Centres of Excellence (COE) at BITS Pilani

Centres of Excellence are specialised centres that assist the university in achieving its overall goal of innovation and collaboration at world-class levels in areas of global significance. The COEs are dedicated spaces that transform ideas into solutions by taking input from experts and industry mentors across domains, in partnership with industry and government organisations. Since bigger problems require bigger infrastructure to solve, and much greater collaboration, all this is achieved under one roof at COEs.


The Centres of Excellence at BITS Pilani also provide a distinctive capability for science and technology development, enabling students and researchers to engage with and contribute to societal benefit by focusing on solutions to complex problems.

Discover Our Hubs of Innovation & Expertise

Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (APPCAIR)

APPCAIR is dedicated to fostering innovation in AI and creating a training ground for future generations of skilled, responsible data scientists. The focus of this Centre is to conceptualise AI and related technologies, not just in theory, but also to ensure they are practical, ethical, and impactful.

Centre of Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS)

CRENS, through its research, collaborations, and training programmes, aims to make the country self-reliant in defence. CRENS’ principals are deeply rooted in the belief that developing indigenous technologies for the country makes it self-reliant and addresses critical security challenges.

Centre of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technologies (CREST)

CREST focuses on advancing semiconductor research and innovation in one of the most emerging fields of the country, with a vision to make BITS Pilani a leader in this field. Besides that, the centre also aims to be at the forefront of India’s Mission-Level Programs, including Semiconductors, Cyber-Physical Systems, and Quantum Technologies.

Advanced Research Centre For Sustainable Energy Technologies (ARCSET)

ARCSET is a dedicated centre designed to transform scalable technology to support a clean energy transition. The centre’s mission is to accelerate the shift towards low-carbon systems by developing affordable, long-term, sustainable solutions. Through collaboration and research, ARCSET ensures equitable access to clean and modern energy resources for all.