A Centre for Microfinance Research (CMR) has been set up within the BIRD to take up research activities in the field of microfinance for facilitating policy initiatives and improvements in design and delivery system of microfinance services. The vision and mission of the Centre are as follows

Strengthen the microFinance sector through supply of researched inputs that facilitate policy initiatives and improvement in design and delivery systems that provide poor with sustainable access to quality financial services.

The Key activities of the Centre would be

The research themes that are to be taken up by the centre are proposed to be identified through wide consultations.

The Centre is located within BIRD campus. While the administrative supervision of the centre will be with Director / OIC of BIRD, the overall superintendence would be with the Governing Council of BIRD. CMR will be headed by a Principal Researcher under whom 4-5 Researchers will be conducting research.

BIRD has set up a sub centre of CMR at Indian Institute of Bank Management, Guwahati. This sub-centre established based on an MoU with IIBM will focus on issues relating to Microfinance in the North Eastern states. The sub-centre will also develop an information hub on microfinance institutions in the North Eastern Regions. CMR plans to have similar sub centres at various parts of the country.

A sub centre of CMR has been set at the Centre for Microfinance – Institute of Financial Management and Reasearch, Chennai. This sub- entre will focus on issues relating to Microfinance in the Southern region of the country.

Fourth sub centre of CMR has been set up at the Chandragupt Institute of Management, Patna. This sub-centre will focus on issues relating to Microfinance in the Eastern region of the country.