The CCRI, Kalavoor concentrates on research concerning the development of eco-friendly technologies for quality improvement of coir fibre, utilization of coir pith, effluent treatment, development of new machinery and product diversification, etc., Identification of new areas for utilization of coir fibre and coir pith, modernization of production processes for elimination of drudgery in manual operation thereby attaining higher productivity and improvement in quality are integral parts of the research efforts. The areas of research in CCRI are in the field of Application of Microbiology, Applied Chemistry, Polymer Technology, Textile Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Machine Design for Spinning & Weaving and Extension Department. Each section is having separate laboratories for carrying out R&D activities. Collaborative R&D activities are being under taken with research organizations, institutes of repute, industries, universities in India & having proven records on varied applications of coir, development of new products, new machinery, product diversification, development of environment friendly technologies, technology transfer, incubation, testing and service facilities are the areas which are given priority consideration. Commercialization of new products/technologies and machines developed by the R&D institute and registering for Patent Right/IPR of these research outcomes and proper documentation etc., CCRI is also establishing Centres of Excellence (CoE) in association with reputed institutions, etc. are integral parts of the research efforts of the Board. These institutions will play the role as facilitators for providing technical guidance to the entrepreneurs in setting up of coir based industrial units, demonstration of various technologies, technology transfer to entrepreneurs and the trade, incubation, testing and service facilities, technically up skilling the entrepreneurs, etc. Research activities are being carrying out with the funding support from reputed institutions are also envisaged under the programme. The technologies, products & machinery developed in the small scale level are scaled up for application at the field level together with extension of testing and service facilities to the coir entrepreneurs & exporters.

The CCRI is recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(SIRO). It is also recoganised by Cochin University of Science and Technology and Mahathma Gandhi University, Kottayam as a Research Centre for guiding research scholors for confernment of Ph.D degree. The Microbiology department of CCRI is recoganized by the Australian Quanratine and Inspection Service(AQIS) for phytosanitary certification of coir pith. The Bureau of Indian Standards recognized the physical testing laboratory of CCRI as centres for testing of coir and coir products.