Central Leather Research Institute

Central Leather Research Institute or CLRI is said to be the world’s largest leather research institute in terms of various research papers as well as patents. The institute was established on 24 April 1948 in Chennai as a constituent laboratory under the supervision of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The objective of the institute is to deal with everything that relates to the leather industry. It carries out research and development in areas such as improvement of existing leather with respect to shrinkage and color fastness, adapted preservation methods for new hides and skins, control of environmental pollution, tanning and finishing techniques, shoes and other articles and product design and development of garments, The institute also comes up with technical assistance through training courses on the preparation of feasibility reports, quality control, design development, sample making and fabrication, consultancy, among various other activities.

The Institution aims at delivering best in class systems and exposure to the students and those who pursue the area. In 2004, the institute in collaboration with National Institute of Fashion Technology offered professional educational programs especially for designing footwear as well as leather products. The institution offers 2 undergraduate courses, 3 master’s degree courses and 3 Ph.D. courses. All these academic concerns are due to collaboration with Anna University, Chennai.

CLRI developed an online course for leather goods design and fabrication for the benefit of the students in India as well as abroad. The course is very unique with easy to understand topics but with all the details added to it.

During 2004, the institute initiated a pilot activity to produce biodiesel from rice bran oil. In 2014, a group of CLRI Scientists launched a comprehensive website to share across real research problems and better solutions in research. Since the center itself is having a good number of laboratories as well as ongoing technical implications across, sufficient exposure for the candidates will never be a constrain. The institute runs various Research & Development services such as analysis, testing, consultancy, assessment along with a Regional Center for Extension and Development spread across 3 states.

Padma Bhushan Dr. Tirumalachari Ramasami, a renowned chemist who was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for his contributions completed his Bachelor and Master of Technology in Leather Technology in the years 1969 and 1972 respectively. G.N. Ramachandran had developed a triple-helical collagen model using samples provided by the Institute during the time of his research in 1954 for which he went on to be awarded the Ewald Prize in 1999 for his contributions. Narayanan Chandrakumar, a chemical physicist, a Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate joined Central Leather Research Institute as a research associate in 1980 and was there till 2001 at various positions like a scientist, a scientist of the grade of a director and head of the Physical Sciences Division. Eminent researchers like Niraikulam Ayyadurai, Rema Thankappan, I Selestin Raja, Saisubramaniam Nagarajan and R Ravikanth Reddy are all alumni of CLRI.