IIT-Madras has positioned itself as a global leader in creating innovative material testing technologies, ranging from sensors that identify leaks in pipelines, tanks, bridges, and dams without dismantling them, to robots designed to eliminate manual scavenging. "Non Destructive Evaluation" (NDE) is the general term used for the area of testing and analysis employed by industries to assess components or structures for signs of performance deterioration, without harming the original part.

The "NDE 5.0 - Industrial Assets and Process Management CoE (CNDE)" at IIT-Madras is creating innovative inspection technologies utilizing X-rays, infrared thermography, lasers, ultrasonics, microwave, terahertz, and eddy currents, while incorporating industrial tools in robotics, drones, AI, machine learning, virtual reality, distributed ledgers, hyperspectral imaging, and quantum computing.

Krishnan Balasubramanian, Chair Professor at IIT-Madras, informed PTI that the centre of excellence comprises a group of globally recognized professors and researchers who have completed projects valued at more than Rs 200 crore, secured industry funding exceeding Rs 50 crore, and garnered CSR funding of Rs 10 crore for projects of social importance.

Balasubramanian emphasized that innovations from this CoE enhance the effectiveness of industry processes and improve the accessibility and security of industrial and infrastructural assets.

"The key objectives of this CoE include impacting industries by helping them reduce operating costs by 40 per cent, decrease failure risk, improve availability and uptime by 20 per cent and extend as well as maximise asset life safety," he added.

Prabhu Rajgopal, the deputy director of the Centre of Excellence (CoE), stated that the facility aims to create advanced research-driven non-destructive technologies to enhance performance, improve safety, and extend longevity for industrial uses and necessary technologies for societal welfare.