IIT-M plans to improve research activities by 2020

In its strategic plan for the year 2020, the institute plans to develop focussed centres of excellence on areas with potentially large societal impact. 

Each Centre of Excellence will involve 10 to 15 faculty members drawn from multiple disciplines. The centres of excellence could also be multi-institutional, involving partnerships with other IITs and IISc.

Accordingly, research at the centres will be carried out through an industrial membership programme and an advisory board consisting of representatives from the various stakeholders including key industry partners. 

The centres of excellence will improve the research input in terms of both human and physical resources. It will also create a better ambience for research by providing greater flexibility to encourage performance of faculty members and scholars while continually improving research infrastructure. Publication in top journals and presentation at venues where the world’s leading researchers are present will be encouraged.

A significant quantum of research will originate from problems identified because of the faculty’s engagement with industry.  The institute will also periodically analyse its research output using third-party services. Departmental reviews will be conducted by visiting committees of experts from academia and industry once every five years.