Coimbatore: A Research and Development Centre has been set up at the Bharathiar University (BU) to create a link between industry and the university for need-based research in many areas including material upgradation, product development, synthesis of smart materials, software development and nano devices.

The Centre would also encourage industries to participate in its yet-to-establish Science Park for promotion of industrially-oriented research, a release said.

It would also try to improve research publications by faculty and research scholars in the university and also enhance research funding through individual, departmental and university research proposals.

Prof V Selvarajan, former head of Physics department, has been appointed as the Director of the Centre.