIR-CMERI also offers several programmes under the umbrella of the Scientist-Student Connect program, popularly known as ‘Jigyasa’.
Conclusively, the CSIR-CMERI is marching all around and continuously pushing the nation’s growth forward with the help of its innovative R&D and human resource development mandates to achieve the ultimate goal of ‘Vikshit Bharat 2047’.
*Dr NC Murmu is the Director of CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, where Dr Rajesh P Barnwal is the Senior Principal Scientist & Head of Information Technology. For available technologies or other queries, please email at bdg@cmeri.res.in.
