Regarding advertising and publicity, some of the suggestions included organizing a
roadshow and celebrating an innovation week or day. The need for tax incentives for
user industries was stressed.
It was suggested that it was important to lobby with the big players and that
associations should be roped in. Certain participants offered to take the responsibility
for building linkages with various associations.
Mr Rawat – Automobile Manufacturing Association of India
Mr Yagnesh Mehta – Air Conditioners Engineers Association
Dr Gayatri Sabarwal – Association of Biotech Enterprises
Dr A Mukhopadhyay – Institute of Engineers
Dr Sharad Shah - Individual networking with medical fraternity
Mr Devendra Jain – Plastic related association
Dr A K Srivastava – Post harvest and farm tools related association
Dr Bhatnagar – Association of Physics teachers, Materials Science Society
Anil Passary offered to do regional networking in Chattisgarh and Orissa.
A suggestion was made for starting a company called 4MI- Make Money out of
Mighty Minds of India where all stakeholders will have a share and innovators will
have equity.
A participant pointed out that there should be clarity between technologies for
licensing and products for retailing and the possibility of developing catalogues for
retailing purposes and technology transfers.
The other issues that emerged included difficulty in getting grassroots innovators
access to facilities like tool rooms a number of which remained underutilized, using
regional newspapers and hiring stalls in major exhibitions for disseminating
information.
Subsequently, Chintan Bakshi and Vijaya Vittala of GIAN (West) and GIAN (North
East) respectively presented on “Incubating Innovations into Enterprises- Experiences of
GIAN”.
Responding to a query in the difference of approach between GIAN and a private
investor in the development of a tractor, the presenter pointed out that the private investor
had a huge personal stake and could focus on a single project. GIAN, on the other hand,
with a lean team has to handle 10-15 projects at a time. Another suggestion was that since
demand patterns for tractors had changed in the past few years, a new need assessment
exercise was probably required.
One way of overcoming staff constraint would be a team comprising mainly of
volunteers to augment GIAN’s efforts. A suggestion which came up in this regard was
involving students from technical institutions, especially in their last term, where they
could possibly have more time and could also continue their involvement once their
course is over. Such an engagement would give them a greater sense of ownership.
GIAN’s experience has also shown that entrepreneurs may also not take a product to the
market. An entrepreneur had taken the license for a technology, but did not launch the
product commercially. He had invested in the innovation out of a sense of social
commitment and had not really looked at the technology as a source of revenue.
GIANs could use the facilities available at Entrepreneurship Development Cell which are
being funded by the Department of Science and Technology.
Lt Colonel A D Sadana in his presentation on “Experiences of Indian Armed
Forces/Engineering Wing”, spoke about the strengths of the army and the specialized
environment to which army innovations have to cater such as meeting real time demands,
exacting quality standards and no incubation. He presented information about some of the
innovations including low cost simulator for the use of a radar, GPS holder and
Intelligent DC Adapter. He listed some other areas where the army requires innovative
products. These were:
Solar power supply
Embedded systems
Keypad manufacturers
Aeromodelling
Enclosures/cabinets fabricators
FRP, ABS structures
RF amplifiers
RF antennas
This was followed by presentations. The presenters included Dr K Natarajan (normal
cure composite type seal for cable joint – indigenous product used in BSNL sites in south
India), Prof S P Bhatnagar, Department of Physics, Bhavnagar Univerity (Stepper motor
damper and centrifugal switch - unique magnetic fluid), Dr A Mukhopadhyay, Tata Steel
(online property predictions system –OPPRESS- for rolled steel coils ), Dr V M
Mayande, Principal Scientist, Central Research Institute DA (developed and
commercialized 12 innovations related to mechanization of dryland agriculture), Dr
Nawab Singh, (small scale feed pelleting machines, spent goat meat products), Satish
Deb (treadle printing), Dr V N Pratape, CFTRI (mini dhal mill, versatile dhal mill –
licensed 17 licenses for mini dhal mills and 9 for versatile dhal mill), Dr G S Sodhi,
faculty in Delhi University (fingerprinting technology focusing on calcium component in
sweat), Dr Venkateswarlu, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture(yellow dye
from kusum and use of sweet sorghum for ethanol. Other applications of the innovations
were discussed.
The issue of a patent revealing more than it hides was raised. In fact, this had prompted
the department of physics, Bhavnagar University to take a cautious approach towards
filing patents. The lack of manpower including decreasing number of research students
was mentioned.
Tata Steel has a different approach to patenting wherein it files patents and believes in
letting the competition “chase them, if they can”.
An interesting concept which came up in the CRIDA presentation was that of farm
machinery custom hiring center in which location specific needs are identified, the
equipment is bought by entrepreneurs and then hired out to farmers.
The CFTRI representative attributed their success in negotiating so many licenses to an
emphasis on continued R& D as well as demonstration, training and feedback.
Elaborating on the status of fingerprinting technology usage in India, the presenter
mentioned that only 3% of the cases are solved by application of forensic science and the
rest by third degree methods. With human rights organizations acquiring greater
influence, he drew attention to the frightening possibilities when criminal justice system
would have to depend solely on forensic science given our present lack of expertise in
this field.
Another innovation that was discussed was an injection vial rubber cap for taps which
reduces flow rate of water by 70-75%.
Post dinner, the participants met again for presentations. The presenters included
Lakshman Prasad (currency note fastener, EVM enclosure), Rama Anand (making
furniture from used and discarded tyres- has patents in 117 countries), Devendra Jain
(wood plastics composite – environment friendly and durable), Dr.Satish Verma, Central
Sericultural Research and Training Institute, (silkworm feed substitute, silkworm bed
disinfectant and other innovations – most of the technologies have been commercialized),
Dr Srinivas Rao , Project Directorate of Biological control, ICAR(protocols for mass
scale production of natural enemies for key crop pests), Deepankar (unique welding
machine – focus on energy efficient devices), Jasbir S.Ryait (industrialist) and R
Sudhakar, Central Tobacco Research Institute (banana fibre separator – enables
conversion of waste banana plant portions into fibre which has multiple uses).
An interesting aspect which came out during Lakshman Prasad’s presentation was his
desire to promote innovation, particularly among the youth. He has published seven
books on innovations and is also involved in bringing out a quarterly. Unfortunately,
though using the currency note fastener can result in saving Rs 600 crore per annum, he
has not been able to convince the RBI about the merits of his innovation.
Rama Anand sees that her innovations have a social impact by contributing part of her
income for the welfare of the handicapped. An interesting issue which came up from the
experience of Devendra Jain was – “The cost of being first is extremely high, especially
in business.”
The experience of CSRTI is am example of how a central institute has been able to
commercialize its innovations and earn considerable revenue on them.
A lively discussion took place regarding the safety and efficiency of the welding
machine. Deepankar said that a significant part of his work is focused on developing
devices to solve rural problems. He has also been involved in incubating enterprises
initiated by students.
Jasbir S.Ryait, industrialist, mentioned how he had supported a grassroots innovator who
had developed a truck that could run on six wheels when it is empty and 10 wheels when
full.
The banana fibre separator has high social utility value. Families now have an additional
source of income that could prove to be invaluable, particularly during natural calamities
when the entire crop gets destroyed. They would still be able to use/sell the stem,
peduncle and leaf stalks and earn money.
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