The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Solar egg incubator, rat repellent for rural areas soon

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Thursday, Oct 02, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Solar egg incubator, rat repellent for rural areas soon

Aletta André

CHENNAI: An egg incubator that works on solar energy, a cake that does not kill rats but keeps them away and a mini-sanitary napkin machine, all meant for rural areas, are in the process of becoming commercial products with the help of Lemelson Recognition and Mentoring Programme (L-RAMP).

Since the launch of L-Ramp in 2005, a total of 47 innovations have been selected for funding and mentoring. Already Rs.6.20 crore in sales of new products has been generated, while having an impact on 3 lakh rural families, L-RAMP associate Michelle Abraham said at an awareness programme here on Tuesday.

L-RAMP identifies appropriate eco-friendly innovations that would have a social impact in rural areas through a yearly awards programme, a student innovation programme, business plan competitions, networks and patent searches.

The programme could support innovators in all stages, from the start of an idea, a product design, a prototype, market studies, tests up to having a scaled impact. It could provide technical support, business advice and funding.

Moreover, by cooperating with the TANSTIA (Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association) - FNF (Friedrich Naumann Foundation) Service Centre (TFSC), which supports small and tiny businesses, L-RAMP could bring innovators in contact with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“MSMEs have a huge untapped innovator and entrepreneur base, and the TFSC helps us to reach the MSME sector,” Ms. Abraham said.

“Innovations are essential for the survival of MSMEs, but many MSMEs are not in the position to invest in innovations,” honorary secretary of TANSTIA K. Gopalakrishnan said. “For them to buy innovations of people that might not be in the position to market them efficiently is a win-win situation,” he said.

L-Ramp is a joint initiative of the U.S.-based Lemelson Foundation, IIT-Madras and Rural Innovations Network , a non-governmental social enterprise.

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