Seth Gulabchand Research Foundation (SGRF) was established on the occasion of celebration of silver jubilee of Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli in the year 1973, with major objective of promoting R&D activities at the College. A target of raising corpus of Rs. 10 lakhs was set for the Research Foundation, and use the interest earned on this corpus for application oriented research activities at the college. However till the financial year 1979-80 the College could collect corpus of about Rs. 7.0 lakhs only, out of which Rs. 5.0 lakh was contributed by various companies from the Walchand group.
A Committee drafted Rules and Regulations for working of the SGRF, which were approved by the Administrative Council in its 93rd meeting, held on 29th September 1979 under Item No. 6.
The Objectives and Activities of the SGRF are to undertake the work of the following nature:
The SGRF activities are supervised through a Research Foundation Committee constituted by the Administrative Council as follows:
Research Foundation Committee has appointed appoint a Local Advisory Committee (LAC) or an R&D Cell headed by a senior faculty of WCE, who is coordinating all R&D work under SGRF.
LAC recommends feasibility of the projects proposals under SGRF; suggest ways and means to carry out the R&D work; nominate Principal Investigator/s for the projects; review progress of work and suggest remedial measures. LAC will meet at least 6 times a year and keep minutes of its meeting.
As per the audited balance sheet of SGRF for the financial year 2023-24, the total funds balance is Rs. 127.05 lakh.
Faculty , students are encouraged to undertake eserch projects from these funds and seed funds are provided for this.