CEPT Research and Development Foundation

What CEPT Research and Development Foundation does

CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), established in 2013 under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, is an Ahmedabad-based, non-profit multidisciplinary think-do-tank promoted by CEPT University. It operates through nine domain-focused research centers — CARBSE (building science and energy with NABL-accredited laboratories), CAG (applied geomatics and GeoAI/ML), CHC (heritage conservation), CAU (architecture and urbanism), CUPP (urban planning and policy), CWAS (water and sanitation operating the Performance Assessment System across 1000+ cities), CoE-INFRA (infrastructure), CoE-UT (urban transport), and DICRC (design innovation and craft, archived) — that conduct research, deliver advisory services, and run capacity-building programs for government agencies, multilateral institutions, bilateral agencies, and philanthropic organizations.

CRDF's research outputs are grounded in empirical methods including building energy performance testing, geospatial analytics with satellite and remote sensing data, urban heat island assessment methodologies, transportation demand modeling, and heritage documentation. Its proprietary platforms and tools include the Performance Assessment System (PAS) covering water and sanitation service delivery in 1000+ Indian cities, the Building Energy Performance Laboratory (NABL-accredited, AITL-recognized by the Cool Roof Rating Council), the ECO-BOT AI chatbot, the Heat Map Generator Tool, the Multimodal Integration Tool, and the Building Craft Lab platform. CRDF also produces knowledge products such as the Open Geo AI podcast series, the WASH Economics Conference (4th edition April 2026), and peer-reviewed publications.

The revenue model is project-based advisory and grant-funded research. CRDF earns fees through consulting assignments with Government of India ministries (notably MoHUA), state governments (Gujarat, Tamil Nadu), municipal corporations (Ahmedabad, Surat, Hubli-Dharwad), and multilateral funders (World Bank, ADB, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). As a Section 8 company, surplus is reinvested in mission-driven work rather than distributed. Customer concentration is institutional rather than commercial, with a sales-led GTM mediated by long-cycle institutional relationships rather than transactional selling. Tier 1 personnel include senior CEPT University faculty with international credentials (ASHRAE and IWA Fellows, ICOMOS expert member, University of Pennsylvania PhD credentials).

Name

CEPT Research and Development Foundation

Legal name

CEPT Research and Development Foundation

Website

https://crdf.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CEPT Research and Development Foundation is a non-profit think-do-tank established by CEPT University in Ahmedabad that conducts research, advisory, and capacity-building work on urban built-environment challenges across nine specialized centers, serving Indian central and state governments, multilateral institutions, and philanthropic funders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahmedabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research and Advisory Services: CRDF generates revenue through research projects, advisory assignments, and consulting engagements with government agencies, multilateral institutions, bilateral agencies, and philanthropic organisations. The organization undertakes these activities through its various thematic centers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CRDF delivers research, advisory, and capacity-building services for the built environment and urban development through nine specialized centers. Engagements span urban planning, water and sanitation, urban transport, infrastructure, heritage conservation, building science and energy, and applied geomatics, delivered to government agencies, multilateral institutions, and philanthropic organisations. The organization also operates technology platforms such as the Performance Assessment System (PAS) and ECO-BOT AI chatbot.

Product overview

CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) is a multidisciplinary think-do-tank promoted by CEPT University, organized around nine domain-focused research centers and one archived center. The organization offers research projects, advisory assignments, and capacity-building initiatives through: CARBSE (Building Science and Energy with NABL-accredited labs), CAG (Applied Geomatics with GeoAI/ML capabilities), CHC (Heritage Conservation), CAU (Architecture and Urbanism Research), CUPP (Urban Planning and Policy), CWAS (Water and Sanitation operating the Performance Assessment System across 1000+ cities), CoE-INFRA (Infrastructure), CoE-UT (Urban Transport), and DICRC (Design Innovation and Craft). Key tools include the Heat Map Generator Tool, Multimodal Integration Tool, Performance Assessment System (PAS), Building Craft Lab platform, and ECO-BOT AI chatbot. The organization also produces podcasts (Open Geo AI) and hosts conferences including WASH Economics Conference and Building Energy Performance Symposium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARBSE: Center for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy - focuses on energy and habitat research, building science solutions, and building energy performance testing
• CAG
• CHC
• CAU
• CUPP
• CWAS
• CoE-Infra
• CoE-UT
• DICRC

Products and services

• Center for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE) Research and advisory services in building science and energy, including passive and low-energy building design, building material characterization, occupant comfort studies, and energy benchmarking. Houses the NABL-accredited Building Energy Performance Laboratory. For government agencies, developers, and research collaborators.
• Center for Applied Geomatics (CAG) Geospatial technology research and advisory services combining remote sensing, GIS, and big data analytics for urban planning, infrastructure management, natural resource management, and geo-spatially enabled governance. For government agencies, multilateral institutions, and industry partners.
• Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC) Heritage conservation research and advisory advancing built heritage discourse through sustainability and equity lenses for the Global South, including international research and government advisory on conservation-led regeneration. For governments, UNESCO bodies, and heritage organizations.
• Center for Research on Architecture and Urbanism (CAU) Research excellence and knowledge repository for architecture and urbanism education and practice, developing India-specific research content, textbooks, and practice manuals. For academic, government, and professional audiences.
• Center for Urban Planning and Policy (CUPP) Urban land policy research and advisory translating analysis into policy prescriptions for urban land supply, affordability, public land securing, and regulatory frameworks. Supports local area plans, town planning schemes, and SIR development for government and development authorities.
• Center for Water and Sanitation (CWAS) Water and sanitation research, implementation support, and capacity building, including operation of the Performance Assessment System (PAS) covering 1000+ Indian cities for SDG 6 compliance. For governments, multilaterals, and philanthropic organisations.
• Center of Excellence in Infrastructure (CoE-INFRA) Infrastructure advisory and research supporting smart infrastructure planning, implementation, and management through procurement methods, project management practices, and construction methods research. For government infrastructure agencies and development authorities.
• Center of Excellence in Urban Transport (CoE-UT) Urban transportation planning resource center recognized by MoUD, Government of India, providing technical assistance, advisory services, human resource development, and knowledge management for sustainable urban transport systems. For transport authorities, municipal corporations, and smart city SPVs.
• Performance Assessment System (PAS) Online self-assessment tool for performance assessment of urban water and sanitation service delivery across 1000+ Indian cities, enabling informed policy decisions and performance tracking against SDG 6. For urban local bodies, state agencies, and multilateral institutions.
• ECO-BOT AI Powered Chatbot AI-powered chatbot developed by CAG for geospatial and ecological information retrieval, supporting land administration and governance queries. For government departments, researchers, and citizens seeking land and disaster risk information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17000+ community relationships built across digital platforms
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Survey of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for geospatial technologies and land administration research, including skill development workshops for officials.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for space applications and remote sensing research in urban planning and environmental management.
• Indian Institute of Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on public health mapping and geospatial applications in health sector.
• National Institute of Urban AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on urban development, climate action for built heritage, and urban policy research.
• HFT Stuttgart, University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration for geospatial research and education.
• Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership for sustainable urban and regional development.
• Foundation for Ecological SecurityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for land governance and ecological security research with ECO-BOT AI project.
• World Geospatial Industry CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry collaboration for geospatial standards and best practices.
• Association of Geospatial IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for geospatial technology adoption and standards.
• Police Department AhmedabadminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeospatial technology applications for law enforcement and public safety.
• CEPT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution; CRDF is a wholly owned but separate entity of CEPT University. Draws upon university resources and faculty.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of IndiacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTrusted advisor for capacity building for town planning, handholding cities for preparation of local area plans and town planning schemes, and thematic research.
• CEPT Advisory FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated organization that conducted testing for solar reflectance of LANKATILES COOL ROOFTOP TILE with SRI value above 96.
• Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational body that recognized CARBSE Building Energy Performance Laboratory as Approved Independent Testing Laboratory (AITL).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI):

Direct peers

• National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA): India's apex autonomous body for urban policy research, capacity building, and advisory to MoHUA. Direct peer: both serve as MoHUA's implementation partner for national urban missions and compete/collaborate on urban planning, smart cities, and capacity-building mandates.
• Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS): India-based education and research institution focused on urban practice. Direct peer: comparable multidisciplinary model, urban research and training portfolio, and engagement with government on urban policy reform.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) India: India arm of a global urban sustainability research and advisory organization. Direct peer: comparable work on sustainable cities, transport, climate, water, and urban data platforms for Indian states and cities.
• Centre for Policy Research (CPR): India-based public policy think tank with strong urban, infrastructure, and climate governance research practice. Direct peer: comparable advisory-to-government model, donor-funded research, and policy mandate overlap with CUPP and CHC centers.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): India's leading multi-disciplinary research body on energy, environment, and sustainable development. Direct peer: comparable advisory mandate to government, building science and cooling research overlap with CARBSE, and policy-driven funding model.

Emerging players

• Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI): Intergovernmental organization supporting green growth and sustainable urban development in emerging economies. Emerging peer: partial overlap on climate-resilient urban programs and green mobility advisory in South Asia/Africa where CRDF's CWAS and CoE-UT operate.
• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER): Economic policy think tank increasingly active on urban land, housing finance, and infrastructure. Emerging peer: partial overlap with CRDF's CUPP center work on land markets and affordable housing policy.

Regional players

• UN-Habitat India: UN agency operating in India on urban policy, housing, and SDGs. Regional peer: comparable mandate on urban planning capacity building, slum upgrading, and SDG monitoring; Dinesh Mehta led its Urban Management Programme at HQ.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: Global research and policy organization focused on urban land policy, planning, and taxation. Broad incumbent: comparable urban land policy research mandate and global convening power; complements CRDF's CUPP center.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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