TiE Canaan Entrepreneurial Challenge 2008

Applications are accepted for TiE Cannan Entrepreneurial challenge 2008. Last date 12th May 2008. At least one finalist will be invited to join the Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program where they will get access, guidance and support on the Microsoft Platform as well as market development support from Microsoft. A representative from each of the winning teams will be invited to attend a course pro bono at the Center for Executive Education at the Indian School of Business (ISB).The Winners would be mentored by NASSCOM, Canaan Partners, and Jury Members for three months after the event.

`Women Invent' from author Susan Casey

This is one of the most reader friendly book I ever read on Innovation yet very informative. Why did she write on this topic? To quote her:

"I was talking to my friend’s father about how he invented Bounce, the anti-static tissue for the dryer. He explained his inspiration. His wife couldn’t gauge when to put the liquid softener in the washer so she kept running up and down the stairs to check. That gave him, his name was Conrad Gaiser, the idea to invent something that would serve the same purpose but be used in the dryer. I thought his story was interesting so talked to a magazine about writing an article about the stories of the invention ordinary household items, like Bounce. The editor suggested I also find out about inventions by women. By the time I finished the research for the article I was so interested in the stories of women inventors that I kept on going."

INFOSYS prize for mathematics

Infosys Technologies Limited (Infosys) and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore announce the establishment of a new prize in mathematics: the INFOSYS Prize for Mathematics.

The prize will be awarded to a person who has made outstanding contributions — fundamental or applied — in any field of mathematics including in the areas of pure mathematics, mathematical foundations of computer science and applied mathematics in natural, life and social sciences.The prize will consist of a cash prize of one million Indian rupees (US$25,000) and a medal.

Last date -April 30, 2008

Biopreneur-E Magazine

First issue of Biopreneur- a quarterly E Magazine is now available for download.
URL: http://www.biopreneur.org/images/E_mag_Biopreneur.pdf
The initial issue contains basic information for transition of researcher into an entrepreneur and useful information o patent protection, business plan tips, Bio-business in India and Asia.

e-tendering software from TOSPL

Start up firm, Trans Online Systems Private Limited, indigenously developed a fully secure and IT ACT 2000 compliant end-to-end web based tendering solution with inbuilt unique features. Unlike other software products their unique pay as you use ASP model allows departments to adopt electronic tendering system without any upfront investment.They are looking for partners/ associates to promote our products/ services in other regions. The start-up secured 3rd place in the Impresario 2008 competition held at IIT Kanpur. Interested parties can contact:
Sukant Bhattacharya
CEO
Trans Online Systems Private Limited
Mobile: +91 9826156395
Phone: +91 761 3295667

2008 Millennium Technology Prize

Trailblazing technologies that improved high-speed long-distance communication, provided the blueprint for mobile phone networks, introduced DNA fingerprinting, and created new drug delivery systems were announced Tuesday as finalists for Finland's 2008 Millennium Technology Prize.Randy Giles, director of optical subsystems and advanced photonics at Alcatel–Lucent's Bell Labs in New Jersey; Emmanuel Desurvire, director of Thales Corporate Research & Technology's physics research group in France; and David Payne, director of the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Center in England, each earned finalist spots for their contributions to telecommunications through the invention of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), which made possible the global high-capacity fiber-optic network that serves as the Internet's backbone.Andrew Viterbi, president of investment and advisory firm Viterbi Group, LLC, and co-founder of telecommunications provider Qualcomm, Inc., won finalist recognition for his development of the Viterbi algorithm, a technique that has advanced the design and implementation of modern wireless communication systems. Mobile phone networks rely on the algorithm to eliminate noise. Computer disk drives, MP3 players and systems that cull information received from deep space also use the algorithm. Without the Viterbi algorithm, "we would not have cell phones'.

i-Runway

iRunway , locate din Bangalore provides technology&IP due diligence, Innovation Management services and Litigation support services. See details at: http://www.i-runway.com/index.html
Contact person: Kunal Sharma, Co-Founder, kunal@i-Runway.com

Mechartes Researchers Pvt.Ltd

Mechartes Researchers Pvt.Ltd is a successful start-up engineering firm incubated at FITT, IIT, Delhi. Promoted by faculty and students of IIT Delhi,, Dr CV Ramakrishnan, Dr MR Ravi, Shishir Gupta, the start-up offers services like Flow and thermal analysis using CFD , Vibration Isolation system design and also products like Triami, a tool to manage enormous engineering data using open source platform, needed for firms periodically updating products along with assortment of assembly information.

Green Energy and Green Livelihoods Award

Sierra club announced $100,000 "Green energy and green livelihood award" for NGO's. The purpose of the award is to build public support for community organizations in India that are helping the country leapfrog past polluting and inefficient technologies in order to create green jobs and a green economy. The award will be given annually to one exemplary environmental or environmentally-related organization that satisfies predetermined criteria for constructive community-based work. Deadline:September 2008.

Ojas Venture Partners

Ojas is one of the few early stage funds ( $35M corpus) for start-ups. It was backed by Mr. Raghavan S. Nadathur (NSR), the co-founder and former JMD of Infosys. NSR has been an active player in the early stage ecosystem in India since 2000 helping with mentorship and guidance through NSR Center for Entrepreneurial Learning at IIM – Bangalore as well as with financial capital from Nadathur Holdings and Investments. NHIL (www.nadathur.com) is a private wealth management company with assets under management in excess of $500 M.
Contact: Avniel Dravid,Senior Associate, avniel@ojasventures.com

non enzymic detergents from MDU

This report from merinews covers research from a lesser known research body- Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. As per this report, Dr Chander Shekhar Pundir , Dean Life Sciences and his students, Sarita and Sandhya Arya developed a process for non enzymic detergents.
According to research carried out at biochemistry department, an enzyme, lipase is immobilised onto the inner wall of a plastic beaker with the help of some specific chemicals, which provided the reuse of enzyme. This enzyme can also be immobilised onto the inner wall of washing chamber of a washing machine, which is generally made up of plastic. By immobilising this enzyme onto the lower part of sidewall or onto the bottom of washing chamber, if the clothes are washed with an ordinary and cheapen detergent (non enzymic detergent), the results are even better than those by costly detergents.

Financial suport to international patenting

Department of Information Technology invites applications for the scheme titled “Support International Patent Protection in Electronics & IT (SIP-EIT)”. Under this scheme SMEs and Technology Start-Up units will be reimbursed costs incurred in filing international patent applications in Electronics & ICT domain for their indigenous inventions. This Grant shall be disbursed to applicants on a reimbursement basis and will be limited to 50% of the total expenses in actual cost incurred by the applicant on filing International Patent to a maximum of Rs. 15 lakhs per application.

Smt. J Khurana / Dr. A.K.Garg
Patent and IPR Division
R&D in IT Group
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Department of Information Technology
Electronics Niketan
6, C.G.O.Complex
New Delhi 110003
Phone: 24301284/24301398

Incandescent lamp with two filaments

Innovator Prakash Urs from Bangalore developed an incandescent lamp with two filaments. When one filament fuses, other one can be connected with simple act thereby doubling the life. Manufacturers interested in licensing can contact him at:
prakashurs@gmail.com

One hour design challenge

How much time is needed to come with a new design???
Core 77 organised a contest for bike safety design - the time available is 60 minutes.
Can we see something similar to happen in India?

Designs for Bottom of Pyramid

Looking for an expert to evaluate designs for BOP market. Niti Bhan is confounder of Perspective 2.0, an engineer from Bangalore, product designer from NID and rich haul of experience at HP, Adobe etc. Read her post at Core77.

Video on work of KR Dayte

Under Atul Pethe Productions, director Atul Pethe is all set to launch a series of films -Aivaj, that will showcases extraordinary work done by various people in their own fields.Urjechya Shodhwata, the first film of this series features K R Datye, an 82-year-old civil engineer who has utilised his engineering ingenuity for the betterment of the society. The film throws light on the various energy conservation projects that Datye has handled.