The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), known for its cutting edge R&D knowledge base, was established as an autonomous body in September 1942, to address the needs of industrial research in the country. Further, evolving the scope and range of activities in several domains, CSIR is today known for its excellence in R&D and S&T innovations.

CSIR has Pan India presence through its network of 37 National Laboratories which undertake focused basic and applied research in diverse fields of S&T that includes: oceanography, earth sciences, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology. It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, leather, farm and non-farm sectors. CSIR has also established 39 outreach centres, one innovation complex and three units with a pan-India presence.

Pioneer of India’s intellectual property movement, CSIR today is strengthening its patent portfolio to carve out global niches for the country in select technology domains. CSIR has pursued cutting edge science and advanced knowledge frontiers. CSIR is the Nation’s custodian for Measurement Standards of Mass, Distance, Time, Temperature, Current etc. CSIR has created and is the custodian of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which is a tool to address unethical commercial exploitation of Indian Traditional Knowledge. CSIR also maintains Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) and Gene Bank.

CSIR through its various constituent laboratories is also placing major focus upon creating incubation facilities for spin offs and start-ups. CSIR hand-holds these companies so as to create a new segment of knowledge enterprises.