ARI researchers develop `Bug Sniffer'

Researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science &Technology, Govt. of India, have developed a sensitive and low-cost sensor to rapidly detect bacteria.  The portable device can detect as low as ten bacterial cells from a sample size of one milliliter in just 30 minutes. At present, they are working on a method for simultaneous separation and detection of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium.  Lead researcher Dr Dhananjay Bodas and his team from ARI call it the ‘bug sniffer,’ which is a biosensor that uses synthetic peptides, magnetic nanoparticles, and quantum dots to detect the presence of bacteria, providing a cost- and time-effective way of screening water and foodborne pathogens. The researchers also developed a chip comprising of microchannels made from copper wires and poly (dimethylsiloxane) The conventional techniques available for pathogen detection are less sensitive and cannot detect low cell numbers, besides being time-consuming and laborious whereas the ARI device, can detect pathogens with a limit of detection of 10 cells per 1 mL within 30 minutes.

Central Electronics Ltd (CEL) on sale.

CEL is for sale.

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION MEMORANDUM (PIM) AND INVITATION OF EXPRESSION OFINTEREST (EOI) FOR  PROPOSED STRATEGIC DISINVESTMENT OF 100% SHAREHOLDING  OF  CENTRAL ELECTRONICS LIMITED (CEL) HELD BY  THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA  THROUGH  DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH (DSIR),  MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (With transfer of management control) is placed on web. Last date 16-3-2020.

CEL is pioneer in the country in the field of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) with the distinction of having developed India’s first Solar cell in 1977 and first Solar panel in 1978 as well as commissioning India’s first solar plant in 1992. More recently, it has developed and manufactured the first crystalline flexible solar panel specially for use on the passenger train roofs in 2015. Its solar products have been qualified to International Standards IEC 61215/61730. CEL developed India’s first indigenous axle-counter in 1980’s in collaboration with IIT Delhi and Railway Design and Standards Organizations (RDSO) and has subsequently developed digital axle counters. Currently the range of RDSO approved products for railway sector includes Universal Axle Counter, Single Section Digital Axle Counter – 710P, High Availability Single Section Digital Axle Counter-720P, and Multi-Section Digital Axle Counter -730. CEL is the Pioneer in manufacturing of different types of PZT elements, in India, since 1976. CEL manufactures various grade of Piezo-ceramics elements for low power as well as high power application including PZT-5A, PZT-5H, PZT-5J for low power applications and PZT-4, PZT-8 for high power applications. DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH14 PIM FORDISINVESTMENT OF 100% EQUITY SHAREHOLDING OF CELCEL is one of the very few companies, worldwide, that have pioneered the production of the ferrite phase shifters for C- and X- bands developed in collaboration with DRDO. CEL is the only manufacturer of phase shifters in the country and has developed various production facilities for meeting the bulk demand of the phase shifters.

As on 31st March 2019, CEL’s paid up capital is Rs. 69.22 crores and Net Worth is Rs. 75.99 crores. Land asset is 2,41,614 Square yards industrial   Area, Sahibabad   Ghaziabad-201010 (UP). Tangible Assets are valued at 34Crore and revenue 240 crores. CEL has a state of the art module manufacturing line having installed capacity of 38MW (10MW in manual line and 28 MW in automated line) and is known for its high quality modules. CEL is manufacturer of some of the oldest functioning modules in the country. Solar Photovoltaic Modules are manufactured using Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.

Liabilities including commitments are around 100 crores.

Creation of Common Research and Technology Development Hubs (CRTDHs)

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) has initiated a programme aimed at setting up of Common Research and Technology Development Hubs (CRTDHs) to encourage research and technology development activities by Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). Partial financial support would be provided as grant-in-aid for development of infrastructure and equipment to facilitate MSEs undertake new/improved product/process development and skill enhancement activities. Proposals are invited from National laboratories, Public funded bodies or Institutions having a distinct legal entity for setting up of CRTDHs in the following three sectors: 

1. Electronics/Renewable Energy 
2. Low Cost Machining 
3. New Materials / Chemical Process 

The prescribed guidelines and application formats are available on the DSIR website: www.dsir.gov.in. The proposal is to be submitted in the prescribed format in a soft copy, along with all annexure and enclosures, formats as MS Word/PDF file before 22-04-2016 to: Shri G.M. Bagai Head and Scientist ‘G’, Hall-B, Room No. 6, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi – 110 016 Phone: 011 – 26602185, 26590382, E.mail: gbagai@nic.in

CSIR- Dehradun Declaration

DEHRADUN DECLARATION’ has been adopted at the end of two day conference of CSIR Directors held at CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum in Dehradun. Highlights:

•  CSIR labs will develop technologies for National missions like Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat, Skill India, Smart Cities, Digital India, Namami Ganga. 
• Each laboratory would also develop at least one technology in strategic sector for India. 
• (CSIR) to come up with at least 12 cutting edge technologies which are to be commercialized every year.

Guyed Transmission Towers- Indian Innovation journey in Valley of Death

Young Rajiv Gandhi, during his visit abroad noticed that transmission lines there were erected in a different way carried by helicopters. His comments were noticed and one public sector undertaking TSL (Triveni Structurals Limited) Naini ventured to develop the guyed transmission towers in India. Their proposal for development of various types of 400KV and 765KV self supporting and guyed type transmission line towers was approved by DSIR under PATSER in 1997. TSL successfully designed , fabricated towers and type tested at SERC, Chennai.
Then began the journey thru the Valley of Death. Several meetings were held with Power Grid Corporation for a pilot demo in 5 km and every meeting ended with `Yes, But'. The public sector undertaking TSL turned sick, researcher Tripathi retired and I closed the file with audit remarks about wasteful expenditure.
Today, the news report that this innovation will land up in J&K, for the transmission line of Sterlite by supplier Burns & McDonnel. While I am happy to see adoption of this innovation in India, cannot forget the image of dejected researcher Tripathiji.     

TePP supported Indian startup Nualgi wins 2015 Climate CoLab awards

In March 2015, the Climate CoLab opened 15 contests on key challenges the world is facing as we confront climate change.Nearly 400 proposals were submitted and evaluated by the Judges, who then selected 109 Semi-Finalists. The authors had a chance to revise their proposals with the Judges' feedback before entering a second round of evaluation, where 58 proposals were selected as Finalists and opened for public voting.  Over August and September, the Climate CoLab community grew to over 45,000 members and cast over 11,000 votes to select the contests' Popular Choice winners.

Nualgi invented by Sampathkumar of Bangalore and supported by DSIR under TePP was selected as winner under Energy-Water Nexus and also under Waste Management.

Promoting Industrial Research: A herculean task for orphaned department- DSIR

DST has published a white paper `Simulation of Investment of Private Sector into Research and Development in India ' (2013) prepared by joint committee of industry and government. The committee addressed the very fundamental question- how much is private sector investment in R&D today. The clear answer- no one knows. 
Excerpts from the report:
Tax Foregone in 2012-13 for supporting private sector R&D was estimated at Rs 6335 crores.Based on this investment by private sector in R&D is computed as Rs 19,197 crores. The committee says that  these are gross estimates and would not include the direct investments of private sectors which are not covered by Section 35 (2AA) and Section 35 (2AB). R&D investments are meant for 100% write-off in the first year. Reliable estimates of investment which are actually eligible for 100% writeoff in the first year are not known. Current CAGR of tax foregone since 2 years is 16.3%. Based on CAGR it is estimated that private sector investment into R&D, eligible for being considered under Section 35 (2AA) and Section 35 (2AB) are estimated to be Rs. 40,844 Crores by 2017.

The committee flagged another important aspect-R&D risks and failure management:
Current financial audit procedures are risk averse and prohibit risky ventures. In the deployment of public funds and loans from banks especially, R&D led innovations do not receive adequate support. Inputs / Suggestions received from stakeholders 
3.7.1 Work out provisions for writing off government loans/grants for private sector R&D failures. Caps may be defined for small, medium and large firms. 
3.7.2 Institute a simple and one-window apex system in the Ministries to clear such items expeditiously. 
3.7.3 A professional expert group involving financial experts may be commissioned to study the Israel and Singapore models for adaptation to suit the national innovation eco system.  

The Billion rupee question- who is going to implement this.
As per business allocation, DSIR ( Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) is responsible for management of both CSIR and industrial research of private sector. The fiscal incentives are administered by DSIR so also minor grants for R&D.However, for historical reasons, DSIR never has a full fledged, independent Secretary, most of the years DG, CSIR also discharged responsibilities as Secretary, DSIR.
Can the orphaned department take up the herculean task of promoting industrial R&D in India on a scale compatible with Make-In-India vision? 

GFR (General Finance Rules) and Innovation Promotion

In 2007 World Bank released a report `Unleashing INDIA’S Innovation’ and question thus arose;  where is the `leash’?  Is it low budget or structural holes or mind set?

It is common refrain to say that only 1 in 8 of innovations make money in the market. For government departments, the accounting treatment of failed innovations is governed by the rule book GFR. Unfortunately despite a series of announcements including INDIA INNOVATION DECADE, the GFR has not been updated to stimulate risk investment by Government. The GFR condition amended in 2005 says:

Ministries or Departments of Government sponsor projects or schemes to be undertaken by Universities, Indian Institutes of Technology and other similar autonomous organizations such as ICAR, CSIR, ICMR,etc., the results from which are expected to be in national interest. Normally the entire expenditure on such projects or schemes including capital expenditure, is funded by the Ministry or Department. The funds released for such projects or schemes in one or more installments are not treated as grants-in aid in the books of the implementing agency. Apart from the requirement of submission of technical and financial reports on completion of the project or scheme, a stipulation should be made in such cases that the ownership in the physical and intellectual assets created or acquired out of such funds shall vest in the sponsor.

R&D Grants to Industry

There is no provision or bar on funding R&D projects or innovations by commercial organisations. History of R&D funding will thro light on this.

TAAS

DSIR was the first to provide R&D grants to Industry under TAAS (Technology Absorption and Adaptation Scheme). This is influenced by the Japanese Model, where initial technology was imported, absorbed and improved. MITI moulded the program in Japan, the Indian version TAAI taken up by DGTD was resisted by industry due to conditions on PMP (Phased Manufacturing Programme) to improve local content during the initial 5 years of license. To motivate industry to take up technology absorption , DSIR came up with TAAS and R&D grants were given to over 30 Public Sector Firms. GFR does not differentiate between Public Sector or Private sector and this decision to restrict funding to Public sector was primarily to play safe.

PATSER

With liberalization and globalization, the focus shifted to new product development. The literature is supportive of government initiatives to support commercial firms at pre-commercial stage of R&D and WTO also approved this subsidy. DSIR started PATSER as conditional and matching grants scheme, attracting private capital to R&D and at the same time not penalizing them for R&D failures. More than 150 R&D projects were supported under this program and majority of the executing agencies were private firms developing proprietary technology. Similar programs taken up by TIFAC, DOE ran into rough weather as they were loan schemes with no provision to write off failed Research.

TePP

New century shifted focus again , this time to creativity, innovation and incubation. New ground was covered under TePP as network program with slots to support idea at different stages. Read: PPT on Freedom to perform in Government-case of TePP . 

Is GFR the leash that confined India to a narrow circle of achievements?

• ·     Under the same GFR, DSIR started TePP and PATSER programs giving grants to commercial firms for R&D at pre-commercial stage.
• ·         Under the same GFR, TDB started giving time much larger amounts to commercial firms as soft loans at Commercial stage.
• ·        Under the same GFR, TePP started giving small but significant grants direct to innovators for proving their novel ideas at concept stage.
• ·         The amount spent by Government of India on private R&D and Innovation is less than the R&D cess collected from Industry for technology transfer.
• ·         The grant amount is a tiny fraction of revenue foregone (Rs 6330 crores) by Government by way of fiscal incentives ( Deduction/weighted deduction for expenditure on scientific research (section 35 (1), (2AA) &(2AB))

·      It is good if GFR is amended to keep with the times, even otherwise the precedents created should form the base to charge ahead with conviction..