In a bid to collaborate on different fronts of research and development, the CSIR-North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, has signed a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Darrang College, Numaligarh Refinery Limited and the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI).
The MoU with RFRI was signed on Monday by director G Narahari Sastry on behalf of CSIR-NEIST and Director RSC Jayaraj on behalf of RFRI.
Following the signing of the MoU, a massive plantation programme was initiated on the day by the respective directors and the officials of both the institutes.
“This MoU would open up new vistas of collaborative research which would be a win-win situation for both the organizations,” Sastry said.
“The mutual collaboration will enable the utilization of each other’s strengths in teaching and research, which in turn, will mutually benefit the students and faculty members of both the organizations and to create a framework for such a platform of collaboration,” he further said.
RSC Jayaraj also indicated that collaboration between the two institutes which have complementary capability will augur well for the development of the region
Rain Forest Research Institute is a premier scientific research organization in the north-east region, undertaking research and development of the forestry sector in the northeast.
The Institute is a constituent unit of The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
A CSIR-NEIST official informed that the MoU signed last week with NRL was aimed at the identification of critical research areas pertinent to microbial remediation, soil chemistry, functionalisation of low grade/weight hydrocarbons and subsequent upgradation.
Training of scientists, technologists, and officials in specialized areas, carrying out analytical tests and providing experts analysis of the results was also part of the MoU, the official disclosed.
Dr Sastry said that CSIR-NEIST over the years had developed expertise through vigorous research and development in the areas of oil recovery from refinery waste, membrane for oil/water separation, membrane for recovery of organic solvents from process effluents, developed a catalyst to convert waste Polyethene Terephthalate (PET) to a plasticizer named Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) which finds application in polymer industry etc.
Dr Sastry observed that the MoU was expected to create quality human resource development and employment generation.
Meanwhile, last week another MoU was signed between NEIST, and Darrang College, Tezpur in order to promote cooperation in scientific education and research work between both the research and educational institutes.