The Hindu : Business : From innovations to enterprises

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Tuesday, Apr 07, 2009
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Business

From innovations to enterprises

Special Correspondent

To create an eco- system conducive for growth
The project is open for innovators above 18 years

NEW DELHI: Aimed at transforming innovations into major enterprises, Agilent Technologies, Department of Science and Technology and Confederation of India Industry on Monday joined hands to set up ‘India Innovation Initiative’ — i3.

The initiative aims at creating an eco-system that is conducive for growth through innovation by sensitising, encouraging and promoting innovators and facilitating commercialisation of innovations. Through this initiative, all the partners bring in exclusive expertise to provide opportunities for innovators to harness the potential innovations to generate wealth, create employment and societal benefit.

Explaining the need for such an initiative, Science and Technology Secretary T. Ramasami said: “Their aim is to take the most potential innovations to the market through incubation, mentoring and commercialisation support. i3 also enjoys the support of experts from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad which has committed to mentor and incubate the top ten technologies.”

Apart from financial contribution towards implementing the initiative, the department would be involved in appraising the technology, providing knowledge system and mentorship and also in lending credibility to the entire initiative, he added.

Perfect platform

According to Agilent Technologies President and Country General Manager Venkatesh Valluri, “i3 is a perfect platform for the future innovators of India to showcase and accelerate their skills and capabilities. Practical technology talent is critical to the growth of India as a base for cutting edge research and design and innovation across industries.”

Besides allocating adequate resources, CII will provide wide outreach for the programme through its network of industry, government, labs, educational institutions, NGOs and innovation promotion organisations, said CII’s Principal Advisor Y. S. Rajan.

The programme is open for innovators above 18 years of age and the last date for submission of the project is May 30. The project will be judged by an expert panel of scientists and industrialists and the winners will be later mentored by experts from IIM, Ahmedabad, to help take the innovation to the market.

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