IIT Guwahati pioneers Nanotech Advancements with Inauguration of “SWASTHA” Project and ISO 5 and 6 Clean Room Facilities

Guwahati:The Centre of Excellence on “Smart Wearable Advanced nano Sensing Technologies in Healthcare ASICs (SWASTHA) project and the state-of-the-art ISO 5 and 6 Clean Room Facilities were inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati’s Centre for Nanotechnology today. Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India inaugurated the project in the presence of Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Officiating Director, IIT Guwahati.Supported by MeitY, the Centre of Excellence on SWASTHA, “Smart Wearable Advanced nanoSensing Technologies in Healthcare ASICs,” aims to revolutionize healthcare through advanced nanoelectronic theranostic devices. The project aims to deliver high-quality products and prototypes in micro/nano electronics and nanomaterials, with a focus on healthcare and energy applications. It emphasizes innovation, scientific collaboration, and technological progress.

Speaking at the event Shri S. Krishnan said, “The successful establishment of the Clean Room Facilities and the implementation of the SWASTHA Centre for Excellence is an epoch-making event in the North-Eastern region because the young human resources of the region can now utilize these world-class high-end facilities available at their doorstep to pursue their lofty scientific and technological dreams. It is of great importance to note that the Nano Centre, IITG has delivered an array of frugal low-cost technologies that will cater to the needs of the society. As the Secretary, MeitY, GoI, that has supported this growth of the Center, it is indeed a sense of celebration for me to be a part of this journey along with the IIT Guwahati fraternity”.

Speaking about the ISO 5 and 6 Clean Room Facilities and SWASTHA project, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja said, “It is a sense of great satisfaction and immense pride to highlight that the faculty at the Centre for Nanotechnology, IIT Guwahati under continuous support from MeitY have worked tirelessly towards the success of establishing this pioneering Centre for Excellence. The visionary support by the MeitY has been pivotal in expanding the base of nanoelectronics inventions and innovations in the North-Eastern part of the country that are well in line with the twin missions of GoI – ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India”.

The state-of-the-art ISO 5 and 6 Clean Room Facilities are the first of their kind in the North Eastern region of India. They are dedicated to promoting awareness and training in micro/nano electronic fabrication, facilitating industrial research and development, and supporting the Indian Nanoelectronics Users Program (INUP). Jointly sponsored by MeitY and IIT Guwahati, these facilities create a controlled environment suitable for nanoelectronics and nanomaterial fabrication, semiconductor devices fabrication, quantum technologies development, enabling fundamental and translational research. Housed with the state-of-the-art equipment for device fabrication and development, including Electron Beam Lithography and Reactive Ion Etching, this enables the development of devices such as Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED), Organic and hybrid photovoltaic devices, Field-Effect Transistor (FET), Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW), and Microfluidic-based Sensors, utilizing advanced fabrication techniques.