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).

Chandigarh, August 17: MBA students from the Panjab University Regional Centre in Ludhiana met PU Vice-Chancellor, Prof R C Sobti to apprise him on the lack of facilities at the centre. The students said that there was a shortage of teachers and basic infrastructure facilities at the Ludhiana centre. They claimed that though the academic session began on August 7, the centre has a serious shortage of teachers. They alleged that the teachers at the centre were under qualified for their posts.

A student said, “The centre does not provide any hostel facility. Commuting to campus is a major hassle for most students. Most classrooms do not have any projectors or other modern facilities required for teaching MBA students. Since we are paying a high fee, we must get better facilities.”

The students claimed that at the time of admission, they were assured that the centre will be named University Business School (UBS), though the name was later changed to University Institute of Management Studies. The regional centre does not have a co-coordinator after the resignation by S K Chadha, who was the earlier incharge of the institute.

The V-C assured the students that the centre will be renamed University Business School, Ludhiana.

He added that faculty members from UBS, Chandigarh would be sent to Ludhiana till new teachers are appointed.

He said that the students will get all the facilites that they require in the college itself.