IIT Kharagpur Transfers Grain-Processing Technology to Private Firm for Commercial Use

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have developed a technology designed to make foodgrain processing faster, more efficient and cost-effective. The institute has transferred the technology to SKF Boilers and Dryers Pvt Ltd under a formal agreement for commercial application, an institute spokesperson said on Monday.

The technology was developed by researchers from IIT Kharagpur’s Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering following extensive research. The initiative aims to improve grain-processing efficiency at the commercial level, reduce processing time and minimise wastage during operations.

The research team was led by Professor Brajesh Kumar Panda and included Professors P Srinivasa Rao and Praveen Kumar Sappati, along with researcher Samaran P. Their work focuses on improving the efficiency of foodgrain processing and supporting the effective utilisation of agricultural produce.

According to the institute, the technology is expected to help reduce foodgrain losses by enabling faster processing and making agricultural produce suitable for consumption and further use. Improved processing efficiency could also offer practical benefits to commercial operators by reducing time-related inefficiencies.

The technology transfer agreement was signed on behalf of IIT Kharagpur by Professor Debdeep Mukherjee, Associate Dean of Research and Development. Professor Sandeep D Kulkarni, who oversees the institute’s intellectual property and technology transfer activities, also participated in the initiative, along with members of the research team and other faculty members.

The collaboration is expected to extend beyond the transfer of the technology. Both IIT Kharagpur and the company are exploring opportunities for joint research to develop additional solutions in the food-processing sector.

The initiative reflects IIT Kharagpur’s efforts to strengthen industry-academia collaboration by translating research findings into practical industrial applications. By partnering with private industry, the institute aims to facilitate the commercial adoption of research-based innovations and contribute to improvements in food processing.

The agreement marks a step towards bringing academic research into industrial use, with the potential to improve processing efficiency and support better utilisation of foodgrains.