The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Coir Board and IIT Madras for setting up a Centre of Excellence to boost the use of coir “exclusively or in combination with other natural fibres.”
Under the MoU, Coir Geo-Textiles (CGT) can be successfully used to prevent soil erosion in slopes/embankments, river embankments, mine slope dumps stabilization, etc. CGT can be used in the low volume rural roads as a re-enforcement material.
CoE will extend the research work, which is done so far, in the coir sector with the support of IIT-Madras.
IIT-Madras will provide support to the development of relevant technology and evolve standards for production & processing through specific projects and monitor research projects and mentor of Coir Board’s research institutes/laboratories.
CoE will also assist in generating the Intellectual Property Rights and technology transfer.
Coir Board will provide financial assistance of Rs.5 crores initially for a period of two years for the establishment and running of the Centre of Excellence.
So far, 27 areas of R&D needs of the Coir industry have been identified, to be taken up by this Centre of Excellence, in addition to 10 in-house projects of IIT-M, in machinery development and road projects.
