Institute of Nano Science and Technology

What Institute of Nano Science and Technology does

The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) is an autonomous research institution under India's Department of Science and Technology, established in 2013 in Mohali, Punjab, under the umbrella of the DST NANO MISSION (originally sanctioned at Rs 1,000 crore over five years from 2007). It conducts frontier nanoscience and nanotechnology research organized across three units — Energy and Environment, Quantum Materials & Devices, and Chemical Biology — and operates from a 35-acre permanent campus at Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali (inaugurated December 2020). Its primary customers are PhD students and research scholars (trained through direct, joint INST-IISER Mohali, INST-AcSIR, and special-category drives), internal faculty scientists executing grant-funded projects, partner academic institutions collaborating under MoU, and Indian government funding agencies (DST, ANRF, ICMR, DBT, CSIR, DAE-BRNS, AYUSH-CCSRUM, BPCL) that constitute the institute's principal revenue source.

INST's core technology base spans nanomaterials synthesis, nanodevice fabrication, nano-bio interfaces, quantum materials, magnetoelectric materials, and nano-therapeutics. Its research outputs include a granted patent on a zero-waste paracetamol effluent recovery process, pending patents on carbon-wrapper fruit preservation, nanostructured water filtration, multi-stage VOC air purification, and biodegradable topical hemostats, plus high-impact publications in JACS (room-temperature giant magnetoelectric coupling in {CoIII3DyIII}) and Advanced Materials (quasi-2D α-Te nanosheets for green hydrogen). The institute operates a 9,000 sq ft Incubation and Innovation Centre (including NIC-TBI@INST under DST NANO MISSION) for nano-biotech startups and a Central Instrument Facility pursuing NABL accreditation for fee-based testing of nanomaterials, food, cosmetics, battery materials, agri-chemicals, and water.

Commercially, INST's revenue is overwhelmingly grant-based and not publicly disclosed; ancillary revenue streams include a Rs 2,000 + 18% GST internship fee, fee-based CIF testing services, and prospective technology licensing and incubation fees from startups. Its go-to-market is primarily academic and event-driven (PhD admissions, national and international conferences, workshops with IIT Ropar, IIT Mandi, IISER Mohali, and Cambridge), supplemented by channel partnerships through MoUs with industry-facing partners and the incubation ecosystem. The institute has built a patent portfolio, a 119+ PhD alumni network placed globally, and academic MoUs spanning Manipal University Jaipur, J.C. Bose YMCA Faridabad, Ladakh University, and three Ramakrishna Mission colleges, signaling a deliberate broadening of its collaborative footprint under a new Director (Prof. Anindya Datta) appointed December 2025.

Name

Institute of Nano Science and Technology

Legal name

Institute of Nano Science and Technology

Website

https://inst.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

INST is an autonomous Indian government research institute under DST, conducting frontier nanoscience and nanotechnology research across energy, healthcare, and quantum materials, training PhD scholars, developing commercializable nanotechnologies, and providing NABL-pursued testing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nanotechnology Research and Development

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Nanoscience research
• Nanotechnology development
• Materials characterization
• PhD research programs
• Technology incubation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Singhofen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Research Grants and Sponsored Projects: INST is primarily funded through government grants. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, established INST under the NANO MISSION with a Rs 1,000 crore budget for 5 years starting May 2007. Additional funding is secured from multiple agencies including ANRF, ICMR, DBT, CSIR, DST-SERB, DAE-BRNS, DBT-Biocare, AYUSH-CCSRUM, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and others for specific research projects.
2. Incubation and Technology Transfer: INST operates an Incubation and Innovation Centre (9,000 sq ft) that houses the Nano-Bio Incubation Centre supported by DST Nano Mission. NIC-TBI (Project)@INST supports nano-biotechnology startups in their early stages. Revenue is generated through technology licensing, shared lab/equipment access fees, and services to incubated startups.
3. NABL-Accredited Testing and Calibration Services: INST's Central Instrument Facility (CIF) provides testing and calibration services for nanomaterials, food, macro-micro nutrients, cosmetics, battery materials, agri-chemicals, and water. The facility is pursuing NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation, enabling fee-based services to external academic and industrial clients.
4. Internship Fee: Interns accepted at INST pay a one-time internship fee of Rs 2,000 plus 18% GST before joining. This is a minor revenue stream contributing to program administration costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INST is an autonomous research institute that conducts frontier research and PhD-level education in nanoscience and nanotechnology across three units: Energy and Environment, Quantum Materials & Devices, and Chemical Biology. It delivers government-funded research projects, NABL-accredited testing and calibration services via its Central Instrument Facility, and technology commercialization through its 9,000 sq ft Incubation and Innovation Centre (NIC-TBI@INST). The institute develops proprietary nano-based solutions in healthcare (Alzheimer's therapy, cancer therapy, hemostats), energy (green hydrogen, batteries), environment (wastewater treatment, air purification), and agriculture (fruit preservation, nano-fertilizers).

Product overview

Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) is an autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, established under the NANO MISSION initiative. The institute operates as a platform focused on nanoscience and nanotechnology research and education, organized around three research units: Energy and Environment Unit, Quantum Materials & Devices Unit, and Chemical Biology Unit. INST offers PhD programs, maintains a Central Instrument Facility with advanced characterization equipment, and operates an Incubation and Innovation Centre for technology commercialization. The institute has developed multiple technologies including industrial wastewater treatment systems, nanostructured filtration, air purification devices, and topical hemostats, some of which are NABL accredited for testing and calibration services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NanoBio Incubation Centre: A technology business incubator within INST supported by DST Nano Mission, aimed at helping researchers commercialize technologies developed in the laboratory.

Products and services

• Incubation and Innovation Centre (NIC-TBI@INST)
• NABL-Accredited Testing and Calibration Services
• Central Instrument Facility (CIF)
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technology (Paracetamol Effluents)
• Carbon Wrapper for Fruit Preservation
• Nanostructured Filtration System for Water Recycling
• Reusable Nano-Hybrid Air Purification Device
• Biodegradable Microparticle-Based Topical Hemostat
• PhD Program in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
• Research Internship Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Quasi-2D α-Te nanosheets demonstrated 100 mV overpotential reduction and 93% stability for hydrogen evolution reaction, enabling magnetoelectric-driven green hydrogen production (Advanced Materials 2026)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) MandicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024INST Mohali and IIT Mandi signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 10 October 2024 for joint PhD programs, co-execution of the INCUBATION CELL at INST, collaborative research projects, shared facility usage, joint workshops and conferences, and other mutually beneficial academic activities.
• J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA FaridabadminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2022INST signed an MoU with J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA Faridabad on 28 November 2022 to strengthen and promote research between faculty and students of the two institutions through various activities including internship programs, collaborations, and joint academic initiatives.
• Manipal University JaipurminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2022Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) signed an MoU with INST Mohali on 14 April 2022 for providing internship opportunities to prospective students, conducting joint workshops, and undertaking collaborative research projects.
• Ladakh University (UOL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINST Mohali signed an MoU with Ladakh University to contribute to UOL's development through various activities including internships for UOL students at INST, preferential rates for UOL faculty using INST's research facilities, and other collaborative outreach initiatives under INST's active outreach programme.
• Ramakrishna Mission College Narendrapur, Belur Math, and RaharaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINST signed a multi-institutional outreach MoU with Ramakrishna Mission College Narendrapur, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Belur, and Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College Rahara. The agreement enables students from these prestigious Ramakrishna Mission institutions to undertake two-month research internships at INST Mohali.
• Gujarat Biotechnology UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINST collaborated with Gujarat Biotechnology University and other institutions on a multi-functional nanoparticle-based therapy targeting multiple causes of Alzheimer's disease (toxic protein accumulation and brain inflammation). The study demonstrated significant improvement in cell survival and reduction in brain plaques in preclinical tests, representing a potential more effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR): Autonomous DST-funded research institute with strong nanomaterials, chemistry, and materials science units. JNCASR is the closest Indian comparator to INST in mission, structure, and research portfolio.
• International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI): DST autonomous R&D centre developing advanced materials, including nanomaterials for energy and environment. Comparable translational research model with technology commercialization output.
• Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics: DAE autonomous research institute covering materials, nano, and surface physics. Comparable institute profile; INST's Board Chairman Prof. Milan Kumar Sanyal is a senior scientist here, indicating direct institutional ties.
• Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS): DST autonomous institute focused on nano and soft matter sciences, headquartered in Bangalore. Operates a similar research-institute model with NABL-accredited characterization facilities and technology transfer mandate.
• S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS): DST autonomous research centre in Kolkata covering basic sciences including condensed matter and materials. Similar institute structure with PhD programs, central facilities, and funded-project staffing.
• Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET): DST autonomous lab focused on electronic materials including nanomaterials for electronics, energy, and sensors. Operates similar translational R&D model with technology commercialization mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore: Premier Indian research and education institution with significant nanoscience and materials research across multiple departments. Competes for faculty and grants, and partners with INST via joint programs and conferences.
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay): Major Indian institute with broad nanotechnology R&D across departments (including the current Director's previous affiliation). Comparable in faculty scale and publication impact, and a frequent collaborator/competitor for talent.
• CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL): CSIR's flagship chemistry and materials laboratory with extensive nanomaterials and chemical biology research. Larger in scale but overlaps with INST's Chemical Biology Unit and patents portfolio.

Regional players

• Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar): Regional IIT in Punjab near INST Mohali; co-organizes INanoEChem-2025 and shares talent catchment in the same state. Closest geographic peer for student and faculty competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/INSTMohali
• Facebookfacebook.com/100057418181121

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute of Nano Science and Technology