CLRI

Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), India was founded on 24 April, 1948. It was a land mark decision of the country born at the mid- night of 15th August 1947, to invest into leather research. In 1947, the export basket of India included mostly raw hides and skins. There remained an untapped opportunity for India in leather sector for economic development, employment generation and export earnings. The missing link was addition of technology to the manufacturing base of Indian leather sector. CLRI was founded to develop an internal strength in the country to generate, assimilate and innovate technologies for leather sector. It is one matter to design and develop technologies but entirely another to reach viable technologies in a traditional sector like leather. CLRI in 1948, made an initiative with foresight to link technology system with both academy and industry. CLRI assumed the role of being a part of the University of Madras in imparting education in leather technology. The seed sown in 1948 has now grown into a tree with nearly 60% of the industry in India being manned and managed by the Alumni of CLRI.

CLRI, today, is a central hub in Indian leather sector with direct roles in education, research, training, testing, designing, forecasting, planning, social empowerment and leading in science and technology relating to leather. Looking back, CLRI seems a worthwhile investment of India in a sensitive industrial segment of a Nation. CLRI is vying to emerge a global leader in leather research. The technological services of the institute are as durable as leather. Leather and allied research in CLRI form core areas of activities. There is critical strength for research and development in some critical areas of sciences and technology. Research in CLRI includes non-leather as well.