Documentary on Institute of Wood Science and Technology || IWST, Bangalore

The Government of Mysore had set up a Forest Research Laboratory (FRL) at Bangalore in 1938. In the initial years, work was carried out mainly on properties and uses of different timber species, essential oils, other non-wood forest products and protection of wood and trees from pests and diseases. In 1956, this laboratory was organised as a regional centre of Forest Research Institute and Colleges, Dehra Dun. In 1977, Sandal Research Centre was set up to undertake research on wide-ranging aspects of genetics, silviculture and management of sandal, a valuable tree well distributed all over Southern India. In 1977, the marine centres of Wood Preservation Branch, Forest Research Institutes & Colleges, Dehra Dun functioning at Vishakhapatnam, Madras, Goa and Kochi were transferred to Forest Research Laboratory, Bangalore.
In 1988, forestry research in India was reorganised with setting up of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the Forest Research Laboratory was upgraded and named as Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) merging Sandal Research Centre and Minor Forest Products Unit functioning in the same campus, with it. The Institute is mandated to conduct research on wood science and technology as a national objective and focuses its research problems to important forestry research needs of the States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa at a regional level. In this region, emphasis is placed on research relating to forestry, forest products and non-wood forest products. Taking into consideration the expertise available and contributions made by the Institute, the ICFRE has now recognised the Institute as Centres of Advanced Studies in the areas of (a) Improved utilisation of wood, (b) Mangrove and coastal ecology, (c) Research on sandal. The focus of research being carried out at IWST is in consonance with and in response to the aims of National Forest Policy in the areas of i) Utilisation of timber and non-timber products and ii) Increasing productivity. The Institute mainly aims to develop strategies for sustainable use and production of wood and other forest products.
At present, it has a sprawling campus of 10 hectares in Malleshwaram, the heart of Bangalore city. The Institute has a staff strength of 148 personnel with 38 Scientists in Bengaluru with 6 Divisions and 5 Cells. In addition to this, the Institute has Advanced Woodworking Training Center (AWTC) in its premises. It is a joint venture between Indian Government (IWST), Italian Government (Italian Trade Commission, ICE) and ACIMALL (Italian Woodworking Machines and Tools Manufacturers Association). It was started as the first Training Center in India, which aims to enhance the quality of Indian wood products manufacturing industries to attain global competitiveness by using the state of art machineries from Italy.