Research Labs 

Design Research Laboratory @ IITRopar

Established in 2012 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Ropar, the Design Research Laboratory (DRL) is an interdisciplinary facility focused on engineering design, innovation, sustainability, and technology-enabled product development.

Its research spans product design, design creativity and methodology, sustainable manufacturing, engineering aesthetics, automotive and agricultural systems, Industry 4.0/5.0, supply chains, innovation, and entrepreneurship. DRL integrates experimentation, computational tools, digital technologies, prototyping, and decision-support methods to develop practical and sustainable engineering solutions.

The laboratory supports undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and collaborative research while promoting interaction with academia, industry, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Its broader objective is to advance human-centred design, responsible innovation, creativity, sustainability, and emerging technologies for meaningful industrial and societal impact.

Design Studio @ IITRopar

Established in 2011, the Design Studio at IIT Ropar is a multidisciplinary platform for innovation, product design, prototyping, fabrication, and technology development. It enables students and researchers to transform ideas into functional products through CAD modelling, digital fabrication, prototyping, testing, and refinement. The Studio is equipped with facilities such as CNC milling and turning, high-precision SLA 3D printing, electronic fabrication, and mechanical prototyping. It also supports digital product development, virtual prototyping, user-interface design, smart technologies, and user-centred service innovation.

Over the years, the Studio has contributed to projects in agricultural mechanization, stubble management, urban farming, hydroponics, sustainable products, reverse engineering, smart products, and innovative machinery, with several developments progressing towards patents and implementation.

The Design Studio is currently led by Prof. Prabir Sarkar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar.