Monday, September 29, 2008

award for Navaraj Yadav


The tamilnadu government awarded the Best scholor award to Dr.P.S.Navaraj, Reader in Zoology , Yadava college, Madurai for his outstanding contribution to teaching and research.He is TePP innovator too.

TePP in Biotech news


Biotech news of August 2008 carried an article on TePP. Download from
http://www.biotechnews.in/

Saturday, September 27, 2008

CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development (CAIRD) - 2008

Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari, DG, CSIR on the occasion of CSIR Foundation day, announced bestowing of CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development (CAIRD) - 2008 jointly upon Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow for “Biovillage strategy for agri-business of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants” and Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar for “Innovations in the area of salt for rural development”.

Providing details on the innovations made by both the institutions, Prof. Brahmachari mentioned that shrinking land holdings, decreasing productivity of Indian soils and increasing input costs to agriculture are resulting into diminished returns from conventionally grown crops. The backbone of Indian economy, the traditional agriculture is gradually proving to be uneconomical. There is a felt need thus to improve strategically the agri-economics for rural farmer. This is possible only by augmenting and introducing some economically viable specialty crops along with the traditional agricultural crops. CIMAP has gainfully utilized Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) for this purpose by conceptualizing “Biovillage Mechanism” and operationalizing it strategically. Varieties and agrotechnologies of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) have been developed and disseminated, aiming at sustainable production and commercialization of these plants in rural areas. This has helped in economic upliftment of farmers in a big way.

CIMAP has backed the concept of Biovillages by developing several new cultivars of mint, artemisia, geranium, patchouli and khus suiting to diverse agro-climates. Linkages with industry have also been established for necessary buy back of the produce from farm itself thus benefiting farmers directly. A dependable complete package for managing distillation waste, farm waste, weed waste etc. has also been developed and integrated to generate biofertilizer. CIMAP’s Biovillage Concept has inputs of end-to-end innovation for benefit of rural farmers.

Explaining CSMCRI innovation, Prof. Brahmachari further added that out of the total 20 million tons salt produced in the country annually, about 6 million tons is produced in the rural sector by the marginal salt producers. The salt produced by marginal salt manufacturers is of inferior quality due to the presence of higher amounts of certain ionic impurities and other insolubles. The rural manufacturers also lack scientific knowledge of salt manufacturing. Thus, this type of salt fetches very low price.

CSMCRI has developed various processes for the recovery of high purity salt by rural salt producers addressing the problems faced by the rural salt manufacturers. Processes for removal of impurities through heap washing and desulphatation, utilizing distiller waste liquor of soda ash plants which otherwise poses the problem of disposal and creates environmental pollution have been developed. CSMCRI has specifically seen that no additional time or infrastructure is required to implement the processes developed and significant improvements in salt purity and whiteness are brought about. With CSMCRI’s innovation, even rural salt producers are producing salt of purity >99.5% and whiteness index of 87–91. Rural salt producers of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Orissa have greatly benefited from these efforts. Further, CSMCRI innovations have enabled the rural salt producers to enhance their income by many folds. Being easy to adopt, eco friendly and cost effective, these innovations can be implemented without any risk in any rural salt works irrespective of the source of brine and the type of salt works.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Smokeless Chula


The challenge of improving chula (stove) attracted many designers. Karma Lendup Bhutia is designer from Philips team that came out with `Sampoorna' and `Saral'. A new concept was also born `Philionthrophy by Design'. Indeed, MNCs like Philips can contribute more to society by improving common designs rather than any amount of charity under CSR.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

TePP innovator becomes IIPC Champion of Champion





TePP innovator Kranti Kiran Vistakula, promoter of start-up Dhama Apparel Innovations was declared IIPC (India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2008) Champion of Champion. Also in India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2008 scholar sparks , TePP innovator Hamsa Nandini bagged 2nd prize where as another TePP innovator Tapendu Mandal received 3rd prize. The prizes were distributed on 18th by Hon.Minister Kapil Sibal.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

TePP innovators at IIT Mumbai


Innovator Murugan of Banana Fiber machine sent me this photo taken in IIT, Mumbai. All the 40 participants of TePP Training program stayed in IIT guest house from 2nd to 6th Sept. This was possible courtesy, Prof Amarnath. He also organised lectures by SINE incubatees and faculty.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Laser basics

TePP receives many proposals on Laser applications. DRDO scientists are maintaining a web site , a rich resource in Laser. Visit:
http://www.worldoflasers.com/

Turn ideas into products

A tool for all creative people. Ponoko provides you tools to create designs and sell them too on internet. See: http://www.ponoko.com/

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Enviro energy systems


Enviro Energy Systems is a specialist Process & Environmental Consulting organization started 18 years ago by Dr.V.Ravichandran Ph.D.(USA). Dr.V.Ravichandran was associated with Ford Motor Co.USA, Univ. of Notre Dame USA, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras. Has 8 inventions in the area of pollution control and process engineering to his credit.. The main purpose of this organization is design, operations and management of technologically challenging chemical and environmental projects. Automatic Effluent Dispenser system is one of their R&D product. Dr Ravichandran authored `Compost Technology' a practical guide on Compost- yard design,operation and marketing.

Training program at SPJIMR


The 5 day training program from 2nd to 6th Sept was attended by TePP innovators , Network partners and innovation managers, numbering about 40. The senior faculty had prepared their lectures keeping in mind the background of the participtants. The take home for innovators was - taking innovation to market requires a combination of Technology potency and Business advantage.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Biocontrol Strategies for Eco-Friendly Pest Management

Department of Biotechnology in association with the National Informatics Centre has now designed and developed a comprehensive web site on Biocontrol Strategies for Eco-Friendly Pest Management (http://www.dbtbiopesticides.nic.in). The site was inaugurated by the Secretary, Department of Biotechnology on 23rd June, 2008.

The site provides the information on :

Biocontrol Agents

Botanical and Novel Biopesticides

Research Achievements

Upcoming events

Resource Directory of Scientists, Manufactures, Company List

Ongoing and completed projects so far

Referral Laboratories

Guidelines for Registering Biopesticides