CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), Ahmedabad is the research arm while CEPT Advisory Foundation (CAF) is the advisory arm of CEPT University. CEPT University has created a vibrant environment of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation focused on issues concerning human habitats. Through CRDF and CAF, University engages actively in research projects, advisory assignments and capacity building initiatives aimed at solving critical problems in the built environment and improving people’s quality of life in towns and cities. CRDF and CAF are established as Not-for-Profit companies under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013. The entities operate with independent boards appointed by CEPT University and are organised around thematic centres which specialise around a specific area of expertise. The entities’ mission is to educate, to build thoughtful and competent professionals and undertake research to clarify and deepen our understanding of how we design, plan, build and manage habitats, so that we may improve upon present practices. Through eight thematic Centres, the entities strive to enhance and deepen knowledge, encourage innovation, and provide professional services. The thematic verticals, identified as 'Centres,' work together to find answers to complex problems in the built environment. The Centres work in the areas of Urban Planning and Policy, Infrastructure Development, Water and Sanitation, Heritage Conservation, Climate Change, Sustainable Living, Affordable Housing, Advanced Geomatics, Building Science and Energy, and Urban Transportation. The entities work closely with governments, multilateral institutions, and industry to develop innovative, sustainable, and context-sensitive solutions to complex urban challenges.

CRDF & YASHADA have collaborated with complementary strengths in policy research, capacity building, and governance reform. While the Entities specialise in urban development, planning, infrastructure, and evidence-based policy formulation, YASHADA has deep institutional knowledge and experience in administrative training, public service delivery, and decentralized governance systems. This partnership is driven by a shared objective to strengthen activities to be conducted in the domains of land administration and urban planning and development as follows.
• Research & Development: Collaborative research in the domains of land administration & urban development. The Parties may co-develop pilot projects in the selected districts to demonstrate the impact of integrated geospatial and administrative solutions.
• Compilation / Publication: Co-authorship, dissemination and publication of reports, case studies, policy briefs, working paper, technical manuals and best practice documents related to identified study.
• Training & Capacity Building: Design and delivery of specialized training programmes or modules, joint workshops, seminars, capacity building modules (in-person and as well as virtual) on relevant topics of interest to both the parties.
• Technical Assistance in Aerial Surveys: Support in planning and executing aerial surveys using drones, LiDAR and other advanced geospatial tools for cadastral mapping, land use analysis etc. Also, providing guidance on integrating survey outputs into government databases and decision support systems.