About CSIR- Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH)

CSIR- Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) is a National Research Laboratory and a centre for excellence in microbial sciences and was established in 1984 under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). IMTECH’s vision and mission are to create translational ecosystem strengthened by fundamental discoveries and to address unmet healthcare and industrial needs with state-of-the-art processes and platforms respectively. 

Led by Dr Sanjeev Khosla, Director, CSIR-IMTECH, scientists working in the laboratory have excellent credibility in various aspects of microbiology, including molecular biology, protein science, bioinformatics, and microbial genetics , as evident from peer-reviewed publications in international journals. The mandate of CSIR-IMTECH is to provide integrated research and development for microbial technology by undertaking both basic and applied research programs in emerging biotechnology and genetic engineering areas, and attempt to translate research outcomes into products for societal benefits.The lab’s research has broad applications in health, agriculture, environment and industry oriented solutions. The institute is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced laboratories for genomics, proteomics, and structural biology. It also has bioreactors, fermentation units, and high-performance computing resources for bioinformatics.

CSIR-IMTECH also appreciates the importance of engaging with industry and other stakeholders, training the next generation of India’s scientists, and engaging with society (especially abled children), and envisions research programs conducted in private partnerships, an exceptional Ph.D. program with first-rate academic mentorship as its bedrock, and promotion of the culture of scientific thinking for the betterment of society.

CSIR-IMTECH has nearly 42 research scientists and 8 scientists dedicated for various R&D management function like Project Management, Business Development, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Instrumentation, Information Technology (IT) & Director Technical Cell. Research scientists work in various facets of Molecular Biology, Infectious diseases, Virology, Medicinal Chemistry, Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC), Biochemical Engineering Fermentation and Bioinformatics & Big Data Analytics.
During the COVID pandemic, CSIR-IMTECH was a key force in providing infrastructure and training for RT-PCR testing, led a national anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery initiative and collaborated in a multi-disciplinary study on air testing for SARS-CoV-2. The latter culminating in the installation of the UV-C based air purification device in multiple buildings including Lok Sabha. IMTECH-MTCC, a nationally recognized microbial repository, has been cited by in more than 16000 publications/patents during the period of 2016-2021.

CSIR-IMTECH collaborates with academic institutions, industries, and international organizations. It is involved in several projects that bridge the gap between basic research and its practical applications, particularly in the development of novel biotechnological solutions.

The support of CSIR-IMTECH as the host institution has been of an enabler for the project "Advancing R&D through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)", thus helping shaping up the future of R&D ecosystem and funding in the country.