National Chemical Laboratory

Catalysis	Polymer Science and Engineerings
Heterogeneous	Polymer chemistry
Homogeneous	Polymer physics
	Complex fluids and polymer engineering
	Polymer and materials modeling
	Membrane science and technology
Biochemical Sciences	Physical and Materials Chemistry
Industrial microbiology	Nanomaterials science and technology
Plant molecular biology	Materials chemistry
Plant tissue culture Physical and Materials Chemistry	Theory and computational science
Organic Chemistry
Chiral synthesis	Reaction engineering
New synthetic methods	Process simulation and modeling
Process chemistry for active pharmaceutical intermediates	Biochemical engineering
Multistep organic synthesis of complex organic molecules	Industrial flow modeling
Bio-organic and bio-mimetic chemistry	Process design and development of processes for fine chemicals and polymers
Molecular diversity based chemical genetics

Primarily involves explorations on a subject to discover principles and improve understanding. This is often the necessary precursor to applied research. Performed largely through research scholars studying for a PhD under the guidance of our scientists.
Activity is often funded by grants and project mode funding from national and multi-national government agencies. Sometimes funded with a long term perspective by industry.
Output is often in the form of research publications and student dissertations.
Outcome is an improved understanding of chemicals, materials, organisms, phenomenon and techniques that can be used in applied research. Builds competencies and skills. Keeps researchers current and stimulated. Contributes to the march of science. The impact is direct and the activity takes time to deliver benefits.

Primarily involves research and development directed towards developing a process, material or product that can deliver potential benefits to industry and the people at large. Often market driven. Performed largely through staff, project assistants and sometimes research scholars.
Activity is mostly funded by the industry and project mode funding from national and multi-national government agencies.
Output is in the form of patents, non-patented proprietary technology (and engineering packages), confidential reports to clients and specialized software.
Outcomes include processes, materials and products that are potential wealth creators. Direct impact on the bottom line of companies through improvements, alternative cost-effective routes and inventions.

Includes advisory consultancy by our scientists and technologists, process engineering exercise, reports (feasibility, technology assessment, analysis for policy etc.), analytical services and information monitoring. Involves application of expertise, experience and skills, and the use of specialized facilities to the advantage of our clients. Application of knowledge as opposed to knowledge creation in the previous two categories. Performed by the staff directly.
Activity mostly funded by industry.
Output is in the form of reports (sometimes online reports).
Outcomes include solved problems, improvements in the processes, materials and products, careful decisions on investment and R&D strategy based on up-to-date information and sophisticated analytical support for our clients. The benefits to clients are often direct and immediate.

NCL maintains a unique collection of experts, instrument facilities, information resources including library, collections of organisms etc. in this part of the world. We are a national resource center for the chemical and allied sciences.
Many of these resources are the result of the hard work of our scientists and senior management. In-house funding (from industrial earnings) and government grants have helped us set up these resources.
These resource centers enable research and related activities of NCL and others outside of NCL. These resources are the life lines of research and have deeply impact both the scope and quality of research.

NCL trains one of the largest number of PhDs in the chemical and allied disciplines every year in India. Other than PhD students, many MSc, B. Tech/ BE students also work on their final year projects at NCL. Many scientists at NCL teach at local colleges and universities. NCL also conducts specialized continuing education programs for the industry. We take pride in disseminating the knowledge that we create at NCL through professional journals and at conferences worldwide. NCL hosts conferences frequently in order encourage scientific exchanges. Some of our staff have also written popular books and articles in newspapers and magazines.
PhD students are funded by research fellowships from CSIR and UGC. Continuing education programs are funded by the industry. Various professional societies, organizations and corporations have funded our conferences. Popular books and articles are funded by various sources including grants and sometimes in-house funding.
Through these activities we contribute to the creation of specialized scientific man-power, building of national scientific temperament, and knowledge dissemination. The impact is often systemic though slow.

The NCL scientific staff contribute to the science and their professions through publications, organizing and participating in conferences, mentoring the next generation, serving as editors for several national and international journals, serving on the executive teams of professional societies and associations, serving on government committees requiring scientific inputs, serving on UN assignments etc.