SCDT was formally established on March 5, 2000 through a memorandum of under-standing between SAMTEL Group of Industries and I.I.T. Kanpur. This has been a beginning of one of the most significant efforts towards meaningful industry-academia interaction to meet the challenges of emerging technologies in electronic displays. The creation of the Centre is testimony to the faith that our alumni has on IITK, the freedom that the faculty enjoys, and the values that are cherished in the academic environment of IITK.

The Centre is managed by an "NAC Committee" and "Management Committee". Faculty members from a variety of disciplines at IIT Kanpur participate in conducting research and bringing projects to the centre. The centre is powered by graduate and undergraduate students and project scientists and engineers at IITK. Engineers from Samtel participate at various levels of activities.