CSIR-CECRI (CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute), Tamil Nadu, conducted the “One Week, One Lab” programme during 24-28 July 2023.The curtain raiser of “One Week, One Lab” was inaugurated on 24 July 2023 by Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology & R&D, Tata Steel Ltd, Kolkata. Shri DM Raipure, Chairman Tungabhadra Board, Karnataka, and Dr Kartik Kumar, R&D Director, Saint Gobain India Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, were the Guests of Honour. A video on “CECRI’s R&D Glimpses” and “CECRI’s Technology Capsule”, were released.
“CECRI-Industry Connect” was organised in which delegates from various industries actively took part in the deliberations and provided their feedback on the ongoing collaborations and future requirements to strengthen their relationship with CECRI. The event witnessed the handing over of two prototypes of the “Piezoelectric Dynamic Pressure Sensor” developed by CECRI to ISRO’s IPRC. A new agreement was signed for contract R&D on atmospheric corrosion testing with Saint Gobain India Pvt. Ltd, India. Day-1 also had “CECRI-Alumni Connect” event through a hybrid mode in which alumni of BTech, PhD and TWAS Fellows of CSIR-CECRI interacted with the present students.
Day-2, 25 July 2023, marked CSIR-CECRI’s 76th Foundation Day. On this occasion, Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR was the Chief Guest. In her address, Dr N Kalaiselvi, DG, CSIR highlighted the pivotal role of electrochemistry and electrochemical processes in addressing energy and environmental issues. Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) delivered the 76th Foundation Day Lecture. In his address, Shri Bhalla stressed the importance of large-scale processes for green hydrogen production and mentioned CSIR-CECRI’s contributions to MNRE schemes. The Directors of sister labs, Dr KJ Sreeram, Director, CSIR-CLRI and Dr N Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC, attended the event.
The following new experimental facilities were inaugurated during these two days:
1. Molten Salt Metallurgy Facility
2. g-MnO2 Pilot Plant
3. Green Hydrogen Laboratory (HyLab)
4. Electroplating Facility
5. Climate Action Building (CAB)
A product on the commercialisation of CSIR-CECRI's Technology on “3D Printable Polymer Filaments” by the licensee M/s. Monotech Systems Limited, Chennai, was also released.
CECRI-Industry Connect on Corrosion Mitigation was held on Day-2. As a part of CECRI-Social Connect, a Students Rally was planned on the same day to create awareness among the general public on CECRI’s technological contributions, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and “One Week, One Lab” activities. The rally was inaugurated by Sivaganga District Collector, Smt. Asha Ajith, IAS.
Padma Shri Prof. Anil K Gupta, Founder of Honey Bee Network and National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad, the Chief Guest, addressed the students on the third day under CECRI-Students Connect. A lecture on IPR was delivered by Dr T Pavan Kumar, Senior Scientist, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar. Day-3 also had a programme on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kit demonstration on various topics including batteries, sensors, etc. by school students.
The events of Day-4 were parallelly conducted at Chennai and Karaikudi. The Energy Technology Meet was held at CECRI Chennai Unit located in the CSIR Madras Complex at Taramani, Chennai. The meet was inaugurated by Dr R Venkatadhri, Chief Innovation and Digital Officer, Tata Chemicals, Mumbai. Prof. AK Shukla, former Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and former Director of CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi, and Dr R Madhan, Director, IGSTC, New Delhi, were the Guests of Honour. The event included two sessions: “Hydrogen Energy: Generation, Storage, and Utilisation” and “Battery Technologies for e-Mobility” with lectures by industrial delegates and CECRI Scientists. A panel discussion on “Driving India's Green Future: Exploring the Potential of EV Industries, Li-ion Batteries, and Fuel Cells" was also held.
On Day 4, at CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi, Hands-on Training on Patent Writing was provided by Dr T Pavan Kumar, Sr Scientist, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneshwar.
CSIR-CECRI conducted Electroplaters’ Meet on Day-5 at Madurai to showcase the developments in electroplating to entrepreneurs of electroplaters of Madurai. The event was inaugurated by Dr Rajeev Mehta, Scientist-H, Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi. Shri P Natarajan, President, Electroplaters & Metal Finishers Association, Madurai, and Smt. R Uma Chandrika, Assistant Director, MSME, Madurai were the Guest of Honour. A live demonstration of electroplating was conducted for college students.
The Valedictory Function of CSIR-CECRI’s “One Week, One Lab” was held on Day-5 at CSIR–CECRI, Karaikudi. Dr GA Pathanjali, Managing Director, High Energy Batteries (India) Ltd, Mathur and Dr Rajeev Metha, IUAC, New Delhi, were the guests to provide the valedictory address. Dr K Ramesha, Director, CSIR-CECRI presided over the function and acknowledged the entire CECRI fraternity for their support in convening the events in a grand manner.
