Central Leather Research Institute orCLRI is the world's largest leather research institute in terms ofresearch papers and patents.[1][2] The institute located inChennai,Tamil Nadu was founded on 24 April 1948 as a constituent laboratory under theCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research.[3]
Soon after India attained independence in 1947, the first government of the country led byJawaharlal Nehru focused on industrialisation.[4] As a part of that, several research laboratories and institutes, such asNational Physical Laboratory in New Delhi,National Chemical Laboratory inPune, National Metallurgical Laboratory inJamshedpur, Fuel Research Institute inDhanbad,Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute inKolkata, were set up across the country. On 24 April 1948, the then Central Minister of Industry and SupplySyama Prasad Mookerjee laid the foundation stone in theGuindy region ofChennai.[5]Madras State awarded 75 acres (30 ha; 0.117 sq mi) to theCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research and₹4,000 (equivalent to₹450,000 or US$5,300 in 2023) towards expenses for levelling the land and making it suitable for building construction.[6]
The objective of the institute was to deal with all aspects of the leather industry. It carries out research and development in areas such as adapted preservation methods for new hides and skins, improvement of existing leather with respect to shrinkage and color fastness, tanning and finishing techniques, control of environmental pollution, and product design and development of garments, shoes and other articles.[7] The institute also offers technical assistance through training courses on design development, sample making and fabrication, consultancy, preparation of feasibility reports, quality control, among various other activities.[7]
The institute houses departments such as Chemical and Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Information Sciences. Besides this, the institute has four regional extension centers inAhmedabad,Jalandhar,Kanpur andKolkata.[8]
%2c_in_New_Delhi_on_September_26%2c_2006.jpg)
In 2003, the institute came up with a biological dressing for burn patients that helps in healing second and third degree burns faster and more effectively.[9] In 2004, the institute tied up withNational Institute of Fashion Technology to offer professional educational programmes specifically for designing footwear and leather products.[10] In the same year, the institute took up a pilot activity to producebiodiesel fromrice bran oil.[11] In 2014, CLRI Scientists launched website to conveniently share real research problems and solutions in research.[12] In 2023, the institute came out with an Indian Footwear Sizing System (BHA), after analysing over 1 lakh feet spanning 70 plus districts in the country.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
