The Research & Development (R&D) Cell at S G Balekundri Institute of Technology (SGBIT), Belagavi, drives interdisciplinary research alongside teaching-learning innovations. SGBIT is a recognised VTU Research Centre for Ph.D. programmes across five departments — Civil, Mechanical, EEE, ECE, and CSE — producing doctoral researchers who address real-world engineering and technology challenges.
The R&D Cell coordinates funded projects, faculty publications, patent facilitation, international conferences (INCOFT), and industry consultancy activities. Research themes span Energy Harvesting, AI/ML, GIS & Remote Sensing, IoT, Electric Vehicles, Image Processing, and Wireless Sensor Networks — positioning SGBIT as a vibrant research ecosystem in Karnataka.
Vision, Mission & Research Themes
Strategic direction of SGBIT's R&D ecosystem
- Vision: Develop a strong research culture through promotion of R&D in emerging areas of engineering, technology, and applied sciences.
- Mission 1: Raise awareness of cutting-edge research topics among faculty and students; identify funding opportunities and communicate them to researchers.
- Mission 2: Encourage and facilitate funded projects, seminars, workshops, and training programmes that enhance research output.
- Mission 3: Promote Ph.D. registrations, patent filings, quality publications (Scopus/SCI journals), and industry-sponsored research at SGBIT.
- Energy Harvesting: Piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and solar energy harvesting systems research.
- AI/ML in Optical Networks: Machine-learning enabled network fault detection and quality-of-transmission prediction.
- GIS & Remote Sensing: Urban planning, flood mapping, land-use analysis using satellite imagery.
- Electric Vehicle Applications: Battery management, charging infrastructure, and motor drive systems for EVs.
- Wireless Sensor Networks: Low-power IoT protocols, smart agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
| Name | Department | Role | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Suresh Akkole | ECE | R&D Coordinator | AI/ML in Optical Networks, Signal Processing |
| Dr. Sanjeev Kulkarni | CSE | Member | Machine Learning, Data Mining, Cybersecurity |
| Dr. Lalitha D | EEE | Member | Power Electronics, Renewable Energy Systems |
| Dr. Santosh Chikkabagewadi | Civil | Member | Structural Engineering, Geotechnics, GIS |
| Dr. S. A. Alur | ME | Member | Thermal Engineering, CFD, Energy Harvesting |
| Dr. Sidramayya Matad | ECE | Member | VLSI Design, Embedded Systems, IoT |
| Dr. Basavraj Madagoud | CSBS | Member | Business Analytics, AI Applications |
| Prof. Santosh Naduvinmani | AI&DS | Member | Deep Learning, Image Processing, NLP |
| Department / Lab | Location | Software | Key Equipment | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics & Communication | B-124 | Cadence, Xilinx, Kiel, Scilab | Communication kits, 2 computers, FPGA boards | ₹9,20,000 |
| Electrical & Electronics | B-104 | MATLAB, Xilinx, Kiel, Scilab | 5 high-end computers, power electronics trainers | ₹6,50,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | B009A | ANSYS, e-VSM software | VCR engine test setup, Wind tunnel (300×300mm, 40m/s, 4m length) | ₹31,47,875 |
| Civil Engineering | E006A | AutoCAD, STAAD.Pro, ETABS | 4 computers, structural analysis software | ₹2,20,000 |
Recent R&D Activities & Conferences (2022–2025)
Key events, workshops, conferences, and outreach activities
- INCOFT 2022 — 1st International Conference on Futuristic Technologies: Multi-track international conference at SGBIT covering AI, IoT, Renewable Energy, Structural Engineering, and Smart Systems. 100+ paper presentations.
- INCOFT 2023 — 2nd International Conference on Futuristic Technologies: Expanded edition with international keynote speakers, 150+ submissions, proceedings published in IEEE/Springer.
- 5-Day National STTP on Research Methodology: Using AI tools for literature review, data analysis, and IPR awareness — attended by 60+ faculty from Karnataka.
- Road MAP for Patent Creation Workshop: Practical IP filing workshop with patent attorneys; 5+ patents filed by SGBIT faculty post-workshop.
- ML in Image Processing Seminar: Expert lecture on deep learning applications in medical imaging, satellite image analysis, and industrial inspection.
- Effective Article Writing for Scopus/SCI Journals: Technical writing workshop; SGBIT publications in Scopus-indexed journals increased year-on-year.
- Sponsored Research Projects: Active VTU, KSCST, and DST-funded projects across departments; consultancy in civil and mechanical domains.