In June 1986, the first batch of scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, moved to RRCAT and scientific activities were started.

Since then, the centre has rapidly grown into a premier institute for research and development in lasers, accelerators and their applications.

RRCAT has also been actively involved in providing scientific and material assistance to the CERN sponsored Large Hadron Collider.

[4] In addition to this, the centre conducts Trainings, Doctoral Programs to take up research and development work in the frontline areas of particle accelerators, lasers, cryogenics, superconductivity, plasma physics and related high technology fields.

On September 4, 2024, Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of propulsion technology that can lift up to 30 tonnes and be conveniently transported to space and the moon.