CSIR Transfers Seven Technologies to Industry, Releases Indian Reference Standards and Hands Quantum Sensing Components to DRDO

India’s science-to-industry pipeline received a fresh push as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research organised a technology transfer and Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya release function at CSIR Headquarters in New Delhi on 16 June 2026. The event brought together CSIR laboratories, industry partners, technology adopters and strategic stakeholders around three important outcomes: licensing of seven technologies to industry, release of ten Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravyas, and delivery of quantum sensing components to DRDO.

The programme was jointly organised by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory and CSIR-Central Road Research Institute. Its significance lies in the range of technologies transferred. These are practical systems linked to quantum sensing, pollution monitoring, pharmaceutical waste recycling, bridge inspection, road repair, air-cleaning pavement materials and road safety. This makes the event more than a ceremonial handover. It shows how Indian public laboratories are steadily moving their research from experimental spaces into industrial and strategic use.

CSIR-NPL transferred three technologies. The first was Rydberg Systems Based Broad Band E-Field Sensing Technology to Nostradamus Technologies Private Limited, Hyderabad. This is important because Rydberg atom-based sensing belongs to the advanced field of quantum measurement, where atomic behaviour is used to detect electromagnetic fields with high precision. CSIR-NPL’s own electromagnetic metrology work explains that such sensing uses atoms inside a vapour cell, where laser interaction and quantum effects help measure electric fields.

The second CSIR-NPL technology was a High-Volume PM2.5 Impactor Sampler transferred to Engineering and Environmental Solutions Private Limited, Aligarh. PM2.5 monitoring has direct value for air-quality regulation, environmental research and public health systems. Accurate sampling equipment strengthens the country’s ability to measure pollution with greater confidence and support evidence-based policy.

The third NPL technology was an environment-friendly and scalable process for recycling pharmaceutical blisters and allied packaging waste, transferred to GM Industries, New Delhi. Pharmaceutical blister packs are difficult to handle because they usually combine plastic and aluminium layers. A scalable recycling process in this segment can support circular economy goals, reduce packaging waste and create industrial value from a persistent waste stream.

CSIR-CRRI transferred four technologies with direct relevance to infrastructure and road systems. VInSD-VAIU, a drone-based non-destructive testing system for bridges, was transferred to Dronix Technologies Private Limited, Chennai. This can support faster bridge inspection, safer structural assessment and reduced dependence on intrusive testing. PAVE-SEAL, an air-cleaning nano photocatalytic pave sealing emulsion, was transferred to Ashita Renewables, Muzaffarnagar. PATCHFILL, a pothole repair machine, was transferred to Petrochem Specialities, Muzaffarnagar. CLARIVISOR, a glare mitigation device, was transferred to Intelligent Diagnosis LLP, Gurugram.

Together, these four road technologies address a wide spectrum of public infrastructure needs. Bridge inspection improves safety. Pothole repair improves road quality and reduces accident risk. Glare mitigation helps drivers during night travel and difficult light conditions. Air-cleaning pavement materials add an environmental dimension to transport infrastructure. This is the kind of applied research that can directly enter cities, highways and public works departments.

Another important part of the event was the release of ten Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravyas. These included eight phytochemical reference materials, one precious metal reference material and one propane gas reference material. Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya is India’s certified reference material programme led by CSIR-NPL. NPL describes BNDs as Indian reference materials that support testing, calibration and measurement traceability to SI units.

This is especially important for India’s quality infrastructure. Laboratories, manufacturers, regulators and exporters need reliable reference materials to prove that their measurements are accurate. In sectors such as phytochemicals, herbal products, precious metals and industrial gases, reference standards improve trust in testing results. For India’s growing bioeconomy and natural products sector, domestic reference materials can strengthen credibility and reduce dependence on imported standards.

The event also carried a strategic technology angle. CSIR-NPL handed over five vapour cells to DRDO’s Solid-State Physics Laboratory for quantum sensing applications. Vapour cells are critical components in several quantum sensing systems, including atomic sensors used for precise measurement of electromagnetic fields. Their transfer to DRDO signals a growing domestic capability in advanced components required for future strategic technologies.

The larger message is clear. CSIR is trying to make research deployment a regular national habit. Its laboratories are building technologies for industry, infrastructure, environment, quality systems and defence-linked science. The licensing of seven technologies shows that Indian science is moving closer to commercial adoption. The release of BNDs shows that India is strengthening its measurement sovereignty. The delivery of quantum sensing components to DRDO shows that public laboratories are contributing to future strategic capability.

This development fits into the wider Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in science and technology. Self-reliance in modern industry depends on more than factories. It also requires measurement standards, certified materials, deployable engineering systems, advanced sensors and industry-ready public research. The CSIR event brought all these strands together in one platform.

Source: PIB