A project proposal on "Design, Development and Commissioning of Grid Connectable Roof-top 5kw Solar PV Power System" has been submitted by the Centre to the ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India, New Delhi in November, 1998 and their approval is awaited.

Noting the encouraging response of the above meetings the IETE Hyderabad Centre created an R&D Cell. The members of the Cell after visiting BHEL (R&D), the Jawharlal Nehru Technological University and IE (I) Engineering Staff College of India, prepare a project report on "Systems Engineering, Integration, Commissions of data collection from roof top P.V. micro power station of 10Kw developing an intelligent controller which converts the loads to photovoltaic power generator, battery powered invertor or mains, based on optimizaion programme. The project report has been sent to Advisor, solar PV programme, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources. This is being followed up for approval.

Safety problems of unmanned gates at the Railway level crossing was yet another project which was conceived by the R&D Cell. Discussion are held with the Officers of IRISET (Indian Railways Institution of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications) which is located near IETE, Hyderabad Centre.

In a programme Jointly organised by IETE, Hyderabad Centre and Electronic Industries Association of Andhra Pradesh a lecture on "Research and Development in Industry in the Post-liberalisation period" was delivered by Dr. V.V. Subba Rao Advisor, Govt. of India Min. of Science & Technology on 12th April 1997.