Indian Institute of Technology here is setting up a Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology in its campus to undertake state-of-the-art research in the subject.

Funded by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), a similar centre of excellence will also be set up at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

“The total cost of the project is Rs 99.8 crore spread over five years, shared equally by both the institutions,” the Chief Investigator for the Prof Ramgopal Rao said.

“Though both the centres will have some areas in common, the team at IISc will focus more on the materials aspects of nanoelectronics devices, and the team at IIT Mumbai will focus more on the devices and circuits aspects of nanoelectronics,” Rao said.

This project also represents first collaborative effort between two leading academic institutes in the country, to carry out a joint programme in an important emerging area.

Over 20 faculty members from six different departments/schools are invloved in the execution of this project at IIT here, he said.

Both the centres together could produce highly trained, innovative scientists and engineers with hands-on experience through the post-graduation and under-graduation programmes. This way about 200 trained personnel will be produced every year, Rao added.

About the opportunities available due to the joint project, Rao said, “the facilities created through the project at the two centres will be available to researchers, scientists, engineers and users from other organisations, including academia, industry and government through auxiliary `Indian Nanoelectonics Users Programme’ (INUP).