History

The Government of India launched “Nano-Mission” in May 2007 with an outlay of Rs. 1000 crores for five years with broad objectives of

  1. i) Basic Research Promotion.
  2. ii) Infrastructure Development including establishment of centres of excellence in specialized areas.
  3. iii) Promotion of Public Private Partnerships for direct industrial involvement in development of Nano Applications and Technologies.
  4. iv) Human Resource Development.
  5. v) Promotion of International Collaboration.

In line with the above objectives, Government of India, in the year 2008, approved the establishment of Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) at Mohali, Punjab. The location of INST was approved to be in the Knowledge City, Mohali, which consisted of Government of India institutions like Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) of Ministry of Human Resource Development, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) with Biotech Park of Department of Biotechnology and a Management Institute. Setting up of Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) by the Department of Science and Technology has been with the purpose to have a dedicated specialized centre of excellence focussing R&D on nanobiotechnology including drug delivery and nanotherapeutics, sensors, devices, fuel cells, environmental applications, nanotechnology in agriculture etc. INST is to be co-located with IISER campus in an area of 35 acre of land allotted free-of-cost by Government of Punjab. This will enable INST Mohali to take further advantage of IISER’s academic set-up including sharing of many common research facilities and utilities.

INST has been registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860) by the Registrar of the Societies, SAS Nagar, Punjab vide Certificate No. 2590 dated 21st August, 2009.

The Institute started its functions from January 2013 from the Habitat Centre, a building taken on rent from GMADA, in Sector 64, Phase-X, Mohali. Requisite infrastructure for institute’s immediate future requirements including setting-up of laboratories has been created and put in place. State-of-the-art instruments / equipment for research purposes have been procured and installed. Rules and Regulations, Staff Rules, Bye-Laws including Recruitment Rules for scientific and administrative posts framed with due approvals. Recruitments made. Research activities and courses for PhD student/Post Doc Fellows started. Topographical survey and contouring of the 35 acres land for INST campus completed and an Architect appointed to draw out building plans etc. A state-of-the-art building is envisaged to be built.

With the appointment of outstanding scientists from different branches of science and engineering on the rolls of INST, the Institute is aiming to take up challenging inter- disciplinary projects with a technology or device/product as the key deliverable based on the nanoscience research.

INST will strive to make it known as one of the best institutes of the country recognized globally