Saint-Gobain India has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to establish two research laboratories focused on sustainable construction materials and technologies for the built environment. The three-year collaboration is supported by a grant of ₹3.8 crore.

The two laboratories

Both will be set up at IIT Madras’s Centre of Excellence on Technologies for Low-carbon and Lean Construction (TLC2). The Digital Real-Time Sensing Technologies for Infrastructure (DRSTI) lab will work on sensing technologies for infrastructure. The Concrete Admixture Research for Engineering Next-gen Construction (CAREN) lab will research concrete admixtures and next-generation construction materials.

What the research will cover

The labs will focus on construction productivity, material efficiency, structural durability, sustainability and digital transformation. The initiative aims to support smarter infrastructure, improve material efficiency and advance the use of lower-carbon building materials. The collaboration is also expected to support research into construction solutions suited to India’s hot and humid climate.

Why the partnership

The initiative aims to strengthen research capabilities at IIT Madras and to develop practical solutions to challenges facing India’s construction sector. Saint-Gobain India and IIT Madras say they want to connect academic research with industry expertise to develop technologies and materials for more efficient and sustainable construction practices. The partnership extends a long-standing association between the two and forms part of Saint-Gobain India’s efforts to support the adoption of light and sustainable construction in India.

The funding

The ₹3.8 crore grant runs over three years and supports the establishment and operation of the two laboratories. The immediate milestone is setting up DRSTI and CAREN within TLC2.