In a boost to India’s push for self-reliance in strategic technologies, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to jointly develop indigenous, environment-friendly “blowing agent” technology for advanced strategic applications.
The MoU was signed on July 8 at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, in the presence of senior scientists from both organisations, marking the start of a collaborative research programme between the two institutions.
The Hyderabad-based CSIR-IICT delegation was led by its Director, Dr D Srinivas Reddy, along with Distinguished Scientist Dr Nettem Choudary, Dr Pravin Likhar, Head, BDRM, and Dr Punna Nagender, Scientist-E. The VSSC team included Director Dr Rajeev U P, Deputy Director R Muraleekrishnan and Group Director Nallaperumal A M.
Officials said the collaboration combines CSIR-IICT’s expertise in fluorochemical synthesis with VSSC’s application-specific requirements, aiming to develop hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) — a next-generation class of blowing agents with zero ozone-depletion potential and ultra-low global-warming potential, seen as key replacements for older, environmentally harmful chemicals used across industries.
Dr Srinivas Reddy said the tie-up reflected the synergy between a premier national laboratory and a strategic end-user in translating scientific research into technologies of national importance. He noted that CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, has built specialised capabilities in handling anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) — a critical and hazardous input for producing next-generation fluorochemicals — expertise available at only a handful of laboratories in the country.
Dr Rajeev U P said the collaboration would help India develop indigenous capability for strategic applications and reduce dependence on imported specialty fluorochemicals, with CSIR-IICT’s process development expertise expected to help take the technology towards commercialisation.
The project is expected to strengthen India’s technological self-reliance in advanced fluorochemicals, in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, officials said.
