About
The Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research
Mission Statement
ICER at the Indian Institute of Science is more than a research center—it’s a global nexus for collaboration. Our mission transcends boundaries, uniting researchers, industries, and policymakers worldwide. Through interdisciplinary initiatives, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships, we’re catalyzing innovation, fostering mutual learning, and driving collective action towards a sustainable, interconnected future for all. Empowering individuals, revitalizing communities, and forging a resilient path towards a brighter tomorrow.
What is ICER?
Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER) is one of the youngest centres at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). It was conceived in 2012 as a part of the post-centenary vision to take up socially relevant research in line with national level missions of the Government of India in the field of energy, which will directly benefit the people of the nation and the world.
The Centre hosts faculty members from diverse disciplines in engineering and basic sciences, pursuing cutting edge research in the broad area of energy. Although research on energy science and related technologies has a long tradition at IISc, this was the first time that an interdisciplinary approach was undertaken to bring together core expertise from various areas under one roof. Over the years, the translational research carried out by ICER faculty members has resulted in technology transfers in India and abroad
How ICER was formed?
Research in Energy is interdisciplinary by its nature and needs expertise in many different domains. Taking into consideration the strengths of the Institute in various fields related to Energy and the present need for the country in Energy Research, IISc has created this interdisciplinary centre.
Why ICER?
At ICER, research on various fields, such as Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), Next-Generation Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV), Thermo-chemical of biomass, hydrogen production and storage, High Storage Density Battery, Sustainable Technologies, smart grids, Combustion Science and Technology is being carried out.
The centre hosts the facilities created under the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) supported by DST and the first Super Critical CO2 cycle in India was inaugurated by the Minister for Science and Technology. The centre hosts the National Centre for Clean Coal Research and Development to address both the utilisation of coal and the need for materials and processes for the supercritical cycles.
All areas of research in Energy Science and Technology including novel concepts of Energy Harvesting and Efficiency, developments of tools and systems for Solar, Thermal and other sources of energy are catered for in ICER. The topics include, but are not limited to high storage density battery, solar thermal technologies, novel thermodynamic cycles, thermal storage, high power technologies, materials for energy systems, catalysis, corrosion, Thermo electricity, combustion science and technology, green buildings and smart grids and other electrical and electronic systems for harvesting and distribution of energy.
ICER has 5 core faculty members and several visiting faculty and more than 30 participating faculty members from various IISc departments and also includes 40 students. We have collaboration in the area of energy with various groups within the country as well as abroad. We welcome both academic and industry collaborations. The centre offers PhD and Post Doctoral programs in the area of Energy.