Dr. Milind V. Kulkarni, Centre Head, at Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C- MET), Pune, under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Govt. of India. He is actively working for the development of Active materials (Cathode and Anode) for Li –ion & Na-ion batteries with fabrication of prototype cell/battery and all solid state, flexible, thin batteries. Recently, he is developing ‘Li – S’ batteries and ‘Li- air’ batteries for Automobile applications (Hybrid Electrical Vehicles). He also has developed and demonstrated Polyaniline based thin, flexible, light weight and ultra-low-cost batteries. His main field of current scientific interest is Nanomaterials and Polymer nanocomposites for multifunctional applications, Development of conducting/electroactive polymers and their nanocomposites, ‘Flexible and Wearable’ electronics devices, Nanomaterials for ‘ink-jet printed, ‘flexible electronics devices’. He has developed polyaniline-CNTs nanocomposite coated ‘E-fabric/smart fabric’. He is also actively working for the development of nanomaterials and glass/polymer nanocomposites for lead free, X-ray absorption/attenuation application and developed successfully a prototype light weight, lead free apron for biomedical applications. Presently, he is also engaged in the development of polymer nanocomposites for biological applications and development of ‘Electronic Nose’ (E-Nose) and ‘Electronic Tongue’ (E-Tongue) for chemical and biomedical applications.

Dr. Kulkarni has published more than 115 research papers in international journals of high repute. In 2022, he was admitted as ‘Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry’ (FRSC), London. He is recipient of the ‘Researcher of the Year -2021: Energy Storage’ award by India Energy Storage Alliances (IESA), “Fellow” of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences in year 2013 and Young Associate” award in 2009.

Dr. Kulkarni has designed & developed ‘First Indigenous & Low Cost’ “Polymer Swab” for the sample collection and testing of COVID-19 and other viral diseases.