India Resource Centre for Vision Impaired

India Resource Center Vision Impaired , promoted by TePP innovator MS Raju will be inaugurated  at Visakhapatnam on 23-08-2011. Resource Center is a permanent open-access exhibition/demo/training/ guidance facility to give advice, encouragement and technological help to vision impaired persons, students, parents and teachers. It provides guidance to students as well as parents on educational choices, on Integrated/Inclusive schools, and how to upgrade skills. It will provide sourcing information and recommendation on devices that help Vision Impaired. The centre will provide cybercafe facility for the Vision impaired with expert attendant guidance for browsing and emailing. 

Vision Impairment (Low Vision or Blindness) is not a disease but is a condition. It cannot be cured but has to be managed. This resource center which will showcase and guide on all techniques and devices that help Vision Impaired lead productive lives.

Some exhibits: 

A. For Low Vision- Near viewing devices- Bar Magnifiers, Handheld Magnifiers, Folding / Pocket Magnifiers, Illuminated Magnifiers, Stand Magnifiers, Stand Magnifiers with cut out for writing, Dome Magnifiers,Spectacle Magnifiers, Base-in Spectacles, Reading Stand, Table Lamp, Fresnel Magnifiers , CCTV (Camera Mouse) Camera Mouse Scan/Stand options

B. For Low Vision - Distance viewing devices-Handheld Telescope, Bio Optic Telescope Telescope , Spectacle Optima Distance Viewer, Pinhole Spectacles

C. For Low Vision- Living aids and household aid- Needle Threder Notex (Currency guide), Typoscope (Line writing guide), Signature Guide, Large font Calculator, Peack cap Spectacles & Colour filters, Amsler Chart

D. Devices for the Blind

E. Educational Devices and Information (for LV and Blind students, teachers & training institutions)

F. Knowhow for institutions desiring to serve Vision Impaired

G. Books and Documents 

H. Charts and Literature

J. Live Training Classes (-3 days a week)

K. Live Cybercafe for vision Impaired (Subject to Cybercafe regulations)

L. Certificate Courses

Contact:

Vision Aid Charitable Services Society

16-2-19, Official Colony, Vizag-2

Ph: 91 984949880, 91 9441968176

E-mail: vizag@visionaid.org

DEFTECH 2011

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) is organizing a Seminar & Exhibition on Defence Technology scheduled on 26-27 August 2011 at Manekshaw Auditorium, New Delhi, India.CENJOWS is the official think tank of HQ Integrated Defence Staff (HQIDS), Ministry of Defence, Government of India and represents all the three services.
For Exhibition related queries, please contact Mr Amit Kumar at amit.kumar@cii.in.  

Innovation for India Awards 2012

Marico Innovation Foundation has opened the entry process for its  4th edition of the Innovation for India Awards. Since the inception of the awards, 28 breakthrough innovations have been awarded. These include innovations from organizations such as Kirloskar Brothers, Titan, Tutor Vista, Goonj, Azim Premji Foundation, Trichy Police, Gujarat Government, amongst others.Last date of receiving entries is Friday, September 2nd, 2011.

5th International Conference on Anti-counterfeiting & Anti-Piracy

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is organizing a two day International Conference on “Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Piracy “on 25-26 August 2011 at Coronet I & II; Hotel LeMeridien; Bangalore. Along with the conference there will be an exhibition of Anti-Counterfeiting/Anti-Piracy Technologies and exhibition of fake and original products.
For more details contact  Ms. Nabanita Mukherjee at nabanita.mukherjee@cii.in. (011-45772021) or Mr. Himmat Tandon at himmat.tandon@cii.in (011-45772023).

Tinkering lab at IIT Kanpur

Inspired by MIT's Fab lab concept and potential to unleash creativity, IIT Kanpur has set up its own version, called Tinkering Lab. Like in Fab Lab the lab is equipped with 3 D printing machine any student can walk in  with an idea and exit with a physical model. Tinkering lab is funded by DST and is housed in 4i Lab. 

IIT Kanpur incubates 30 start-ups

SIDBI Innovation & Incubation Centre (SIIC) graduated 16 start-ups and currently 14 are housed. Start-up IAITO received Green Award for their RFID based solar PV solution. IAITO delivers whole family of RFID solutions and their RFID 4 Port is state-of -art in the line.Weather Risk Management services is a pioneer supported by SIDBI Venture Capital and Ford Foundation. 

Indian Researchers embrace Intellectual Ventures

Economic Times carried article on student innovator Mayank Swarup of Manipal Institute of Technology. His patent was filed by Intellectual Ventures (IV). As per this report IV had tie-up with 8 universities including most IITs. What is the reach of IV and how much cash they disbursed to Indian researchers till date? IIT Kanpur has put in public domain the patents (11) filed through IV, all filed in the year 2010-2011.Is it reasonable to assume IV supported about 100 Indian patents and paid a million dollars to researchers/ institutes till now? 

OHIO ENERGY 2011

SkyQuest is leading a technology exploration mission from India to the US to‘OHIO ENERGY 2011 - Advanced Energy B2B Conference & Expo’ and those joining the mission get waiver on registration fee. Conference dates, September 14-15th, 2011.Ohio is leading the USA’s Great Lakes initiatives in offshore wind development, a major center for Solar and photovoltaics research in the U.S, one of the major U.S. centers for Fuel Cell research and development, home to some of the world's leading manufacturers, research institutions,   utilities and development organizations in Advanced Energy.
Contact:Ms. Kathak Mehta kathak.mehta@skyquestventures.com | 079-4005 4111
Ms. Neha Jhala neha.jhala@skyquestt.com | 079-4005 4110  

Solar Cooking Atlas

Solar Cooking Atlas is a resource center on all aspects of solar cooking with articles, videos,links etc.
URL: http://www.solarcookingatlas.com/index.php

iAccelerator 2011- accelerating value creation for start-ups

iAccelerator currently in the third year is an incubation program run by CIIE.The program is now accepting application, last date 1st August. Finalist start ups will receive total Rs. 5 Lacs in seed funding from CIIE and/or an angel investor. The start ups will join the bootcamp at CIIE( Ist November 2011 to 30th January 2012)  where they will be assisted to develop a working prototype and business model. Demo day which will be held towards the end of the program will give iAccelerator start ups an opportunity to showcase their value to angel investors/ VCs . CIIE would take equity stake in the start-up on mutually agreed terms and sign a term sheet before start of boot camp. 

Innovation in Health Care awards 2011

These awards are sponsored by MEDEXPERT as part of MEDICALL 2011 expo, Chennai, August 12-14.
Only registered organisations are eligible to apply. Last date 20th July 2011. Details:
http://medicall.in/pdf/award/inno%20information%20flyer.pdf

Gas Stove with fan

Indian cooking involves occasional stirring on flame , the exhaust fans do not provide comfort and ceiling fans cannot be used. Innovator Kishor Anandrao Shiralkar wanted to help his wife and came with innovation Stove with fan. This is patent protected.3356/MUM/2010.
Business partners can contact: Mr. Kishor Anandrao Shiralkar, 1217 D ward umraokar galli, Uttreshwar peth, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, 416002, cell" 09370510842

RCB-Young Investigator Awards

The Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) is a newly established institution of education, training & research in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India under an agreement with UNESCO. RCB is designed to be a centre of excellence in biotechnology with intimate contributions from the countries of the region and academic institutions from the rest of the world. It provides a meeting place where innovation, enterprise, and industrial development will germinate.

RCB-Young Investigator Awards are designed to identify and nurture outstanding young scientists with innovative ideas and desirous of pursuing research in frontier areas of biotechnology related (but not limited) to structural, systems and synthetic biology, nano science & technology, cellular and molecular biology, disease biology, and data-intensive discovery research, under the mentorship of senior faculty at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology. Young scientists (below the age of 35) having PhD degree (or likely to complete in next 3 months) in any discipline of natural sciences are eligible to apply.

The award shall be initially for the duration of three years, subject to annual review. It may be further extended for additional two years, based on a review by a committee of experts. The award carries a consolidated stipend of Rs. 40,000/-per month. The awardee shall not be entitled to draw any other fellowship or salary.

Interested candidates may submit their application by filling the application form available on the website (www.rcb.res.in) to email id: registrar@rcb.res.in. Copy of the application should be sent by registered post to The Registrar, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 180 Udyog Vihar Phase 1, Gurgaon-122016. Haryana, India so as to reach by 31st July 2011. 

Providing space for local competence with a strategic perspective- China Vs India

Here is one more instance. 
Both China and India want Aircraft Carriers and both initiated the process by acquiring junked aircraft carriers from former Soviet block countries. India acquired Russian aircraft carrier Gorshkov at Rs 974 crores and spent another $2.9 billion to reequip it with imported missiles, systems etc. China acquired  one from Ukraine for stated purpose of running Casino and upgraded it mostly with Chinese make/ assembled products/ systems.

The International workshop on Wireless Communication and Networking Technologies for Rural Enrichment (WiTRUE-2011)

The International workshop on Wireless Communication and Networking Technologies for Rural Enrichment (WiTRUE-2011) shall be co-located with the 7th IEEE International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Computing, Networking and Communications (WiMob2011), on 9th Oct 2011, Shanghai, China . The WiTRUE 2011 will focus on the various technological solutions being researched and developed across the globe to address rural challenges and identify channels that can directly benefit the rural masses.

*Important Dates*:
Paper Submission: 15th July 2011
Acceptance Notification: 22th July 2011
Camera Ready: 30th July 2011
Presentation at Workshop: 9th Oct 2011

St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum 2011 and the Innovation Russia Exhibition

St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum 2011 and the Innovation Russia Exhibition  will be held on September 28 – 30 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Innovation Forum program offers congress, exhibition and business presentations, cultural and special events. The Exhibition will showcase Russian and foreign experience of creating and implementing innovative products and strategies.  For further information please follow the link http://enforum.spbinno.ru/
Contact person: Kirill Pakhryaev, Tel/Fax.: +7 (812) 303-88-66

E-mail: techsales@restec.ru  

Innovator offers patented design for Faucets with independent control of temperature and flow.

How to prepare a bucket of warm water for bath. Those that cannot afford faucets with automatic thermostat settings, adjust hot water and cold water taps manually and separately. Innovator KNS Reddy thought of an easier way, he developed faucet with manual control for both temp and flow control. This patented design is available for sale. 
Contact: KNS Reddy, Bangalore, knsreddy@gmail.com.    

National Seminar on Leveraging Simulation Technologies to Enhance Combat Potential

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the Simulator Development Division are organising the SEM-SIM 2011 on Simulators: Leveraging Simulation Technologies To Enhance Combat Potential on 16-17 Sep 2011 at Simulator Development Division, Near MCEME, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh- 500015. Sem-Sim 2011 will be India’s premier Seminar cum Exhibition pertaining to simulators and related systems. It will enable the participants to exhibit and witness varied simulator and related training technologies and would provide a golden opportunity for interaction between users and industry.The exhibition includes Simulation Systems (All Types); Simulation related IT Products; Optical and Electronics Products; Sound Synthesis Systems; Motion Systems; Human Modeling; Simulation Support Systems.


Contact: Gurpal Singh, Gurpal Singh

LED light: 99 Innovations

Spot beam satellites

I commented ( post on Feb 10 2011 ) whether While Devas and Antrix agreement was for application development or providing service? The application Devas was supposed to be developing for Antrix - Spot Beam satellite is in the news. 

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today (31st May 2011) announced the commercial entry into service of its KA-SAT High Throughput Satellite, marking the official launch of its new-generation Tooway™ broadband service. Eutelsat’s high-capacity all Ka-band system, combining satellite and on-ground infrastructure, opens a new chapter in the market for satellite-based IP services. As a powerful new platform for delivering high-bandwidth services to users beyond range of terrestrial networks, it can deliver cost-effective and competitive solutions that contribute to building inclusive digital economies across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO commented on the entry into service: “The entry into service of KA-SAT, the world’s most powerful spotbeam satellite, turns a new page in affordable and immediately available IP solutions, and places Europe at the forefront of high-capacity satellite technologies that can serve to quickly close the broadband gap. 

The application was developed by Skylogic and service offered by Tooway where as Satellite was built by Astrium.

Is Toolway an independent service provider or an outfit owned by Skylogic?

India catching up in Nanotechnology

This UNU MERIT report by Shyama Ramani and others captures India's tryst with catching up. India tried but not succeeded in semi conductors or MEMS. Nanotechnology is more broad based, we may succeed in some areas, as the report says.

study shows that both upstream scientific and technological capabilities and downstream regulatory capabilities are being strengthened. India has clearly made a dent in terms of scientific publications (with the main focus being on nanomaterials), in the 'technology market' its patenting performance (with the principle focus on nanopolymers and nanocatalysts) though not extraordinary is good compared to other emerging economies spending similar amounts. In the 'final products' market some biotech and ICT incumbents are moving towards nano but the bulk of the new firms are in the field of nanomaterials. These achievements are particularly noteworthy given the much smaller quantity of funds invested by the Indian State as compared to the international leaders in nanotechnology.  

Ramakrishna Karuturi, world's largest producer of rose buds

WEF Entrepreneurship report 2011 includes some non-IT firms, Kuruturi Global is one of the them. 
Karuturi, a mechanical engineer with MBA from the US, founded the company in 1995 as a 100% export-oriented unit in Bangalore.In 1999, he set up an internet auction portal by the name Rose Bazaar.com to derive benefits of weeding out intermediaries through the use of the Internet. The same year, he set up a second production facility for roses near Bangalore taking the total size of his rose farms to 10 hectares. Roses for Valentines Day in 1998 earned him his first million. There was an order to supply 22 tons of roses to Europe, and the Air France flight that was to ship it, got cancelled. There was no flight to the destination after that. he bought up the entire stock that was lying there on the tarmac at a a throwaway price as the sellers were desperate to get rid of it,  drove a truck all the way to Chennai, and finally after some haggling, got all the stuff in a Lufthansa flight. That consignment netted him his first million.in 2003, he took a call. In 2003, he decided to kickstart the next acres of farms in Ethiopia, later acquired Dutch firm Sher Agencies for $69 million. 


As per WEF report, Kuruturi's revenues from Indian operation expanded from $7 million in 2006 to $11 million by 2010, where as revenues from international operation rose from $3 billion to $110 billion for the corresponding period.


This is success with smell of roses.

Projects supported under NAIP

Several interesting projects are supported under NAIP ( National Agricultural Innovation Project) funded by World Bank and Government of India. See the list under components 2 & 4  

Economic Impacts of Human genome project

The $3.8 billion the U.S. government invested in the Human Genome Project (HGP) from 1988 to 2003 helped drive $796 billion in economic impact and the generation of $244 billion in total personal income, according to a study released today by Battelle. In 2010 alone, the human genome sequencing projects and associated genomics research and industry activity directly and indirectly generated $67 billion in U.S. economic output and supported 310,000 jobs that produced $20 billion in personal income. The genomics-enabled industry also provided $3.7 billion in federal taxes during 2010.

Down load report:  

India had not participated in Human Genome Project. Did we miss the bus? or in the absence of Industry linkages, would a participation brought in similar results?

India Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2011

After successful 2010 Awards, The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship are inviting applications for the India Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2011. Three to four leading social entrepreneurs will be selected as finalists for the India Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The winner(s) will be announced in a ceremony coinciding with the India Economic Summit in November 2011 in New Delhi.The Award benefits for the winner(s) include eligibility to participate in the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The deadline for receiving applications is May 30, 2011

 

Discussion paper on Utility Patents

DIPP released discussion paper on `Utility Patents'. 

The low cost, low threshold, and quick grant framework encourages domestic innovators  specially  the SMEs sector as well as individual innovators.   

Pl download , read and send views to DIPP before 30th June 2011.
Download URL:http://www.dipp.nic.in/ipr-feedback/Utility_Models_13May2011.pdf

BS 8538:2011 Specification for the provision of services relating to the commercialization of intellectual property rights

BS 8538 is the British Standard that sets out for the first time good practice and principals of ethical behaviour for organizations providing services to inventors.BS 8538 specifies the requirements for the provision of services to the originators of intellectual property with a view to their commercialization. It specifies principles for the ethical behaviour of the service provider relating to:

• Integrity and competence, Transparency regarding fees, costs and finances, Confidentiality and the disclosure of information, The declaration of interests and conflicts, Complaints handling.

It also specifies a process for service provision, covering:

• Initial engagement with the originator, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Evaluation of the originator’s idea, Commercial agreements for the provision of advice and/or services.

Tony Buzan in India

Tony Buzan, the inventor of Mind Maps will be in India to present his ideas in a workshop on Creativity, Innovation and Thinking, using Mind Mapping as a powerful tool to increase your creativity and problem solving skills. 

Program Schedule:  

26th May, Thursday - Bangalore @ Royal Orchid, 

30th May, Monday - Mumbai @ JW Marriot, Juhu, 

Contact person: 

Nikita D'mello, +919892838970

Vigyan ashram announce opening of admission for “Diploma in Basic Rural Technology” (Batch 2011-12)

Vigyan ashram announced opening of admission for “Diploma in Basic Rural Technology” (Batch 2011-12). This course is recognized by National Institute of Open Schooling and useful for school dropouts. This is a multiskill program in which training is given in the area of :
Engineering (Fabrication & construction), Energy & Environment (Electrical, Motor rewinding, survey techniques, solar / biogas etc.), Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (polyhouse, pultry, goat farming, dairy nursery techniques etc.), Home and Health (Sewing, food processing and rural lab).
DBRT 2011-12
1. Admission for DBRT will start from 15th April 2011
2. Min qualification : 8th std pass, willing to work by hand, preferably from rural area’s.
3. Fees : Rs.6000/-
4. Hostel facility available.
Contact person -- Anand Gosavi : 0 9960865463,9579734720
e-mail : vapabal@gmail.com

Nikola Tesla- great inventor

Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist spots and there is only one statue in the park- not any politician but an inventor, Nikola Tesla. Generating  electric power at the fall was not commercially attractive for a century as there was no technology to transmit power over long distance. The Niagara Falls Power company offered as much as $100,000/- as prize (Open Innovation challenge?) in 1900 for anyone who could develop a method to evacuate power. This became a reality few decades later by adopting Alternating Current technology contributed significantly by Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla. 

THE SWEDISH INVENTOR´S ASSOCIATION INVITES YOU TO EXHIBIT AT THE INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION FAIR IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

Indian Innovators are invited to participate in the `Inventions for the Future' , scheduled from October 4th to 7th at Stockholm. Three members of the Indian Innovation Association get space free of charge in the IFIA pavilion. Send expression of interest by  -15th May 2011.  

Creative Problem solving and decision making workshop

Workshop (11th & 12th May, Bangalore) topics include ways to: 

• Increase awareness of problem solving steps and problem solving tools.
• Distinguish root causes from symptoms to identify the right solution for the right problem.
• Improve problem solving and decision making skills by identifying individual problem solving styles.
• Think creatively and work towards creative solutions.Recognize the top ten rules of good decision-making. 

Contact: Ninedots, Jyothi Complex, C3, 2nd floor, #134/1, Infantry Road,Bangalore: 560001 , Phone: 91-80-42059999, 22860346, Swapna Prabhu(training@ninedots.in)

E-Lab from Anek technovation

Product Development lab in Bangalore offers a comprehensive range of services:

1) A fully equipped Electronics lab where you can conduct your experiments

2) Provides support & direction as per your need in design, development & marketing cycle which includes

• Design & development of your layout, PCBs
• Component procurement, PCB assembly & Testing
• Outer body design & development
• Proto building & Test marketing
• Market Launch

3) Guidance/mentoring by entrepreneurs who have the experience of building electronic products.

details : http://anekin.com/index.html

A Workshop on Systematic Innovation for Business Leaders -Discover your Innovation Sweet Spot

The workshop is jointly organized by Innomantra and SIT,Israel, on 13th May 2011 at The Leela Palace, Bangaluru.

This master class will introduce the SIT innovation methodology that has been proven and has helped hundreds of businesses turn innovation into their primary means of attaining necessary business goals and objectives, all the while raising personal employee motivation to innovate to new heights and elevating energy levels within the organisation as a whole.

 

SIT's method derives from the work of Genrich Altschuller, an engineer from the former Soviet Union. Through his exhaustive study of many thousands of patents, Altschuller came to see that creative solutions share common patterns, and, based on this insight, developed a methodology for generating innovative ideas. His method gained popularity in Israel in the 1970's, and served as the basis for SIT - Systematic Inventive Thinking.

For online Registration: http://www.innomantra.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/9-newsroom00002.html

Touchpad lighting control from AnekTechnovations, Bangalore

10 Most Impressive Transplants Ever Successfully Performed

Florine Church shared link to this informative post. Click:
http://www.uspharmd.com/blog/2011/10-most-impressive-transplants-ever-successfully-performed/

Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal bet on different Eupropean technologies

ULCOS (Ultra Low CO₂ Steelmaking) is the world's most ambitious R&D initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from steel production by developing new breakthrough technologies.Bothe Tata Steel and Arcelor Mittal are core partners in this consortium funded mostly by EU.

 

Tata Steel and Rio Tinto have signed a licensing  agreement to further support technological and commercial development of the  environmentally friendly direct iron smelting process called HIsarna™. HIsarna (an old Celtic word for iron) is a new technology under development by ULCOS. It is a highly energy efficient ironmaking process based on direct smelting of iron ore fines using a smelt cyclone in combination with a coal-based smelter. All process steps are directly hot-coupled, avoiding energy losses from intermediate treatment of materials and process gases. The HIsarna™ ironmaking process consists of  cyclone pre-reduction technology (CCF), owned by Tata Steel, and bath smelting  technology (HIsmelt) owned by Rio Tinto.   This combination offers excellent opportunities for the collection and  geological storage of CO2, the ability to utilise lower-cost raw  material feeds, and the prospect of energy savings through the elimination of  stages in the ironmaking process that are necessary today.  The technology has the long-term potential  to replace conventional blast furnaces, coke ovens and sinter plants and to  reduce CO2 emissions by more than 50% if combined with Carbon  Capture and Storage (CCS).

 ArcelorMittal is pursuing carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, transport and storage project in the Lorraine region. Following its capture, the CO2 will be transported in a buried pipe to be stored inside geological layers offering the properties and guarantees required for very long term confinement without risk for health or environment. The storage layers under study are saline aquifers at a depth of more than 1,000 meters.

Bloom Energy unveils its new fuel cell power system

Web page on Water Technologies added

Next world war could be for water? 

Many Innovators/ Researchers are working to avert water crisis.

On Indian Innovators Association web site, a page added sharing information on resources for `water technology'. Check

http://www.indianinnovatorsforum.org/Water-technologies.htm

Siemens Smart Grid Innovation Contest

The Siemens Smart Grid Innovation Contest focuses on new ideas. Follow these steps:

• Work on your idea, give your idea a clear title, choose one or more categories your idea belongs to (“demand response”, “microgrid”, “virtual powerplant”, “energy sinks / energy storage”, “electro-mobility”, “energy brokering” or “others” for any undefined category).
• Describe your idea in an understandable way in the fields provided (title of the idea, short description, key benefits).
• Add links or upload supporting material (e.g. business plan, drawing, photo) that helps to understand your idea and its potential. Illustrated ideas have been proven to attract far more visitors. If you have already applied for a patent regarding your idea, you need to upload the first page of the patent application.
• Choose tags for your idea and/or relate your idea to others.
• Preview and submit your idea (you can update your idea later taking other people’s feedback into account or add additional thoughts or pictures from your side).

last date 31st May 2011

German machine builders lose seven billions of euros due to Chinese product piracy

In March 2008, the Association of German Machine Builders (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer) complained of the notorious Chinese product piracy: “More than half of the German machine builders discover illegal replicas at exhibitions. Three quarters of these replicas come from China. Unfortunately, China’s entry into the WTO in 2001 has not improved the legal protection of intellectual property rights of foreign firms. The resulting loss of German mechanical engineering is about seven billions Euros per year. 

Now roll back the clock.

In 1897, the periodical American Machinist observed: “In going through the shops of a prominent German machine-tool builder who has been in the United States and got a good many ideas there from, as well bought a good line of the best standard machines from which to copy or vary, in the production of its own line, I notice that every solitary American machine, whether from Providence, New Haven, or Cincinnati, had had the name chipped off and the place painted over.”

 

Prof. Dr. Jochen Streb in his article ` Catching-up and Falling Behind. Knowledge Spillover from American to German Machine Tool Makers' brings these snippets to make the point imitation is common in catching-up.

 

Maternal Health and Nutrition open innovation challenge.

Scientists Without Borders recently announced three winning solutions in the $10,000 Scientists Without Borders Maternal Health and Nutrition open innovation challenge.   Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and perinatal deaths, and this challenge sought innovative ways to incorporate folic acid into the diets of pregnant women in regions where staple food fortification is lacking.  The following three winning solutions were chosen by an independent advisory panel of nutrition experts and represent the best of the more than 60 potential solutions submitted from 21 different countries. 

Winning solution: Triple Fortified Salt, FA, Vit B6 and Vit B12

Affordable Health Innovations- World Health Care Congress

This global initiative brings together innovators and investors in affordable health care. There are 23 innovations listed under Hospitals and Health delivery, including 2 from HMRI, 1 from Life Spring Hospitals.

With 104 Mobile, remote rural populations are regularly visited by a network of 475 specially equipped Mobile Health Units (MHUs). 104 Mobile is a technology enabled, comprehensive, once a month Fixed Health Date Service for the rural poor located beyond three kilometers from any public health provider. Each MHU is equipped with the latest health care facilities and trained paramedical staff to conduct preliminary medical investigations and distribute medicines.

Telemedine is an innovative need-based cost-effective point of care technology offering comprehensive telemedicine solutions in rural India. Its aim is to reach the under-serviced rural populations through modules such as tele-ENT, tele-dermatology, tele-medical and surgical consult, tele-cardiology, tele-ophthalmology, rapid diagnosis of diabetes, etc. (HMRI) telemedicine service develops a point of care, user-friendly, cost-effective, integrated multi-functional device for rural telemedicine applications with emphasis on general physician functionality. 
LifeSpring Hospitals offers high quality maternal health care at an affordable price for low-income women and children in India LifeSpring Hospitals is an expanding chain of maternity hospitals that fills the void of high quality maternal healthcare for India’s lower income population. LifeSpring’s services are offered for 30 to 50 percent of prevailing market rates. The fee of a doctor’s consultation is Rs. 75 (US $1.60), and the all-inclusive price of a normal delivery in our general ward is between Rs. 2,000 to 4,000 (US $43 to $86).

Good, Bad, Ugly and Self Destructive features of TRAI recommendations to support Indian Telecom Manufacturing

Policy prescriptions can be classified as Good, Bad, Ugly or Self Destructive using Stephen J. Ezell and Robert D. Atkinson (WWW.ITIF.ORG) narration. When both India and trading partners are winners, then that policy is Good, Bad when both India and  the world lose, Ugly when only India wins and Self destructive when India loses but competing nations win.

Policy Recommendations- Good

•  Set up an International standard Testing and Certification Agency by way of converting TEC into an Autonomous Agency. 
• To remove the comparative tax disadvantage on domestic manufactured products. 
• The requirement for “provenness” be waived for domestic manufactured products provided  the product meets the requirement of quality, technical specifications and standards and are certified by the testing and certification organisation. 
• Ten telecom clusters be identified immediately. 
• A Telecom Research and Development Park should be established. 
• Set up Telecom Research and Development Fund(TRDF) . 
• Create a Telecom Manufacturing Fund(TMF) for providing venture capital to indigenous manufacturing.

Policy Recommendations- Bad

·         Subsidy for capital and working capital , deferring the payment of Excise/Sales Tax/VAT/GST, Income Tax holiday, exemption from countervailing duties,  Excise duty etc

Policy Recommendations- Ugly

·         Set up a second fab unit with government funding.

Policy Recommendations- Self Destructive

·         Preferential market access to domestic manufacturers in procurement by the Government and Government Licensees, with incentives and penalties.

What is your view?

TRAI recommends Telecom Research fund, Telecom research park and Telecom Manufacturing fund

After an exhaustive process of consultations, TRAI finalised its recommendations on need and measures to support Indian Telecom Manufacturers. Highlights:

• TRAI recommended preferential market access in public procurement from Indian  Manufactured Products and Indian products (Indian IP). For the year 2012-13 preferred access is targeted at 45% ( 30% for Indian manufactured products with min value addition of 25% and 10% for Indian Products) and this is binding on public sector units, MTNL, BSNL etc but also on Government Licensees. Well all service providers are licensees- will private players accept the recommendation?  If service providers do not meet the stipulated minimum, they need to deposit amount equal to 5% of short fall with either Telecom Research Fund or Telecom Manufacturing Fund. And if they exceed the minimum, they get refund from license fee in proportionate manner- if they exceed 20% i.e they procure 50% from India, then they get rebate of 20% on license fee for that year.
• All equipment manufacturers (less than 1000 crore turnover ) should get interest subsidy of 3% for Indian Manufactured product and 6% for Indian product. Another incentive is to defer taxes (excise/ sales tax etc) for a period of 5 years with nominal rate of interest and income tax holiday for 10 years.
•  TEC to be made an autonomous organization of international reputation for product testing and certification. Once certified , the tender condition of `provenness' to be waived off for 10% of tendered requirement.
• Telecom clusters to be identified and developed. Manufacturing units in the cluster to be provided subsidy at 4.5%
• Telecom Research Park to be set up with 1000 acres of land and 5000 crores of investment, 1000 incubating start-ups, by 2013. The work should begin by May 2011.
• Telecom Research and Development fund with a corpus of 10,000 crores. At 8%, the corpus would make available Rs 800 crores to support about 40 innovations every year.
• Government to provide 3000 crores to Telecom Manufacturing Fund and rest from other bodies.

Download report(241 pages): TRAI

Semiconductor Industry-benchmarking India

ISA -DIT report makes comparison of Indian Semiconductor industry (VLSI design, embedded software development and hardware/board design) with that of US,UK, Germany, Sweden,China, Taiwan,Israel. First the good news, ranking is high on talent pool ( quantitative) with large number of engineers. Bad news is that we stand at the bottom in terms of quality of  scientific research institutes. Next comes the goals, no 1 goal is maintain leadership position in semiconductor design by incubating 50 fabless semi conductor companies. Since our own research institutes are not world class, then these 50 incubating firms need to source IP from globally best , accessible and available.

Can we expect that package of support from government for the start-ups would include this IP sourcing?

Biokitch innovator looking for business partner.

BIOKITCH is a highly compact one designed to be fit under the kitchen slab. The patented innovation by Rajesh, Kerala, won awards in all competitions- NIF, POI, DST-Lockhed Martin and is now shortlisted for Global Innovation Tournment 2011. globally products like naturemill are successful.
Contact :  RAJESH

http://in.linkedin.com/pub/tr-rajesh/20/738/455

raashettan.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/raashettan

http://www.facebook.com/people/Rajesh-Thekkala-Rajan/1808642064

World Design Impact Prize

World Design Impact Prize announced.Only members of ICSID can nominate the designers.Check for Indian members here.

A client is looking for genetically modified (GM) Indica Bt rice events that can be commercialized in India and offers $2,000 award for providing lead on such partner

A Client of Idea Connection  is looking for genetically modified (GM) Indica Bt rice events that can be commercialized in India. Pests such as rice stem borers and rice leaf folders cause considerable crop losses in India. Widespread cultivation of corn that has been genetically engineered to produce insecticidal proteins isolated from Bacillus thurigiensisi> (Bt) has reduced crop losses and increased crop yields in North America. The client would like to identify GM Bt Indica rice events that are stably expressed in Indica rice background and offer season-long resistance to rice stem borers.

$2,000 Award

For identifying a company that has one or more GM rice events and interested in licensing/partnering/commercializing these events in India. The GM event must meet all the following criteria:

1. One or more Bt genes in the construct;
2. Stable and season-long resistance to rice stem borers.
   (Resistance to yellow stem borer and India rice leaf folder would be a plus);
3. Sufficient efficacy based on bioassay data. The target insect survival rate should be no more than 8% during in vitro feed experiments. qRT-PCR and ELISA data must be provided as additional support for bioassay data;
4. Constitutive promoter is preferred. However, tissue specific promoters will be considered as well if sufficient efficacy is achieved in leaf, sheath and stem,
5. Freedom to operate;
6. No negative impact on yield or other agronomic parameters;
7. Adequate information to demonstrate product safety;
8. Expressed in Indica rice background, and
9. Single copy insertion that is stably inherited and expressed,

Smart Chinese buy patents of closed Americal plant in auction

HPM , founded in 1877, was for long the  lone American surviver of injection moulding .die-casting machines. At its peak over 1000 skilled people were employed, decline was clear by 2000 and formally shut down in 2009. Chinese firm Yizumi purchased the IP in auction for $325,000/- 
Read: Plastic News