Eureka 2007

Eureka 2007 is organised by E Cell of IIT Mumbai.

The Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Bombay is a student body that seeks to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the student community. They have been conducting Business Plan Competition called Eureka!, now in its ninth edition, which is Business Plan Competition in India and one of the Top Five inthe Asia-Oceanic region in terms of participation, prizes and resources. Registration open till end of September.

Google offers $10 million for best ideas

Google.org launched its RechargeIT Initiative to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology through technical demonstrations, grant-making, advocacy and investments. As part of this initiative, we are issuing a $10 million request for investment proposals (RFP). We plan to invest amounts ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 in selected for-profit companies whose innovative approach, team and technologies will enable widespread commercialization of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles and/or vehicle-to-grid solutions. This RFP is global in scope, and we encourage responses from companies anywhere in the world.

Google.org is seeking companies with technologies, products and services that will accelerate widespread commercialization in the following fields:

• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)
• Electric vehicles (EVs)
• Vehicle-to-grid solutions (V2G)

Proposals should be submitted to www.google.org/recharge/rfpform no later than October 22, 2007.

Create the Future design contest

Create the Future design contest rewards the best ideas for new products, and celebrates breakthrough thinking about problems of all kinds, large and small.

Contest deadline: 15 October 2007. Open for entries now!

Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Program 2008

FICCI, jointly with the Lockheed Martin Corporation and IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin, USA announces the Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Program 2008, which is in continuum with the Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Program 2007. The aim of this program is to accelerate innovative new Indian technologies into global markets. The India Innovation Growth Program is the only program of its kind, because of its focus on teaching and using world-class commercialization strategies. The Program is wholly funded by Lockheed Martin Corporation, and developed with the assistance of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and FICCI. Best of all, there is no cost to participate.

Program is open to technologies from a wide range of fields including Aeronautics, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Communications, Computing, Defense, Electronics, Environmental, IT, Manufacturing, Marine, Materials, Medical / Life Sciences, Nanotech, Petrochemical, Semiconductors and Transportation. Applicants who are selected to participate in the program can look forward to the following benefits:

Training in technology commercialization strategies and entrepreneurship

Analysis of commercial potential of their technology

Participation in a technology competition judged by an international panel of experts

Program finalists will receive these additional benefits:

Professional business development assistance

Access to US and global markets

Other details are mentioned on the program website www.indiainnovates.in. For any further information, please contact my colleague Ms. Eittee Gupta, Research Analyst, Ph: 011-23325158, email: lm@ficci.com, eittee.gupta@ficci.com

Kavli Prizes for scientists

The Kavli Prize is a partnership between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and the Kavli Foundation. The Kavli Prizes will be presented in 2008 for "outstanding contributions" to the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Mr Kavli was born in Norway but later moved to the US to set up the Kavlico Corporation, which became one of the world's biggest suppliers of sensors for the aeronautic and automotive industries.

the necklace with fishes

Innovator Arshad Mohsin claims that aquatic necklace shown on star news( 10 to 11 PMon 4-9-2007) ( the necklace with fishes ) is actually his invention and had been applied for patent in the year 1996. See picture on left.

Biopesticide for cotton bullworm

They are caterpillars that devour crop plants and cause extensive loss to farmers. Helicoverpa armigera, also known as the cotton bollworm or legume pod borer, has been estimated to cause annual crop damage of up to US$ 2 billion globally with an additional cost of US$ 500 million on insecticides for its management.Farmers in villages in India and Nepal have been traditionally shaking crop plants to dislodge Helicoverpa larvae. Using these larvae for the multiplication of the Nucleo Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV), a biopesticide that kills Helicoverpa , is the modern twist that ICRISAT provided.
For details contact:Dr GV Ranga Rao at g.rangarao@cgiar.org

Workshop on Special Economic Zones (SEZ)

Princeton Academy, Mumbai is organising 2 workshops on SEZ at Chennai (13/9/07) and Mumbai(28/9/07/.Sudhakar Kasture, well known consultant and visiting faculty at SPJIMR is the resource person.

Meningitis vaccine from Bharat Biotech

Vaccination against Meningitis, commonly called brain fever is now more affordable with one more Indian firm Bharat Biotech lanching BioHib.

Bajaj-TVS patent battle

Pharmacy & Drugs people are long in the know on patents and patent infringements. Now this dispute between Bajaj and TVS will bring it home for engineering community. Some basics on patenting- there can be no patent on any product like Motorbike, there can be no patent on any technology like DTS-i or CC-VTi. Patents are given for innovation and monopoly rights (for a limited period) are valid in the nation in which the patent rights are granted for the claims of the accepted patent. What is protected from infringement are only the claims. See Bajaj claims as given in the PCT application.What if Bajaj loses patent as disputed by TVS that it is part of prior- art, i.e, known to the public by the time Bajaj first applied for protection India. If there is no patent infringement Bajaj can continue to manufacture and sell the product. What if Bajaj wins the case-TVS will be forced to discontinue production/ marketing or take license from Bajaj. Important lesson is-patenting is not an end of pipeline activity. NPD (New Product Development) begins with identification of patent spaces. Interested -read Capturing value with IPR (free) from
http://www.indianinnovatorsforum.org/e-learning.htm

INDEX awards 2007

On August 24, 2007 the winning designs in the five INDEX: categories received the world's biggest design award of 100 000 € each.

A life-saving device called the Tongue Sucker, a low-cost prosthetic foot and a high-speed Tesla Roadster electric sports car were among the winners of the prestigious INDEX awards, a 100,000-euro prize for design ideas. The aptly named Tongue Sucker is an inexpensive first-aid device designed to save lives that lets even untrained bystanders at the scene of an accident quickly re-open airways of unconscious victims before professional help arrives. The idea sprang from the fact that critical minutes are sometimes lost before medics arrive. Four young designers from Imperial College and the Royal College of Art in London devised the Tongue Sucker after the 2005 London suicide bombing attacks. If you dont open the airway before the paramedics arrive there is no point in them arriving anyway, Graeme Davies, one of the inventors, told Reuters after winning the award under patronage of the crown prince of Denmark. The device is a disposable small plastic chamber with a red rubber bulb-like air reservoir squeezed onto the tongue of the victim and then released. The suction draws the tongue off the back of the throat, creating a small but vital gap to allow the person to breathe. It is inexpensive to manufacture.
INDEX prizes, the worlds most lucrative design awards, are picked every two years for five categories: body, home, work, play and community. Each winner gets 100,000 euros

Technolohy summits by Redherring

Red Herring hosts 10 events in 2007 around the globe - from Beijing to Budapest to Kyoto to Monterey, CA to Cannes.The geography of innovation has expanded and new nations in the Baltic and South East Asia have now emerged with a trained and talented crop of engineers and ambitious entrepreneurs.ETRE 2007 is planned at Budapest from October 7 to 10. This will be followed by ATRE 07 at Mumbai from November 4to7.

workshop on carbon credits

INSWARB is organising ‘Capacity Building Workshops on CDM’ at Hyderabad (30-31 August 2007) and Bhubaneswar (4 September 2007). The organisation received first tranche of carbon credits from the World Bank to their FaL-G:CDM Project. They desire that the fruits of carbon revenue should reach to as many industries as possible. In order to disseminate the knowledge on the opportunities for carbon credits in India they are organising these workshops.
Contact: Dr N Bhanumathidas, 0891-2516411/ 9848191453

E-Book:Technology Management for globalizing firms

Indian Innovators Association has uploaded the E-Book, `Technology Management for globalizing firms'. The book containing 8 chapters can be downloaded (PDF files) free without even a registration or password.

outsourcing software product development

For software product start-ups planning to outsource product development, Persistent systems offers services ranging from research, usability engineering,prototyping to porting. In India, services are offered in Pune, Nagpur, Goa and Bangalore.

RED HERRING 100 ASIA

Some of the Indian firms that made to the list are:
Adiance Technologies Pvt Ltd, Automotive Exchange Private Limited,
CashTech Solutions India Ltd, Cat Computer Services Pvt Ltd
Communicate 2, CorEdge Networks India Pvt Ltd
Cosmic Circuits, Cross-Tab Marketing Services Pvt Ltd
FXLabs Studios Pvt Ltd, Gameshastra Solutions P Ltd
GI Terminal i-Tech Pte Ltd, Gisil Designs Pvt Ltd
GlobalLogic India Pvt Ltd, Hurix Systems Pvt Ltd
Bharat Biotech International Limited, iXiGO.com
iYogi Technical Services Pvt Ltd, Manthan Systems
MeritTrac Services Private Limited, Metrica Systems Pvt Ltd
Mindlogicx Infotech Ltd, Mistral Software Pvt Ltd
NetAlter Software Limited, OnMobile Asia Pacific Pvt Ltd
Paladion Networks Pvt Ltd, PayMate India Pvt. Ltd
pepper square software services pvt ltd, plaNETsurf Creations Pvt Ltd
Proteans Software, Regalix, SatNav Technologies Pvt. Ltd
Skenzo.com (Monetization Software Pvt Ltd, SM Onyomo Infotech Pvt Ltd
Telibrahma Convergent Communications Pvt Ltd, VJIVE Networks
WeP Peripherals Ltd, Worldviewer Dot Com India Private Ltd
Zycus

CII's National Innovation Grid

CII is developing a National Innovation Grid. It has several grids and nodes. The grid is being filled and interested parties can find their slot in the grid.

Innovative Technologies for manufacturing Expo ,Mumbai

All India Association of Industries and World Trade Centre, Mumbai are organising the `Innovative Technologies for Manufacturing expo' from 7-10 Feb 2008 at Expo Centre, WTC, Mumbai. ITM Expo will be covering several arenas of technology with a focus on the following broad sectors:

• Automation & Engineering.
Precision Tools, tools, mould making, auto components, transport technologies, material handling technology, printing & processing technologies machinery manufacturers for constructions, building material and infrastructure technology.
• Agro technology, food processing and packaging technology.
• Electrical and electrical engineering and related sectors.
• Environmental Technologies, measuring systems and quality management systems.

Bangalore Tech Expo

FICCI jointly with the Lockheed martin Corporation and IC sqaure Institute, University of Texas is organising a Technology Expo on August 23rd 2007 at Hotel Taj west End , Bangalore. The Bangalore Tech Expo will showcase some of the commercialization deals signed by the winners of Lockheed Martin Innovator's competition held in July.

Investor Forum 2007-green investments

Investor Forum is important green investment platform, wherein the selected entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to present their business plans to a panel of qualified professionals from the Indian financial community. It is an event for Investor's and SMEs to interact for buying and selling of green business ideas.New Ventures India is organizing its second annual Investor Forum at Hotel Taj Lands End, Mumbai on 16 & 17 November 2007. Interested innovators can contact :
Anil Kumar Gade, anilkumar.gade@ciionline.org. Web links:
http://www.newventuresindia.org/nvi/Content/forum2007.jsp?eventid=1430