The Jeet Bindra Centre of Excellence in Speciality Chemicals (JBCoESC) at IIT Kanpur has been established to strengthen India’s research and innovation ecosystem in the rapidly growing field of speciality chemicals, particularly surfactants and polymeric coatings. The Centre addresses the increasing demand for sustainable and high-performance surfactants driven by population growth, rising incomes, and expanding applications across sectors such as home and personal care, agrochemicals, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and smart functional materials.

Recognizing the limited research and industrial capabilities in India for specialized and green surfactants, JBCoESC serves as a national hub to bridge this gap. Equipped with advanced laboratories, pilot-scale facilities, and strong industry-academia partnerships, the Centre focuses on fostering cutting-edge research, sustainable technology development, and skilled manpower creation. Through innovation in green chemistry and industrial scalability, JBCoESC aims to position India as a global leader in speciality chemical innovation and sustainable manufacturing.

The Centre focuses on three key verticals:

• Indigenous production of green and speciality surfactants
• Development of a digital platform to accelerate next-generation speciality chemical innovation
• Exploration of novel applications of speciality surfactants and polymeric films