Coir Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras, to establish a “Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the application of coir exclusively or in combination with other natural fibres”. The CoE will further the research work so far done in the coir sector with the support of IIT-Madras team of experts.

At the instance of Union MSME minister Nitin Gadkari, IIT-Madras had earlier validated the research studies so far undertaken by the Coir Board and other agencies in India on Coir Geo-Textiles (CGT) and recommended that CGT can be successfully used to prevent soil erosion in slopes/embankments, river embankments, mine slope dumps stabilisation, etc. The institute has also recommended the use of CGT in the low volume rural roads as a re-enforcement material.

In addition to further the research, the CoE will also support "the development of relevant technology and evolve standards for production and processing through specific projects and monitor research projects and mentor of Coir Board’s research institutes/laboratories. The CoE will also assist in generating the Intellectual Property Rights and technology transfer," a statement from MSME ministry said.

Coir Board will provide a financial assistance of ₹5 crore initially for a period of two years for the establishment and running of CoE.

27 areas of R&D needs of the coir industry have been identified, to be taken up by the CoE, in addition to 10 in-house projects of IIT-M, in machinery development and road projects.