The Ministry of Education, Government of India, following an advisory from the University Grants Commission (UGC), has officially awarded the TCG Centres for Research and Education in Science and Technology (TCG CREST) the status of a Deemed to be University under the “Distinct Category.”
With this new status, TCG CREST is establishing a research university that emphasizes multi-disciplinary, fundamental and translational research. This initiative aims to leverage India’s talent pool, fostering capabilities and capacities that align with the national interest and contribute to the creation of new-age jobs in key sectors of the economy, including sustainable healthcare, climate change and energy, data-driven intelligence, food and agriculture, quantum technologies, and in emerging fields in the arts and humanities, including in economics.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee, Founding Chairman of TCG CREST, stated, “Scientific and technological advancement is essential for improving the human condition worldwide and for strengthening India’s national security, driving economic growth, and alleviating poverty. With this recognition, the Government of India has entrusted us with both a significant challenge and a profound opportunity to contribute to nation-building. At CREST, we are committed to pursuing this mission with dedication and integrity.”
TCG CREST distinguishes itself within the Indian academic and research landscape through its innovative “reverse trajectory” model. This unique approach establishes research centers as its foundation, subsequently introducing Ph.D., masters, and undergraduate programs. By prioritizing research from its inception, it cultivates a deeply immersive research environment that permeates all levels of study.
Admissions for the Ph.D. program will commence in August 2025, followed by the masters programs in August 2026.
The TCG CREST (Deemed to be University) will comprise five schools, including the School of Natural Sciences; School of Mathematical and Computer Science; School of Health, Environment & Sustainability Studies; School of Humanities & Social Sciences; and School of Economics. Located in Kolkata, which has emerged as the hub of scientific research in India according to the recent Nature Index, the institution’sunique research-based approach to higher educational pedagogy, coupled with close collaboration between the TCG CREST Research Centres, is expected to attract the highest quality of faculty and students from India and abroad. The Deemed University will also interconnect with TCG Institutions in other parts of the world.
Furthermore, TCG CREST (Deemed to be University) will actively contribute to the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) through a distinctive academic model that gives equal weight to cutting-edge research and career readiness. Its masters programs will combine Liberal Arts and Sciences with a strong emphasis on translational research, aligning academic inquiry with real-world application. This intentional design will shape both core and elective components of the curriculum, ensuring balanced attention to advanced research, practical skills, and diverse employment opportunities for its graduates.
Looking ahead, the institution aims to expand its global footprint by launching collaborative research initiatives in key international locations. Its commitment to cutting-edge research across fields such as neuroscience, artificial intelligence, quantum engineering, cancer research, sustainable energy, food technology, and STEM education has been instrumental in its recent designation as an Institution Deemed to be University.
Established in 2020 by The Chatterjee Group (TCG), TCG CREST was conceived as a dynamic force in the global science and technology innovation ecosystem. The institution has made rapid strides in advancing translational research and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration to address some of the world’s most pressing societal challenges.
TCG CREST has built a reputation for excellence through the establishment of specialized research centres, including the Centre for High Impact Neuroscience and Translational Applications (CHINTA), Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE), Institute for Advancing Intelligence (IAI), Centre for Quantum Engineering, Research, and Education (CQuERE), Food Technology & Science Institute (FTSI), and Cancer-related Advanced Research and Education (CARE).
