Kolkata, Sep 3 (IANS): A virtual centre spread across five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been set up to develop advanced technologies in the area of biofuels, it was announced on Thursday.
The virtual 'DBT-Pan IIT Centre for Bioenergy' involves IITs Bombay, Kharagpur, Guwahati, Jodhpur and Roorkee.
Set up by the department of biotechnology (DBT) of the science and technology ministry, the virtual centre will be co-ordinated by IIT-Bombay.
"The research team from the five participating institutes consists of 32 investigators and will undertake research activities in the following thematic areas: cyanobacterial biofuels, biofuels from micro-algae, ligno-cellulosic biomass to biofuels and techno-economic and life cycle analysis," said Saikat Chakraborty of IIT-Kharagpur.A
The centre also aims to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the bioenergy industry in India.