Scientific exploration of Marine cyanobacteria was envisioned in Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli in the form of "Microbial Technology Unit" in the Department of Botany in the year 1985 by Dr. G. Subramanian. On realizing the marine cyanobacterial wealth and its potentials elsewhere in the world, Department of Ocean Development (DOD) Govt. of India, sanctioned a project to Dr.G.Subramanian to the tune of Rs. 15. 00 Lakhs to enumerate the marine cyanobacterial wealth of coast of Tamil Nadu. The promising results further kindled interest and paved way for the establishment of National Facility for Marine Cyanobacteria, (NFMC), a Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India sponsored Facility in Bharathidasan University, which is the brain child of Dr.G.Subramanian. Then on, NFMC is carrying out basic and applied research work. NFMC since 1996, till 2006 in collaboration with Department of Microbiology was offering M.Sc Microbiology course. NFMC is continuing as a research center in accordance with the regulation of the funding agency within the newly created Department of Marine Biotechnology as per the syndicate resolution from 2008.