A Centre of Excellence for Double Fortified and Multiple Fortified Salt is to come up at the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T), with financial assistance from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, U.S.The grant of about ₹6.72 crore would be utilised for advance research and product development for Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and Multiple Fortified Salt (MFS) to combat micronutrient deficiencies, according to a press release from NIFTEM-T Director V. Planimuthu.He said innovation and technology transfer continue to be key strength of the institute and added that the focus of the 36-month U.S. grant-in-aid programme would be scaling of DFS and MFS and address widespread micronutrient deficiencies and align with science-driven nutrition solution.Apart from the Gates Foundation project, NIFTEM-T had secured 15 grant-in-aid research projects worth ₹6.25 crore and undertook 15 industry-sponsored research projects worth ₹1.30 crore this year.The Institute had developed 113 technologies and of them 66 had already been transferred to the industries and it had been granted 34 patents in the last two years. It had signed 29 Memorandum of Understandings/Memorandum of Associations with industries, academic and research institutions, strengthening research and industry links.NIFTEM-T had received the National Award for Outstanding Support to the MSME Sector and CII Institute Innovation Award earning the recognition as one of the top five innovative research institutes in India in 2025 and thereby strengthening its role as a national hub for education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration.This year, the institute conducted 113 training programmes benefiting 2,672 participants, including farmers producers organisations, self-help groups, entrepreneurs, startups, and community stakeholders, he added. Published - August 15, 2026 06:09 pm IST