There are multiple research projects and startups at Naberezhnye Chelny Institute.

Among grants won by the Institute are "Development of Scientific Capacity of the Higher School (2009-2011)", Federal program "Scientific and Pedagogic Staff of Innovative Russia 2009-2013", Russian Foundation for Basic Research grants, Russian Humanitarian Scientific Fund grants, etc. The Naberezhnye Chelny institute is a winner of multiple republican awards of the Republic of Tatarstan. Research and development works are carried out with JSC KAMAZ, SEZ Alabuga, JSC Sollers, JSC PO ELAZ, TD "Tom", IT Park Chelny, JSC Airport Begishevo, and others.

Polytech Student Desing Bureau holds master classes, special courses and excursions to the enterprises for the students of six majors: "Automotive Industry", "Mechanical Engineering", "Construction Technologies and Materials", "Supply of Energy Resources, Energy Efficiency, Energy Saving", "Electronic Engineering, Electric Engineering and Electrical Automatic Equipment", and "Technologies of Ecological Development". 39 special courses for the students have been organized so far. The students partake in conferences and contests ("UMNIK", "50 innovative ideas for the Republic of Tatarstan", "10 innovative ideas of KFU", etc.). Furthermore, Student Fomula project initiated in 2013. It is a student engineering competition which was initially organized by the Community of Automobile Engineers and included into a Series of the Student's Engineering Competitions. A student team has to develop, construct and test a prototype of the car of a Formula-class car.

Development and Research of Advanced Materials Lab was opened in 2014, Flexible Production Systems Lab is in its planning stages. The latter is aimed at future high-tech cooperation with KAMAZ.