PREFACE The National Innovation Foundation has taken several new initiatives in providing incubation support to selected technologies during the year. Linkages with technological institutes, business schools, entrepreneurs and other players in the market have been strengthened. Till date, over 40,000 innovations and traditional knowledge practices have been scouted by NIF. I am very happy to note that the ties between NIF and the local communities and knowledge holders have been further strengthened. There is no doubt that NIF has to eventually become a pivot for articulating the diverse societal aspirations for building a viable value chain from

knowledge to product, enterprise development and improved livelihoods.

The National Innovation Foundation has continued to emphasize on the development of a proper framework for protecting the IPRs of the knowledge holders. In the meanwhile, we have used the existing IPR system to protect the interests of those innovators whose rights can be protected. NIF has facilitated filing of more than two dozen patents in India and filing of one international patent with USPTO.

This is the first time perhaps when an Indian farmer cum artisan has been able to demonstrate the potential of his intellectual property at the international level. This is an area where considerable improvement is called for. I am happy that NIF has started creating new benchmarks in this area of its activity also.

Stemming the erosion of traditional knowledge is an important concern of the Foundation. We believe that development and provision of materialistic and non-materialistic incentives to individuals and communities may in due course help in not only conserving the knowledge and resource base. But also, these incentives may enhance it. It is thus quite a timely initiative of NIF to link the People’s Biodiversity Register developed at the community level with the National Register of Grassroots Innovations and Traditional Knowledge maintained by NIF.I have no doubt that the NIF team will continue to strive to excel in serving the creative people of the unorganized sector of this country. I wish them all the sucess in fulfilling the mandate of NIF. I also appeal to volunteers from various sectors of Indian society to come forward in joining our hands in making India innovative for a sustainable development.

(R. A. Mashelkar)

FOREWORD

Th e traditio n o f scientific exploration in India is very old. However, many people di d no t document thei r experiment s o r result s thereo f i n a manne r that eas y replicatio n o r verificatio n coul d b e achieved. At the same time, in large number of areas of everyday survival, common people did develop solutions to everyday problems which could be replicated and verified independently. If that was not the case, how would so many people survive against so many odds? In the proces s o f survival , man y technological innovations were developed. NIF has been entrusted with the mandate of documenting not only the traditional knowledge base of creative individuals as well as communities, but also the unaided grassroots and technological

innovations.

I am very happy that NIF has continued to reach out to far nook and corners of India to discover innovations at grassroots level which had remained under cover for so long. It is possible that several people around the country sometimes develop similar innovations independentl y. We at DST receive representations from some of these more articulate innovators alleging that their creativity may have been copied by others. We try with the help of NIF to ensure that all such cases are investigated thoroughly and no room for misunderstanding or miscarriage of justice remains.

Similarly, many people submit ideas as distinct from innovations and traditional knowledge base. NIF tries to prioritize all such entries with the help of Research Advisory Committee comprising senior scientists from the ablest science and technology institutes and management schools of the countr y. S till , scop e remain s tha t some knowledge-holders genuinely feel that their ideas have not been prioritized appropriately. I can only reques t suc h creativ e innovators t o keep patienc e wit h th e emergin g processe s for screening at NIF so that innovations are given priority over just the ideas and within ideas, the ones which may impact the lives of common people are preferred over the others.

I am sure once the human resource base at NIF is further strengthened, we should be able to hel p man y mor e innovator s an d traditional knowledge holders. I wish NIF team all the success in this endeavo r. DST will s pare no efforts to strengthen the capabilities of NIF which has conducted itself very devotedly and also frugally to the cause of augmenting innovations at grassroots.

(V . S. Ramamurthy)

INTRODUCTION

Creating new benchmarks in uncovering the creative potential at grassroots seems to be becoming a compulsion at NIF. With more than 40,000 additional traditional knowledge and grassroots innovations scouted during the year, the responsibility of the Foundation has increased manifold. Some of the challenges head are: obtaining the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) of thousands of knowledge holders; screening these contributions to identify the most novel or socially relevant technologies for awards, value addition, business development and diffusion through commercial or non commercial channels. This

requires support from a large number of experts in formal and informal sector, and volunteers who will help in detailed documentation and benchmarking of these technologies.

Several new initiatives were taken during the year to meet these challenges. Scouting and documentation section of NIF tried to bring in new collaborators for scouting the innovations and traditional knowledge holders. The third campaign was popularized in hundreds of districts, and many more NGOs were sought to be involved. The awardees of first and second campaigns also contributed in spreading the word about the third campaign. The efforts by Honey Bee network volunteers followed by media coverage continued to be important means of creating awareness apart from the regular, twice a year, shodh yatras (walk through the villages to explore creativity and at grassroots), biodiversity competition and recipe competitions among women etc.

SCAIs (Students Club for Augmenting Innovations) were initiated in several business schools and technical institutions to draw upon the energy and enthusiasm of young, budding managers and technocrats to explore business opportunities for grassroots innovators. Students of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad organized a business plan competition DISHA among the business schools. Another group of students invited young entrepreneurs under the SAKAAR window to attempt matchmaking among innovators and entrepreneurs. Likewise, several other initiatives were taken to broadbase the support for value addition and business development processes. It is proposed that in the coming years, rural development and social work students shall be involved to develop strategies for social diffusion of innovations, which is a core mandate of the Foundation.

The idea of a full fledged risk capital fund for helping small innovators and traditional knowledge holders remained unfulfilled till March 1999 when the then Finance Minister announced the need to set up a Micro Venture Innovation Fund. It was a noteworthy fact that the idea to mobilize a micro venture fund was evolved by Honey Bee Network way back in 1997 to address the requirements of venture capital for product development in a small way. There remained a need for a separate fund for enabling product development on a large scale. The first ever such dedicated fund with a corpus of Rs. 5 crore was set up in October 2003 at NIF with the help of SIDBI.

Unless we help in converting, sa y, five thousand innovations and traditional knowledge practices into products, we may not be able to take more than fifty to market; and then with adequate design and other support, maybe just ten will succeed at a large scale. The incubation of technologies at that scale is still a far dream.

We helped establish GIAN North and an outreach centre of NIF in the form of GIAN group i n Nort h Eas t a t II T Guwahat i t o mak e some progres s i n developin g regiona l node s for incubation . Ther e i s a nee d fo r man y more GIAN s t o provid e handholdin g suppor t to innovator s an d traditiona l knowledg e holders disperse d al l ove r th e countr y i n hundred s of districts.

NIF governing council recognized the need for valorizing herbal technologies, which constitute the largest number of entries in the NIF’s data base. These technologies cannot be valorized unless the large number of research institutions in public and private sector join hands for the purpose. Two consultations were organized among the different stakeholders at state and national level. It is hoped that the process of valorization will gain momentum gradually. Otherwise, we will not be able to do justice to tens of thousand of traditional knowledge holders who have disclosed their

knowledge in good faith to us without any reciprocal recognition by us for want of validation of their claims.

Visit of grassroo ts innovators to South Africa through Commonwealth Science Council was an important step in building up south – south linkages for learning at people level. With the visit of professionals and science leaders from that country, slowly the institutional linkages are also being developed.

Th e suppor t fro m th e Governin g Council continued to be as enthusiastic as one could expect . Th e inspirationa l suppor t fro m Dr. Mashelka r, Chairperson, NIF and Secre tar y, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Prof. V S Ramamurth y, Secre tar y, De partment o f Science and Technology and other GC members has continued to be a major source of strength for NIF. Frugality and transparency continue to be watchwords in our working at NIF.

Th e yea r, thu s, wa s ful l o f challenge s in documentation, validation, value addition and business development. The NIF team started diversifying into various functions to strengthen internal processes through better coordination an d accoun t abilit y. W e ar e awar e o f the tremendous tasks that still remain to be done. Small team and large expectations characterize our dilemma.

Obviously, most colleagues have had to stretch themselves a great deal and I must acknowledge the pressure borne by the Scouting and Documentation team the most. The responsibility of NC (S&D) Ms. Riya Sinha was compounded when she had to also shoulder the responsibility of Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) with additional officiating charge. I compliment her contribution along with that of her entire team in NIF which has helped in dealing with a very large and complex task smoothly. Filing of patent applications was another area in which considerable headway was made and NC (Intellectual Property Rights) deserves appreciation. Likewise, the Business Development (BD) section initiated and strengthened the BD function along with the other team members with creditable results. The Information Technology Function also started receiving much more attention than before and dissemination activities got considerable headstart. I wish to put on record my appreciation for Mr. Ram Prakash Yadav (IPR), Mr Manish Saxena (BD) and Mr Sandeep Sharma (IT) for their very valuable contributions along with their teams.

I hope NIF will continue to receive valuable feedback from persons from different walks of life. We need support from everyone who shares our vision of making India innovative and a global leader in sustainable technologies.

(Anil K Gupta)

GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 2003- 2004

1 Dr. R.A. Mashelkar  Secretary, DSIR & DG,CSIR, New Delhi  Chairperson, NIF

2 Prof. Anil K. Gupta Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

  Executive Vice-Chairperson, NIF    3 Ms. Elaben R. Bhatt  Founder, Self Employed Women’s Association, Ahmedabad    4 Ms. Lalita D. Gupte  Joint Managing Director, ICICI Limited, Mumbai    5 Dr. Vijay L Kelkar   Advisor to Minister of Finance and Company Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi

6 Prof. Inderjit Khanna  State Election Commissioner, Rajasthan    7 Shri. Anand G. Mahindra  Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Mumbai    8 Prof. Kuldeep Mathur  Center for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, JNU    9 Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy  Secretary, Dept. of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi    10 Shri. P. K. Laheri  Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat    11 Prof. Bakul Dholakia  Director, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad    12 Dr. E.A.S. Sarma  Principal, ASCI, Hyderabad    13 Dr. Mangala Rai  Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi    

14 Shri. T.P. Vartak  President, Four Eyes Foundation, Pune    15 Financial Advisor  Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi  16 Finance Secretary   Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi

    17 Chief Innovation Officer  National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad       

CONTEXT

Every time new innovations are scouted, a few newer ways of solving problems also come to the fore. In that sense, the innovation movement is also helping in transforming the ways in which creativity at grassroots gets articulated. For instance, if an innovator develops innovations to solve more than one problem, say pump underground water and also use compressed air to cook food, then the innovator surely exhibits his skills in developing novel and multifunctional applications. Likewise, if some one develops a new variety of a crop and does not get recognition for that despite being very efficient in developing that variety, he teaches us lessons about institutional inertia and indifference. In fact, we also came across cases in which research universities claimed whole credit merely for having purified the seeds of the variety bred by farmers. Obviously, we are far away from the stage when it will become almost impossible for anyone to deny the due credit to knowledge holders. NIF has been trying to be at the forefront of serving grassroots innovators and traditional knowledge holders at their doorstep.

The lessons about creative ways of solving problems remain to be learned systematically. NIF seeks partnership with academic institutions and others who are interested in enriching the repertoire of creative heuristics for solving technological problems. Our database provides a rich knowledge base and wide range of approaches to solve problems. Blending these heuristics with the one used by institutional scientists might enrich both. In this regard, the discussions about an MoU between CSIR and NIF are on and we hope, in due course, such an understanding will pave way for healthy and synergistic blend between informal and formal science and technology systems.

The traditional knowledge systems of India signify the constant effort on the part of common people at individual or community level to use essentially local resources and at times external resources to manage livelihoods and health of human, animal and plant eco-systems. Within traditional knowledge systems also, there are variations. Though most of the people in the community know about a traditional knowledge practice, only very few know how to practice it and link the solution with the problem. Should incentives to those who merely know be at par with those who not only know but also possess the skill to practice it? That is an issue that remains to be resolved. The notion that traditional knowledge systems are frozen in time and carried from one generation to another without much change is not what we subscribe to at NIF. We believe that every generation adds its own perspective to many traditional knowledge practices. Innovations in traditional knowledge systems, thus, are of no less consequence. NIF is trying to analyze the trends in traditional knowledge systems and will share the findings with the public in due course. We did try to explore how many plants were used for curing the same disease and how many diseases could be treated successfully with the same plant.

It became necessary to screen large number of innovations and traditional knowledge practices not only on technical ground but also in market place. In this task, involvement of students was attempted systematically during the year. Similarly, just documenting would not be of use unless markets are created for products and technologies based on traditional knowledge. At NIF linkages were established with institutional science and technology systems to enable screening of a vast knowledge database based on herbal traditional knowledge available. A micro venture innovation fund was established to provide risk capital for incubating grassroots technologies.

ANNUAL UPDATE

SATVIK 2004: Celebrating Creativity, Diversity and Conservation

The Honey Bee Network (NIF, SRISTI and GIAN) organized the first Traditional Food Festival at IIM-A campus on February 28 and 29, 2004. The timing was not accidental; February 28 happens to be the Foundation Day of NIF and thus the festival was also a way of celebrating NIF’s commitment to diversity, local knowledge and innovations based on agro-biodiversity.

The objectives of the festival were to stimulate demand for local crops and their varieties from dry regions as well as hill areas and other rain-fed regions to generate incentives for their conservation, increase awareness about organic farming among urban consumers and organize a competition to involve women to identify interesting recipes based on less common plant varieties and to stimulate demand for such traditional knowledge based women’s technologies.Prof. Bakul Dholakia, Director, IIM-A at Satvik-2004About 14,000 people visited the festival during the two days and enjoyed various food items and also bought fabrics dyed with vegetable colors and treated with herbal extracts. The Traditional Food Festival became an occasion to celebrate diversity

of culture, creativity in cuisine and conservation ethic. A book on traditional food recipes in Gujarati published by SRISTI was also released on the occasion. The festival brought together the various stakeholders in organic farming on a common platform. A poster exhibition of grassroots technologies and traditional knowledge recognized by NIF was also organized on the occasion. Some of the technologies incubated by GIAN West were also showcased and many inquiries were received.

The recipe competition organized on the occasion was judged by the executive chef of Hotel Taj Umed, faculty from Institute of Hotel Management and other local food experts. There was also considerable interest among the representatives of major hotels who had visited the food festival to present to their clients with special health based food menu cards.

If this initiative sets a trend, it could herald a major breakthrough in the areas of agro biodiversity and associated knowledge systems. Demand for minor millets and other crops from the hotel industry could provide incentives for conservation and production of these health crops. Further research is required in the area of nutritional measures and validated benefits of organic produce. It was not just bon appetite but bon voyage down the less traversed roads of agro biodiversity!

THE MOVEMENT SPREADS

Winds of Change in the Heartland of Green Revolution

Honey Bee Network organised the eleventh Shodh Yatra in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttaranchal and Pilibheet district of Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with SRISTI and Sristi Gyan Kendra in May 2003. Walking for about 220 kilometres in the Terai region of Uttaranchal provided about 200 ShodhYatris (fellow walkers) an understanding of a much diversified ecological and socio-cultural diversity.

Though the majority of the population in this district is Sikh, there are also families from Bengal, Nepal, Haryana and Orissa settled here for many generations. This region gets its name after the freedom fighter Udham Singh who had killed the ex-governor of Punjab Sir Michael O’Dwyer in 1940. Apart from the big agricultural farms, it has a lot of sugar factories, flour and rice mills. The farmers mainly grow rice, wheat and sugarcane. The famous G B Pant Agricultural University is situated in this district.

Terai Organic Farmers’ Association (TOFA) helped the Honey Bee Network in successfully spreading the message of eco-friendly and sustainable farming through the shodh yatra. Saving the age-old varieties for posterity was not the only concern of the network. It also recognized

the innovative farmers who had developed new varieties through trial and error. The shodh yatris met Indrasan Singh, who had developed a new variety of rice in 1971. The variety became so famous over the years that it came to be called Indrasan variety. Then there was Beni Singh, whose claim to fame is that he has developed a variety of sugarcane that grows up to 21 feet. We also learned from women centenarians and other knowledge-rich tharu tribal women. At many villages, women came forward to participate in recipe contests.

It is not that the traditional knowledge of women is restricted only to preparing nutritious dishes. Some of them have innovated remedies for their common problems. One of the finest examples in this category comes from women working in paddy fields. They usually develop fungal infection working in the watery fields. Some women of Bidori village have found their own remedy to cure it, because either they did not find a ready cure in the market or did not find the available cures very effective. Similarly, the yatris met a woman in Thiliya Pur village who had learnt from her mother the art of treating all kinds of burns with locally available plants. Ashok Kumar Singh of Khateema has developed a motor to lift water in hilly areas by using compressed air. The yatris also witnessed a very simple innovation, which was evolved out of sheer necessity to address the basic requirement of shelter. Sukhranjan Mistry of Devpura village wanted to make a roof for his house and when he realized that the tiles available in the market were beyond his economical reach, he attached a rectangular plank to the rear wheel of a bicycle on which he put the raw material for tiles. When he rotates the wheel, the sand and clay mixture takes the shape of a tile due to the vibrations created.

At the Ghats of Innovation

Farmers, innovators and SRISTI and Honey Bee network members from Gujarat joined the twelfth Shodhyatra (25th Dec to 31st Dec, 2003) in the Malnad region of Karnataka, in addition to about 60 others from Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra etc. It had been felt that language could pose a problem in this region but the hospitality and warmth of the local people helped in overcoming most of the barriers in communication. There was tremendous enthusiasm among local communities. This was reflected in the way the yatris were welcomed in each village. In most places, the yatris stayed with local families or in temples.It was a unique experience for the Yatris as they met the odd balls in the villages that manifested their

resilience to do things differently. For instance, the woman contractor in Gudde Khota village who

operates in a male-dominated field with a group of women she has employed. Other notable innovations were Bhandari’s areca de-husking machine, Ratnakar’s hydro turbo- propelled turbine that was awarded by NIF in the previous year and Hurulihakkalu Vasudeva Rao’s unique way to hydrate the local vanilla crop. Another unique phenomenon that we came across was the Transport Cooperative Society, Koppa. When a private transport company was being wound up because of low income and heavy debts, Chikke Gowda, its current head, and his seniors decided to take over the debts and the fleet of five buses to preserve their jobs and also to become a worker-managed enterprise. Today, they have 75 buses, four of which were inaugurated by the Yatris.

It was a rich socio-cultural experience and the Yatris got a glimpse into the rich vein of local culture. The visit to the Shringeri Mutt established by the Shankaracharya and participating in the Anteke-Pinteke, a tribal folk song, gave an insight into the spiritual heritage of the region.

MVIF: Risk Capital for Grassroots Innovations

For implementing a new concept, one may need new institutional arrangements. The brainstorming session “Key Challenges in Building Value Chain around Grassroots Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge” on July 19, 2003 was attended by IIM-A faculty and other academicians, representatives of GIANs, NIF staff members, innovators and entrepreneurs. It was important to get the goals of NIF and the strategies being used to achieve these goals critically evaluated by peers. The purpose was to not only achieve sharpness in its focus but also to widen the network of stakeholders. It was also realized that several

issues being faced by NIF or GIAN require further research since the available knowledge base may not be sufficient for the purpose.

Dr R A Mashelkar, Secretary, DSIR; DG, CSIR and Chairperson, NIF stressed the need for modern science and traditional knowledge to merge and form a sangam (confluence) of the two great rivers. He emphasized the importance of building networks between the private and public sectors, establishing the context of technology appreciation and augmentation of grassroots innovations. Mahesh Patel (GIAN West) described the entire value chain process - from incubation, to product development and dissemination through a presentation on two innovations - Auto Air Kick Pump and Cotton Stripping Machine.

The importance of a network between the innovators and entrepreneurs was highlighted. Prof. Pankaj Chandra of IIM-A mentioned that voluntarism does not work all the time and there have to be incentives for different stakeholders in the value chain. Therefore, the question in point would be, “How will different intermediaries in the chain come together and benefit?” In his opinion, both Business Value Chain and the Technology Supply Chain have to be strengthened. Linkages with big exporters/ producers can be a useful tool to promote products. Prof. Piyush Sinha of IIM-A added that NIF has to find out the drivers that need to be focused on. The

product portfolio can be divided into various groups of technologies and the most value adding activity for that particular group in the incubation process can be found out.

Mr.

Sanghvi, an entrepreneur who has bought the rights of marketing the auto air kick pump asked, “What is the purpose of protecting IPR and how does it prevent others from copying? Does the innovator get any benefit from this elaborate process of IPR protection? How can NIF protect the innovations during the patent process?” The issue was deliberated upon and Prof. Abhinandan Jain of IIM-A was of the opinion that copying would happen one way or the other and the innovator should have a detached attachment to his innovation and stress on the value and price of the item.

Prof Sriram of IIM-A suggested that NIF should not limit the scope of the Micro Venture Innovation Fund (MVIF) to only a small fund. If it is micro-venture, individual projects will not be able to bear the various risks associated with the projects. Instead it should visualize a large fund for satisfying the aspirations of a very large number of innovators. Prof. Koshy suggested that NIF should develop different strategies for different products and he went on to categorize innovations in the following groups: Paradigm Shifters or Disruptive Innovations, Category Creators, Market Accelerators and Market Shifters. Elaborate discussions were held on the implications of the attributes that these categories stood for.

Prof Mukund Dixit of IIM-A gave a presentation on the topic Policy Challenges in Harnessing Grassroots Innovations. He covered various aspects of grassroots innovations, the need for harnessing such innovations and the role of policy challenges and also highlighted some aspects about decentralization and networking, innovation bank and an alternative IPR regime. Discussions around policy challenges funneled into the aspects of empowerment and enterprise, quick ramp up from informal to formal, decentralization and networking, international linkage and bridge-building, rethinking the paradigm of protection of knowledge, alternative IPR regime - higher speed, greater bandwidth, Innovation Bank - mobilization and ownership and synergizing around what is already happening in other sectors.

With regard to the role of NIF and its capacity building, Prof. Sriram highlighted the need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of NIF and wondered whether NIF was trying to bite more than it could chew. Prof Dileep Mavalankar of IIM-A talked about the concept of service innovations as distinguished from product innovations. He also added that NIF has to make a choice on what type of innovations it wanted to promote as this was crucial because of the scarcity of the resources available at NIF’s disposal. Prof Chandra stressed the need for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the value chain and for identifying an ideal road map to commercialize the innovations. Prof. Koshy said that the priority of NIF should be to translate an innovation into reality and this would involve identifying issues in the supply chain, addressing problems in marketing and resolving issues in management, networking and providing sound advisory services.

Several points raised for further reflection centered on: What does NIF do in the context of multiplicity of expectations? Does it provide only initial tech-support? Does it do technology brokering? Does it provide media support for innovations? What is the roadmap for future?

DREAM GROWS WINGS

S&D Activities in 2003-04

In the fourth biennial campaign, National Innovation Foundation attempted several methods to document grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge from different parts of the country. Like in previous years, the Honey Bee collaborators have proved their worth in identifying creative solutions developed by people from different states. As the database expands, our responsibility towards knowledge holders also increases.

Some of the key initiatives during the year were:

Establishing Linkages between Community Biodiversity Registers and National Register of Grassroots Innovations and Traditional Knowledge.

Prof Madhav Gadgil of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and several other colleagues in the country have been involved in a pioneering effort to build community biodiversity registers. NIF representatives participated in several meetings followed by a discussion in the Governing Council meeting on March 9, 2004 as well as in a brainstorming meeting organized on the occasion. The idea was that NIF and the local communities get into an MoU wherever the community concerned wanted to deposit its register with NIF and make it a part of the national register.

The Governing Council in principle approved the idea of linking Community Biodiversity Registers (CBRs) or People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) with the national register (NR). It also recognized that without the help of IISc and other stakeholders, it would not be possible for NIF with its limited resources to visit each community in the country to sign MoUs. However, with suitable mediation, NIF would be very happy to facilitate such MoUs so that communities have faith in the NR developed by NIF. In one such case, NC (S&D) visited local communities in Karnataka where such registers were first offered for deposition at NIF. The MoU was signed by NIF and these communities mediated by IISc faculty and staff and local collaborators.

Building Value Chain around Biodiversity based Traditional Knowledge

A case for SAMPADA (Strategic Alliance for Medicinal plant based People’s knowledge for drug development and other applications) initiative was made at a brainstorming session organized on March 9, 2004 on building value chain around biodiversity-based traditional knowledge. The objectives of the meeting were:

To develop a framework for a national strategy for valorizing biodiversity-based folkloric traditional knowledge and contemporary innovations included in the National Register of Traditional Knowledge and Unaided Grassroots Innovations.

To decide on modalities to operationalize a benefit sharing system along with the concept of Prior Informed Consent (PIC).

To work towards a national technology mission to screen, characterize, formulate, test and develop herbal drugs and other products for Indian and global markets based on people’s knowledge.

To develop a strategy to pool various plant- based databases in the country so as to facilitate identification of unique herbal knowledge of people for prioritizing the value chain development.

To facilitate development of sui generic intellectual property rights systems for protection of traditional knowledge and contemporary biodiversity based innovations developed by communities and individuals included in the National Register.

To finalize time-bound plan of action with distributed leadership involving the private and public sector industry as well as the civil society sector organizations

To help India become a global leader in biodiversity based products and services.The Department of AYUSH, in a recent policy document, “National Policy on Indian Systems of

Medicine and Homeopathy, 2002” recognized the importance of folkloric knowledge system of medicine which have sustained the health of millions of people in our country. It also acknowledged that various research councils have documented about 10,000 such practices, hopefully with the details about the source of knowledge holders and communities. It accepts the need for documenting many more practices to acknowledge the contribution of knowledge holders, extending them financial benefits and protecting their intellectual property rights. Traditional healers who have met health needs of millions of people where trained doctors have not yet reached, need opportunities to (i) expand their repertoire through lateral learning as well as interactions with formally trained experts, and vice versa (that is formal experts need to learn from traditional knowledge holders), (ii) have access to research resources for valorizing their knowledge, (iii) protect their intellectual property where applicable in the name of communities or individual experts as the case may be, (iv) diffuse their expertise and products thereof, through commercial and non commercial channels (such as community self help medicinal kits being promoted by many NGOs), (v) improve their livelihood through linkage with markets as well as national policy for health care and (vi) equip next generation in proven, unique and location-specific healthcare practices, approaches and philosophies.

In the last three years NIF has already documented about 36,000 innovations and traditional knowledge which need proper screening, value addition and benefit sharing with knowledge holders. If this database keeps expanding at this rate, we will have a national crisis of raising popular aspirations and doing nothing to meet these. NIF can not do justice to this knowledge base on its own. Thus the need for major countrywide initiative for collaboration among public, private and civil society sectors. NIF has not been able to even recognize these herbal healers for want of proper validation1. Unless folkloric systems of knowledge become part of national health strategies and buoyant herbal product markets in India and outside, there is no chance of this knowledge tradition surviving.

On the issue of benefit sharing system, it was recognized that PIC and Benefit Sharing system would require a massive effort at the countrywide level. It was agreed that a milestone-based benefit sharing system was needed. It requires pooling part of the benefit in a common pool for all the knowledge providers and only a part should be shared with the community that provided the specific lead. The benefits could be shared at various stages when access is made, some thing useful is found, product is developed and finally, when it is commercialized. Very high expectations may impede cooperation and very low may fail to trigger a dialogue. The challenge is to find mediating platforms, actors and institutional mechanisms so that benefit sharing takes place at a widespread level. So far, there has been much discussion on the subject. But there has hardly been any concrete sharing of benefits, except what has been tried by NIF and Honey Bee Network or Arya Vaidya Shala and Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI). There would have been no justification for NIF to document this knowledge base and raise expectations if we did not have any policy or institutional arrangements for sharing benefits.

It was noted that a database of about 8000 plants reportedly exists with various research councils. NBRI, CDRI, NISCOM (TKDL), CDRI, NISTADS, CIMAP, FRLHT, SRISTI, IISc, and several other agencies and initiatives have also contributed in this regard. Yet, there is no central database, which can be used to find uniqueness of folkloric knowledge.

Discussion on IPR Protection Note in GC MeetingOn the issue of Intellectual property rights protection, a note prepared for GC of NIF was shared. Some of the relevant issues were: (i) disclosure requirement in patent application: an issue that has also been raised at the WIPO based Inter Governmental panel on Access to Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, (ii) should traditional knowledge be considered as prior art and if so, why would anybody feel obliged to share benefits? (iii) Under what statutes must communities or individual healers be enabled to protect their traditional knowledge and for what period? (iv) what should be the basis for protecting the information disclosed by local communities through PBR or directly to NIF? (v) Should priority be given to communities that first developed a knowledge, practice or innovation or should all communicators or knowledge holders communicating a particular herbal use are made co-holders of the rights? (vi) should the provision of collecting societies be made applicable to traditional knowledge protection also, so that local associations, panchayat samitis or NGOs can file for protection on behalf of the communities? (vii) Should there be a parallel track system for protection of innovations with lower inventive threshold? (viii) Should sacred marks protection be accorded to specific cultural symbols associated with knowledge, innovation or practices? (ix) what kind of clearing houses should be organized for linking knowledge, innovations and practices with potential investors and entrepreneurs?

Prior Informed Consent (PIC) is one of the first steps taken in this regard. A suggestion was made

by GC Members that instead of having PIC between two parties that is, knowledge providing individuals or communities, one could involve legitimate third parties such as NGOs, or association of healers in the PIC also. This might generate greater confidence in the minds of knowledge holders. It was also mentioned that NIF was considering a two stage Prior Informed Consent process so that preliminary consent may deal with each and every entry whereas the detailed PIC may be sought only in the case of shortlisted and prioritized entries for validation and IPR protection.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Mashelkar stressed on the fact that Indian traditional knowledge system was essentially representing the knowledge base of one-sixth of the humanity. The blend between individual and community knowledge cannot be achieved without drawing upon the strength of existing networks. He also drew attention to the cases where CSIR had developed hugely successful commercial products drawing upon local knowledge. He acknowledged the merit of several ideas that came up for discussion such as the idea of Food for Knowledge, up front incentives for knowledge providers, generating awareness through /in the education system and developing a regulatory framework which guides the relationship between people and professionals properly. He agreed that screening facilities have to be strengthened and NIF’s role in this regard would need to be clarified and its capacity strengthened.

Action Points identified at the meeting were:

A framework should be developed as per section 41 of the Indian Biodiversity Act on people’s biodiversity knowledge. A Task Force can be formed for developing framework for pooling the traditional knowledge and licensing its use for commercial purposes. Involvement of different ministries to give their inputs in the institutionalization of PBR process would be very helpful. Special policy for revitalization of traditional health practices is also necessary.

Library of Protocols: Develop protocols for different kinds of validation of local practices and to look at existing Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha protocols also. CDRI and CIMAP will help in developing protocols.

Identify colleges and institutions who will join this SAMPADA initiative for validating practices dealing with different disease groups, develop questionnaires for use by societies such as Anthropological Society and Anthropological Survey of India and deliver value added information to knowledge providers in a time bound manner.

Identifying various Indian System of Medicine (ISM) institutions which can take responsibility in different regions to characterize the knowledge.

Integration of the databases of traditional practices, even if the formats used are not uniform.

Evolve strategies to ensure access of database to the PBR knowledge holders and communities. Ensure that the knowledge providers have access to traditional knowledge and herbal databases in local language as well as multimedia. This could be one major incentive for the traditional knowledge holders.

Food for Knowledge Program: The participation of the people in development process need not be restricted to only their menial contribution. The mental orientation and intellectual contribution should not be given any less importance. In the drive to make India a knowledge society, Food for Knowledge Program may symbolize India’s determination to value people’s knowledge properly. Just as PBRs have evolved to document people’s biodiversity knowledge, PKR may evolve as registers of peoples’ knowledge.

Develop and deliver proper incentives linked to the use of the knowledge so pooled, Work out time bound targets of validating, value addition and disseminating the

traditional knowledge of people linked to biodiversity use with proper attribution, reciprocity and respect in close cooperation with NBA and other stakeholders.

a) Characterizing the traditional knowledge database at NIF and annotating the unique practices:The traditional knowledge practices contributed to NIF have varying quality of documentation. In most cases, one has just the name of the plant (often in local language with or without its botanical name) used for treating a particular disease without description of the symptoms, dosage, or even the method of making the medicine etc. In such a situation, we face several challenges: (i) correct identification of the plant by getting plant sample or by consulting experts familiar with the region from where local plant names had been submitted, (ii) annotating the claim using databases Indian Systems of Medicine and also allopathic databases, (iii) since NIF does not have access to TKDL, we will have to generate the annotation afresh, (iv) identification of unique practices after doing prior art search (PAS) and v) then either validating single claims or

pooling the best practices and then taking up their validation. So far, the voluntary process for annotation did not work. We may have to hire experts and get the annotation done through ayurvedic as well as allopathic knowledge systems of medicine.b) Excluding innovations by professional s from NIF’s purview: In the earlier rounds, we had recognized some of the innovations from the professionals. That was because we wanted to focus on both types of innovations, innovations for grassroots as well as innovations at grassroots. As we gained experience, we decided that NIF’s mandate should be interpreted to support only unaided grassroots innovators. The guidelines were clarified and the announcement for third campaign had much clearer guidelines than that for the first and second campaigns. These guidelines even made a distinction between students of schools and non-technical education and the ones from professional courses. The professionals were excluded from the purview of NIF’s competition even when they had developed innovations for grassroots applications; we only offered to provide appropriate linkages to them. These professionals were more articulate, had telephone and other means of communications and were generally more resourceful. They obviously made more demands on our time and resources. If we did not make this distinction, we felt, we would be deviating from our mission and mandate.c) Recognition of Non Awarded Innovators: There has been a constant concern at NIF as to how to recognize those who had contributed valuable knowledge, innovations and practices at NIF but who had not made it to the list of awardees. After all, we could honor hardly a hundred of innovators among the tens of thousands who remained unrecognized. This was neither a fair nor a justified system. It will also cause cynicisms and frustration in the end and defeat the very purpose, which is to generate hope amongst knowledge rich and economically poor people. Several non-monetary incentives are being considered. One of these is to send certificates of acknowledgement to all those whose entries have been accepted under National register.d) Building linkages with Open University schools of social work and reaching out: Linkages have been established with the faculty and staff volunteers at North Maharashtra Open University so that thousands of their participants in various courses could also become scouts of local knowledge, innovations and practices. A workshop of MSW faculty from different colleges was also organized. It is hoped that scouting process in Maharashtra will be strengthened through this process.e) Developing a project for S&D and Value Addition through NATP of ICAR: ICAR recognized NIF as one of the collaborating centres under NATP project and thus provided support for both scouting and documentation as well as for value addition and validation of technologies.f) Organizing a workshop of Women NGOs and workers to fill a long- recognized gap in our S& D strategies.We have been receiving far less entries from women innovators and traditional knowledge holders so far. Two workshops were organized to fill this gap. The first one brought together leaders of Women Self Help Group (SHG) federations from seven states and second brought similar leaders and NGOs from different parts of Gujarat. The second meeting was also attended by the then Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat and Dr Vijay Kelkar, GC Member of NIF. Many more such meetings will have to be organized to build capacity of women groups to scout the knowledge unique to women members of such groups.

VARD Activities in 2003-04

Projects under Direct Support from NIF

In addition to providing support through GIANs and other collaborators, financial support was provided to innovators for various incubation activities like prototype development, testing the innovation, design optimization, development of concept proof model, etc. Wherever necessary, technical support was also provided by the VARD team to the innovators. VARD has also acted as a facilitator between various research institutes and the innovators for testing purposes.

Student Training

Students from technological institutes were given summer training at VARD. They were allotted specific projects, as a part of which they had to undertake the technological assessment, market feasibility and/or benchmarking of the selected innovation.

Workshops and Exhibitions

(i) Workshop at Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology (SSIT) and Commencement of GIAN Cell:

This workshop was organized at Tumkur on September 22, 2003 for technical documentation and validation of technological innovations from the southern part of India. More than 20 students participated in the validation process. Dr. G Parameshwara and the Minister delivered the key note lectures and Prof Anil K Gupta inaugurated the workshop. The NIF Resource Team presented samples of innovations to elicit support of faculty and students at the campus in building linkages with the innovators specially invited for this meeting. A local steering group met to develop some norms about the working of GIAN cell when such a cell was set up at SSIT.(ii) Demonstration Workshop at Vairag 2003The workshop was organized by innovator Bharat Kamble on September 23, 2003 for testing, demonstration and dissemination of his innovation “Motor Protection Device”. The prototype of the innovation was successfully demonstrated during the workshop. Scouting and documentation of other innovations from the area of Solapur was also facilitated as a part of the workshop. Financial assistance has been provided to Mr. Kamble.(iii) MindBend 2004Mind Bend is a symposium organized every year by SVNIT, Surat, Gujarat. As a part of the symposium, a student competition “Samaj” is held, where students are invited to propose solutions to a few selected problems encountered by farmers, artisans. VARD identified 20 problems from its database of technological innovations for the students’ competition at MindBend on February 21, 2004. Five of the problems were selected for the competition. Fifteen proposed solutions in form of the competition entries were received. The technical solutions provided by the students were useful in design optimization.(iv) Workshop on Validation and Value Addition to Traditional Herbal Practices of MedicineThe workshop was organized on March 3, 2004 with the aim of building network of scientist and researchers from various institutions and laboratories dealing with medicinal plants. Herbal practices for various categories of disorders were shared with the participants and proposals for taking up validation and/or value addition of these traditional practices were invited. About 65 researchers from various parts of Gujarat participated in this event. NIF has given support of Rs 34,000/- to L.M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad for taking up a project on “Validation of certain herbal drugs used in gastrointestinal disorders”.

Projects directly supported under VARD (2003-04)Sr.No Innovation Innovator Brief

descriptionFinancial

Support by VARD

Value Addition Mode

1 Bullet Proof Jacket

Makarand Kale This is a special material for bullet proof jacket

Testing of the material properties such as hardness, compression, tensile and impact strengths was conducted at LD College of

Engineering and the claims made by the innovator were validated.

2 Intercom Device

Madan Singh Chavda This innovation consists of an intercom device which can be used as a safe means of communication between the riders of two wheelers.

VARD has provided technical support in developing a compact size flexible prototype. The product is still at test stage

3 Magnetic Shock Absorber

Kalpita Patil The innovation is based on the principle of repulsion between like poles of a magnet, which is used to create a damping effect

VARD has integrated her concept by making another model for testing purposes.

4 Multi- Utility Stove

S J Joe Rs 24,000 through Peermade Development Society (Honey Bee Network collaborator) to develop two prototypes.

Facilitated performance testing of the prototype at National Institute, Kozhikode (erstwhile REC, Calicut) at the Energy Development Center under the supervision of Dr N M Nagarajan and Dr. S Jayaraj

5 Mini Washing Machine

Remya Jose This is a low cost manual, portable washing machine cum exercising machine

Rs 5000 has been given to her for design optimization

Modified design with more comfortable setting and pedling arrangement and rust- proof wire mesh for holding clothes has been developed.

6 Coconut Dehusking Machine

R Jayaseelan It is a device to dehusk coconut using a fork- based motorized husker

Rs 15,000 to make an improved prototype

Facilitated the further design and development at IIT- Bombay under the guidance of Dr B K Chakravarty of Industrial Design Center. The modified prototype is now available with SEVA Madurai (regional Collabrator of NIF). This needs further improvement

7 Air engine Darna Bisoi This is a Rs 6500 for The innovator has

compressed air driven engine, still at the idea stage

technical validation through SRISTI, Orissa

some concerns regarding the disclosure of the details of his technology, which need to be sorted out before the actual demonstration of the prototype can be arranged.

8 STCMW (Sudip Tropical and Medium Wave)

Sudip Ghosh This is an idea for setting up communication set up in remote places

Rs 1000 for making prototype

The innovator has some concerns regarding the disclosure of the details of his technology, which need to be sorted out before the actual demonstration of the prototype can be arranged.

BD Activities in 2003-04

The business development activity hitherto was taken up primarily through GIAN Gujarat (later converted into GIAN West). The experience of GIAN needed to be refined and built upon while developing NIF’s strategy. Accordingly, a comprehensive and multi-pronged strategy was developed and presented to the Governing Council of NIF on July 19, 2003. Its highlight was to build necessary infrastructure for BD (both hardware and software) for long-term results, as well as to take up a few technologies for immediate commercialization. Key strategies were:

Developing institutional infrastructure for BD activities like involving business management students in diffusion centric activities, strengthening the role of GIANs by extending handholding support, building linkages to scout entrepreneurs, etc.

Extending financial support to innovators, and entrepreneurs for incubation activities. Networking with industry associations, clusters and private sector participation in

commercialization initiatives. Improving systems and processes for better coordination and effective delivery of BD

function.

Initiatives for Student Involvement: Expanding Capacity and Reach

Involvement of students served the purpose of giving them opportunities to engage with live projects. For NIF, it bridged the gap between formal and informal context of incubation. In essence, it could become a win-win situation for students, educational institutions and NIF. The students were expected to pursue (i) developing of a channel of diffusion for innovations, (ii) mobilizing inputs for various stages of incubation, (iii) learning from the innovator about the technology and how innovator saw its market, (iv) pursuing technical as well as market benchmarking, (v) conducting market research for demand assessment to prepare business plans, (vi) scouting potential licensees and entrepreneurs and generating interest among them for taking the innovation forward. An attempt was made to motivate the students to scout innovations from industrial clusters, local industries, slums, etc. though results in this regard are yet to materialize.

Students’ Club for Augmenting Innovations (SCAI)NIF has taken the initiative to set up “Students’ Club for Augmenting Innovations (SCAI) at Grassroots”, a nationwide student movement comprising students from India’s best management and technology institutes. The purpose is to provide product development, mentoring and monitoring support to innovators / traditional knowledge holders at grassroots level in the country. In the year 2003-04, nine SCAI Chapters were set up at various Business Schools across India that included Dept of Business Management, College of Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, IIM- Ahmedabad, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Kozhikode, IIM- Lucknow, K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research – Mumbai, TISS – Mumbai, XIM - Bhubaneswar and XLRI - Jamshedpur.

DISHA- National Level Business Plan CompetitionDisha is a national level business plan competition organized every year to convert innovations and traditional knowledge at grassroots into practical business propositions. Students from management and engineering colleges, agricultural universities, pharmacy colleges etc., participate to prepare business plans for commercially attractive technologies from the database of NIF.

The best ones get rewarded suitably. These business plans would be useful for NIF in approaching the prospective entrepreneurs and mentors who would help convert these innovations into products and enterprises. The first such nation-wide competition was launched in September 2003. DISHA-2003 was completed in January 2004. More than 500 students had registered with NIF to prepare market feasibility reports for various technologies. Six finalist teams were short listed and invited to make a presentation of their case before a panel of distinguished judges. The team from XLRI,

Jamshedpur was the winner this year. Students from IIM- Ahmedabad organized and hosted the competition.

SAAKARSAAKAR- was organized to scout entrepreneurs who were expected to make bids for licensing the grassroots innovations. Students were offered venture capital support to convert their business plans into enterprises. Agribusiness Club at IIM Ahmedabad was supported to organize SAAKAR to look for entrepreneurs in Gujarat. SAAKAR may be organized on a national scale in coming years.

Web Initiative www.indiainnovates.comThis portal was originally developed through an IIM-A student project supported by SRISTI and later by NIF. It is envisaged as a platform for mobilizing volunteers from various cross- sections of society. These volunteers may be in-service or retired professionals, housewives, students or any body who wants to contribute in incubation activities either by providing consultancy or contacts. To make such partnerships sustainable, incentive options are being worked out so that it is in the best interests of all the stakeholders.

We received 12 letters of intent (LoI) for various technologies. Necessary follow-up was done. A separate database is being maintained for the same. The site was launched in the month of December 2003 and since then 16 parties have registered for mentorship. The portal eventually will become a one-stop window to approach Indian innovators, be it grassroots individuals or professionals. The other direct benefit the portal will offer to NIF will be in terms of generating licensing opportunities. It is also our endeavor to reach out to markets that are often inaccessible to grassroots innovators through this portal. At present, 47 technologies have been put on the website and queries are being received in from USA, Zimbabwe, Mexico, etc. NIF and GIAN are following up the responses.

Operationalization of Micro Venture Innovation Fund (MVIF)MVIF is a national level incubation fund set up on October 2, 2003 with financial assistance of Rs 40 million from SIDBI. In addition, a sum of Rs 10 million has been provided to meet the transaction costs of managing the fund. MVIF has been conceptualized to provide much needed fillip to the process of formation of a large number of micro and small enterprises based on grassroots innovations. Through the efficient management of this fund, NIF aims to convince the policy makers about the need for supporting small innovators in a major way.

The goal of MVIF is to identify the market gap and potential for a given innovation, incubate the technology to meet this gap, and to provide much needed capital support to entrepreneurs / innovators at early stages of enterprise development.

Objectives of MVIF

a ) To provide a means of finance for innovation and traditional knowledge-based micro- ventures, which are generally not given any support by conventional financial institution.b) To support the technology development life cycle that includes Prototype Development, Technical Validation and Benchmarking, Field Trials, Market Research, Certification by Regulatory Authorities, Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, Promotion and Dissemination.c) To offer innovative and flexible financing options for the seed capital and working capital requirements. These could be tailor- made to the needs of grassroots’ entrepreneurs and enable them in minimizing the financial risk associated with their ventures.

Fund Management CommitteeThe first meeting of the Fund Management Committee, an executive committee of MVIF was called on October 20, 2003 at NIF to discuss various operational issues pertaining to investment of the corpus and developing guidelines for investments in projects. The Fund Management Committee is an executive body, which has representation from SIDBI and NIF. It was decided that MVIF would operate within the framework to be developed by NIF under the guidance of FMC.

The delivery functions like project appraisal, disbursement, monitoring & mentoring and recovery shall be taken care by NIF and its regional arms like Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN), GIAN Cells and other associates who are its collaborators in delivery. (See flow chart.)

Incubation Advisory CommitteeAn Incubation Advisory Committee was constituted in January 2004 to oversee the entire process. Its members represent various fields such as technology incubation, innovation and management and include Rahul Patwardhan, CEO, India Co., Chair; Prof. Pankaj Chandra, IIM- A; Prof. V R Gaekwad, Retired Professor, IIM- A; Prof. P K Sinha IIM- A and Prof. Sharad Sarin, XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Performance of MVIF in 2003-04In the financial year 2003-04, a total of nine projects were provided MVIF assistance with total sanctioned amount of Rs. 2,34,273/-Out of these nine projects, three projects were initiated by NIF. The assisted projects include six projects coordinated through GIANs and other collaborators. Rest of the projects were initiated and executed through incubation network partners. These projects cover different sectors such as telecom, energy, general machinery, utility, etc.Three-tiered Operating Structure of MVIF:

Introducing New Systems and Processes

In order to provide clarity about the goals and processes of MVIF and jointly develop various screening forms and approaches, a workshop was organized with the support of Incubation Advisory Committee.A process chart for monitoring the incubation process was developed at the workshop. (See Flowchart)Various standard formats evolved in the discussions which included SD1 (Scouting & Documentation), EV1 (Evaluation document), L1 (Licensing process and check-list)) and E1 (Enterprise Plan). An online Incubation Monitoring System was also developed to facilitate better monitoring of the incubation process across locations. The system offered password-based access to multi-locational coordinating agencies working on a wide spectrum of projects. The transaction cost and decision-making time would be reduced substantially by using the system. The online system is currently under beta stage and is to be properly institutionalized in course of time.The workshop also delved into the possible models of commercialization and their feasibility in NIF’s context.

Flowchart of Incubation Process Showing Monitoring Stages and Documents

CommercializationGIAN West was supported in negotiation and structuring of deal regarding technology transfer of four sprayers. The deal was closed on August 15, 2003. (See report of GIAN West).Demonstrations of Technologies Crompton Greaves Ltd (CGL), Mumbai:Joint presentations were made by NIF and GIAN teams to top-level R&D team at Crompton Greaves Ltd., Mumbai. Major technologies discussed were: Bamboo Fan, Turbines, Motor Protection device, Small Diesel Engine and Gear-cutting Device. Out of these, the CGL team provided critical inputs on technical and market feasibility. Bamboo fan was short-listed for testing and validation by CGL team. The results of test conducted in October 2003 were satisfactory but possibility of technology acquisition seemed low due to other market and strategy issues.

Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd, Pune:NIF BD and GIAN NE organized test-runs at Kirloskar’s Pune plant for a unique Energy- saving Coupling developed by Kanak Das at Guwahati. The results were not favorable. A modified test was suggested by Kirloskar’s R&D team to be conducted at IIT- Guwahati.

Petroleum Conservation Research Authority (PCRA), New Delhi:Various energy saving technologies were discussed with PCRA in October, 2003 to mobilize their support in further development of technologies.

Other Networking and Showcasing EventsAn interactive workshop on ‘Grassroots Innovations: Enterprise Opportunities’ was organized by

GIAN N with the support of NIF at the India International Center (IIC) in New Delhi on December 22, 2003 in collaboration with Punjab Haryana Delhi Chamber of Commerce (PHDCCI); EMPI Business School, New Delhi and India International Center (IIC), New Delhi. A total of 15 technologies primarily from Northern India and two from Western India were showcased. More than 50 entrepreneurs from National Capital Region participated in the program.

IT & Dissemination Activities

The various activities concerning IT and dissemination undertaken at NIF during the year included:

Entries in Electronic Database: In the second competition the total no. of entries that were received were 6228, while total no, of innovations received were 13, 533. 9843 entries were received and 21, 931 innovations were received for the third competition.

Document Management System:Scanning of around 1400 entries and of around 7500 entries in the second and third competition respectively was facilitated to reduce the need for accessing physical files and keeping electronic backup for the same.

New Website and Maintenance/ Updation of Other Sites: A new website scai.org.in was launched for Students’ Club for Augmenting Innovations at Grassroots, which is envisaged to be a voluntary network of students cutting across all disciplines to actively take part in the missions of NIF. Another site indiainnovates.com designed by SRISTI was revamped with new design, look and content. Constant updating and maintenance is being done at regular intervals for various sites of NIF and Honey Bee network.

Website Hosting:The sites which were earlier running on other servers were converted into open source compatibility and hosted at NIF’s own web server at Bangalore.

Technology Exchange Link: A link at www.indiainnovates.com was made operational to enable prospective and potential licensees, entrepreneurs and established industrialists to enable them bid for technologies ready to be licensed. This software has been contributed by SRISTI for use at NIF.

Software Development: Some software using GNU (open source) technologies are being developed with the help of CRANTI Technologies. MySQL is being used as database back-end while PHP / Python as front-end. Details are listed below:

Plant Reference Database: The module is being integrated with National Register so that complete information about plants used can be accessed pertaining to any herbal entry.

Intranet Application (Sanchalak): NIF initialized the intranet web application called ‘Sanchalak’ having the feature of Address and PIC database consisting of more than 4000 addresses and PICs of the First and the Second competitions

Modification in Inward / Outward system:It generates inward and outward reference numbers to all incoming and outgoing letters. Around 11,000 such references have been entered.

Report generation facility in the National Register Database: Various reports based on innovations, category and state-wise summary can be generated using the National Register database. More than 1500 reports have been generated during the year for different references.

Document Search Engine: A centralized system for accessing documents, it prevents loss of physical files and facilitates multi-user access to all files. Searching for a document or correspondence for a particular innovation becomes simple and easy.

Dissemination Activities:a. Multimedia CDs: Thousands of multimedia CDs describing Honey Bee philosophy, NIF’s genesis and objectives and innovations were prepared and distributed among the public and visitors for dissemination purposes. Version-wise printing of CDs has been initiated.b. Exhibitions, Seminars and Workshops: Several exhibitions and workshops were conducted at different locations in the country.

Dissemination Events 2003-04

Sr. No

Date Description Organizer

1 September 2003 Workshop and Exhibition, Tumkur, Karnataka NIF + SSIT2 October 2003 Exhibition at Portbander, Gujarat KVIC3 October 2003 TII Workshop, Hyderabad CII4 January 2004 Exhibition during 91st Session, Chandigarh Indian Science Congress5 January 2004 Exhibition at Uttarayan Mela, Ahmedabad Government of Gujarat6 January 2004 Mindbend, Surat, Gujarat SVNIT

Dissemination Support Provideda. Posters: Around 100 posters presenting different innovations and general themes were prepared. These were displayed on various occasions and events organised in India and abroad.b. Shodhyatra: Two Shodh Yatras were organized during the year – one in May- June and another in December. The Eleventh Shodh Yatra was conducted from Rudrapur to Dehgala Village (May 26 to June 4, 2003) and the Twelfth Shodh Yatra (December 25-31, 2003) from Guddethota to Chitrakut in Chickmangalur district, Karnataka with the help of SRISTI and NIF collaborators.c. Fourth Campaign: The announcement for the Fourth National Competition in Hindi and English were prepared and is being publicized through various communication means.d. Reprinting of second competition Award Book: 400 copies of the first reprint of the Second Competition Award book were brought out.

Intellectual Property Rights Protection Activities in 2003-04

During the year, 29 patent applications (10 from GIAN-NE have been filed, 5 have been filed from NIF and 10 are ready for filing from NIF, four complete provisional applications filed) were filed in coordination with various GIANs and other partners. The MoU between NIF and local communities maintaining Peoples’ Biodiversity Register (PBR) was developed so that the data may be incorporated in the National Register if found suitable.

NIF constantly tries to create IPR awareness within the organization. Senior scientists from DSIR, and Department of Science and Technology visited NIF for capacity building in the field of Intellectual Property Management.

Internship opportunities were provided to various college students. These students were involved in conducting Prior Art Searches for various technologies from NIF database. They were also provided exposure on prosecution of patent applications.

List of Patents Applied During April 2003- March 2004Sr.No Title and Patent No Innovator Law Firm Status1 Motorized Weeder

641/MUM/2003Ramkumar Anand & Anand,

IndiaExamination Reply Filed

2 Leaf Mat Making Appartus498/MAS/ 2003

P Marthandan Anand & Anand, India

Request for Examination filed

3 Cardamom Drier517/MAS/2003

P J Abraham Anand & Anand, India

Request for Examination filed

4 Water level Indicator516/MAS/2003

Eldose Markose Anand & Anand, India

Request for Examination filed

5 Mobile Charger431/MAS/2003

A N Manoharan Anand & Anand, India

Request for Examination filed

6 Moped LPG Kit Ram Kumar Anand & Anand, Request for

978/DEL/2003 India Examination filed7 Manual Washing Machine

643/CHE/2003Remya Jose Anand & Anand,

IndiaRequest for Examination filed

8 Power transmission Device for vehicles380/ KOL/2003

Rabindra Kumar Debgupta

GIAN-NE [innovator and entrepreneur are taking care]

Complete specification filed

9 Anti-locking Device379/KOL/2003

G C Gogoi GIAN- NE Complete specification filed

10 Process for preparation of Mosquito Repellent449/KOL/2003

Leena Talukdar Innovator Complete specification filed

11 Combating termites with Ipomea carnea Jacq.448/KOL/2003

Upasana Talukdar GIAN-NE Complete specification filed

12 Power Saving Punp354/DEL/2003

Ram Naresh Yadav Subramaniam, Natrajan and Associates

13 Process for Medication for Kidney-stone

Ramesh Kumar Nehra Surana &Surana, Chennai

Complete specification filed

14 Multi- purpose Bicycle Mohd. Kamaruddin Anand & Anand, India

CS filed 1255/DEL/2003F.D. 13/10/2003

15* Manual Sprayer884/MUM/2003

Khimjibhai Kanadia Anand & Anand, India

Response for examination filed

16* Automatic Sprayer883/MUM/2003

Arvind. R. Patel Anand & Anand, India

Response to examination filed

17 Manual Sprayer1051/MUM/2003

Gopalbhai Suratia Anand & Anand, India

Request for Examination filed

18** Multipurpose Electric Boiler

Pradeep Kumar Anand & Anand, India

Response for Examination to be filed

19** Multifunctional Electric Motor Protecting Device963/MUM/2003

Bharat Srirang Kamble Anand & Anand, India

Response to examination to be filed

20 Portable battery operated Sprayer940/MUM/2003

Lalit Surana Anand & Anand, India

Response to examination filed

21** Buttonhole Making Machine1261/MUM/2003

Anil R Kamdar Anand & Anand, India

Response to examination to be filed

22 A formulation and process of preparation of novel remedy for Alopecia Areata225/KOL/2004

Kailash ChandraMishra & Yogesh Mishra

GIAN NE Complete specification filed

23 A method of and apparatus for extraction of oil from Meat602/KOL/2003

Vekho Swarup GIAN NE Complete specification filed

24 A process for the preparation and treatment of backaches and bone fracture369/KOL/2003

Pushpalata Saikia GIAN NE Complete specification filed

25 Areca Nut Dehusking Machine 239/KOl/2004

Uddhab Kumar Bharali GIAN NE Provisional specification filed

26 Sprinkiling apparatus with multiple nozzles

Annasaheb Udgavi Anand & Anand, India

Abandoned 1005/MAS/200231/12/2003

27 An Improved Screw06/KOL/2004

Mahabir Chowbey Anand & Anand, India

Compliance to examination

28** Jute Making Stick345/MUM/04

U S Patil Anand & Anand, India

Report complete

29 Portable Hand Pounder Uddhab Kumar Bharali Directly filed by GIAN NE

CS filed 52/KOL/2004

FD 10/02/200430 Motor Protection Device Bharat Srirang Kamble Anand &Anand,

India963/MUM/2003

** GIAN West projects

GIAN West

Incubation through GIAN-WIn addition to the five technology transfers enabled previously, GIAN West facilitated one more technology transfer during the current year. In August 2003, for the first time, a group of four technologies has been licensed to one entrepreneur. Non-exclusive rights for manufacturing and marketing of four different types of sprayers - Auto Sprayer developed by Arvindbhai Patel, “Kushal” Mini Sprayer developed by Khimjibhai Kanadia, Hand-Driven Sprayer developed by Gopalbhai Surtia and Battery-Operated Sprayer developed by Lalit Surana of Madhya Pradesh - were licensed for India to Nilgiri Industries of Ahmedabad. A young second generation entrepreneur Nileshbhai Satasiya has paid Rs 1.11 lac out of the negotiated total technology transfer fee of Rs 2.11 lac and has also agreed to pay 2.5 per cent royalty on sales for a period of 5 years.Benefit Sharing MechanismIn this technology transfer, we have also for the first time implemented a novel benefit sharing mechanism based on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) conceptualized by NIF. The amount received from the entrepreneur was divided amongst the innovators (40%), Institutional Agency (9.5%), IPR expenses (9.5%), community and environment (9.5%), WAIGIANIC (28.5%) and expenses involved in facilitating the technology transfer (3%).

WAIGIANIC - A New Initiative In the past six years, GIAN-W has faced difficulties in arranging funds for the development of ideas and other small social innovations like Kittanal, Pulley etc. Such innovations suffer due to lack of funds or delay in mobilizing the necessary funds from the concerned authorities. To overcome this problem, GIAN -W proposed the creation of a separate fund with the money generated from the licensing of successful innovations supported by GIAN-W. Western-region Association of Indian Grassroots Innovators for Augmenting, Nurturing Innovations and Creativity (WAIGIANIC) is being set-up with an initial outlay of Rs 85,000 from the contributions received from successful technology transfers.GIAN-W is in the process of giving a final shape to WAIGIANIC. It has sought opinion of innovators and policy makers regarding the formal structure of WAIGIANIC. Keeping in view the administrative hurdles and extra burden over GIAN, WAIGIANIC has been proposed as an informal body managed by innovators of the region under the supervision of GIAN-W and SRISTI.

Completed ProjectsProjects, in which either successful commercialization has happened or enough support and awareness had been generated, are considered completed by GIAN. Aaruni Bullock Cart, Pulley, Cotton Stripper Machine, Motorcycle Sprayer, Kittanal, Natural Water Cooler, Foot Sprayer, Kushal Sprayer and Erisilk projects have been declared as completed projects.

Projects supported by GIAN West

Innovation Name and Innovator’s Name

Project details and/or status

Vanraj Tractor-

Bhanjibhhai

The prototype development, under financial support from TePP, has beencompleted and the prototype has been submitted to CFMT&TI, Budni, for testing and certification. Patent applications have been filed in India and the USA. To facilitate commercialization, the innovator has established Vanraj Agro Industry, a proprietorship firm. A business plan has been prepared for starting the venture in collaboration with an entrepreneur. Dialogue with other interested entrepreneurs from Gujarat and Maharashtra is on for exploring commercialization possibilities.

4.5 HP Tractor-

Mulji Bhai

Taking into account the difficulties in standardization of the 4.5 HP tractorand certification from statutory authorities, promoting the machine as a motorized sprayer or multipurpose farming machine rather than as a tractor.

Shakti Motorcycle-Driven PloughingMachine-

MansukhbhaiJagani

An improved prototype of the machine has been developed by incorporating a new power transmission system with reverse gear facility. Patent applications have been filed in India and USA. GIAN has also received inquiriesfrom an entrepreneur of Maharashtra for commercialization of the product.

Oil Expeller-

Kalpesh Gajjar

Development of a standard prototype by redesigning the transmission unitis underway with the technical support of a retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering from L D College of Engineering, Ahmedabad. We have received about 20 inquiries from Indian and Foreign buyers in the past 12 months. Patent applications haves been filed in India and the USA.

Diesel Engine-MansukhbhaiSanchalia

Preliminary market feasibility report of a small, lightweight 3.5 HP diesel engine has been completed The Electrical Research and Development Association(ERDA), Vadodara has been approached for testing of the engine in order to verify the claims of the innovator and for performance mapping. Based on the test results, the decision for further support shall be taken.

Double-ActingReciprocatingPump-

Budhuba Jadeja

A double acting system has been blended with a balancing mechanism in areciprocating pump to increase the output of water, thereby saving energy. With the financial support of TePP and NIF, working prototype wasdeveloped and tested at the NIRMA Institute of Technology. The efficiency of the prototype was recorded at 18%. However, experts were of the opinion that the efficiency could be increased in the next

prototype with improved materials and more precision engineering. Patent application has been filed in India.

InnovativeApplication ofWindmill-

Bharatbhai Agrawat

With the help of an innovative gearbox in the conventional windmilloperated pump, it is possible to operate two reciprocating pumps on the same windmill, thereby increasing its efficiency. The innovator has developed a prototype with the financial assistance of Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA). GEDA is conducting various field tests to study the performance of the innovation.

Bicycle Sprayer-MansukhbhaiJagani

A bicycle-based sprayer has been developed. A student of NID is workingon the prototype to improve the aesthetics and ergonomics of the product. Patent application has been filed in India.

Auto Air Kick Pump-

Arvindbhai Patel

A device to inflate the tyres of two wheelers has been standardized underthe TePP scheme to make it market ready. Patent has been filed in India and the USA. Exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights for India have been sold to MouldWell Enterprise of Maharashtra. The company has launched this product under the brand name COMPANION. Four different models have been made for 21 models of two wheelers and a fifth type for three wheelers.

Bicycle Hoe-Gopal MalhariBhise

The hoe using the front frame of a conventional bicycle has been furtherrefined with the financial support of GIAN, to develop a motorized version.

Hand-drivenSprayer-

Gopalbhai Surtiya

The development of the improved prototype has been initiated by aGerman student at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad under theGrassroots Innovations Design Studio (GRIDS). The manufacturing and marketing rights, on non-exclusive basis, for India have been sold to Nilgiri Industries of Ahmedabad. The firm will be launching this product under the brand name KISAN KING.

Auto CompressionSprayer-

Arvindbhai Patel

An innovative sprayer uses the jerks of the human body while walking toprovide reciprocating motion to a dead weight. It drives the piston to generate the necessary pressure. No extra effort is required to operate the sprayer, as in conventional sprayers. A student from NID worked on this project and suggested a new model with improved aesthetics and ergonomics. Patent application has been filed in India. Nilgiri industries of Ahmedabad have been licensed the commercial rights on a non-exclusive basis and is planning to launch it under the brand name of KISAN MITRA.

HerbalFormulations

GIAN is attempting to market formulations developed by the SRISTI- Sadbhav Sanshodhan Laboratory with the help of Nileshbhai Patel of Baroda. He has started the trial production. In addition, field testing of these formulations is in progress in Rajasthan with the help of GAIN-N, NIF and a local NGO.

Headload ReducingDevice-

Khimjibhai Kanadia

A device for reducing the load on women’s head while carrying water hasbeen distributed to women through SEWA for generating feedback. In order to standardize the product and make it user-friendly. GIAN also organized a focus group discussion at GRIDS workshop in 2003.

Innovative Tongs-

ArvindbhaiPatel

The short comings of conventional tongs being used by women while handling hot vessels in the kitchen was posed to various innovators as a challenge. Arvindbhai who had developed Natural Water Cooler and Auto Air Kick Pump also developed two different types of tongs, which appear to have distinct advantages over the conventional tongs.

Dual Blade Sickle-

KishorbhaiBhardawa

One of the innovative sickles uses a disposable blade, which can beinserted into the main frame of the sickle like a razor blade. One of the major suppliers of sickles in Punjab was approached for validation and possible commercialization. GIAN has not received a very positive response from either end-users or manufacturers so far.

Buttonhole Edging A focus group discussion was organized to discuss scope for further

Machine-

Anil Kamdar

development in a low cost, user-friendly Buttonhole Machine at the GRIDS workshop, 2003. TePP has been approached for financial assistance for prototype development. Patent application has been filed in India.

Gum Scraper-Khimjibhai Kanadia

A simple device to collect gum from trees has been distributed in North Gujarat with the help of SEWA. Feedback on the same is awaited.

Milking Machine-

V A Johny

As a part of the cross regional application of innovations, the innovative Milking Machine developed in Kerala was taken up for possible diffusion in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Motor ProtectionDevice-

Bharat Kamble

An innovative electronic device, which prevents motors from burning due to various power-related and other conditions has been tested at ERDA, Vadodara. The claims of the innovator have been verified. Commercialization is planned on pilot scale.

Check Dam-

BhanjibhaiMathukia

Inspired by the arch based railway bridge constructed by the British, the innovator of Vanraj Tractor has designed an innovative multiple arch check dam. With the financial support of NIF, preliminary technical feasibility has been done with the help of students from IIT Kanpur. With the support of GIAN North, this technology has been replicated in Rajasthan. GIAN has also approached Gujarat Government to support its wider replication.

New Projects under consideration by GIAN West for Providing Support

Sr. No Innovation Innovator Brief description1 Modified Bicycle Jayantibhai Patel Gear-based innovative bicycle that has been

supported for prototype development 2 Seed Cum

Fertilizer DibblerMansukhbhai Jagani

GIAN asked the innovator of motorcycle driven Santi (multi purpose toolbar) to develop a device for sowing seeds without the tedious sit-stand-sit method aadopted by farmers. He designed and fabricated an innovative seed-cum-fertilizer dibbler, which not only makes the sowing process easier and simpler but also can be used for plants or crops in which fertilizer is to be applied at the roots. An entrepreneur from Maharashtra has shown interest in commercializing this technology in India and abroad.

3 Improved Rambhai Patel An innovator rotatovator has been developed. It

Rotavator for sugarcane

not only cuts the stubble of the left-over sugarcane, but also mixes it with the soil to be used as manure. Additionally, this rotavator can also be useful for field preparation before sowing a crop. Technical support for product standardization is being provided.

4 Innovative Stove Balubhai Vasoya An innovative stove utilizing electricity and kerosene has been developed. It claimed that this stove utilizes just one liter of kerosene for eight hours of normal use. The testing of the gas stove is underway by PCRA and GEDA to verify the claims of the innovator.

IPR Initiatives and AccomplishmentsPatent Applications: With the assistance of the IPR division of NIF, GIAN has filed Indian patent applications for five innovations viz. Hand Driven Sprayer, Automatic Compression Sprayer, Kushal Sprayer, Buttonhole Reinforcing Machine and Double Acting Reciprocating Pump. GIAN has also filed one application in the US Patent and Trademark Office for the Auto Air Kick pump developed by Arvindbhai Patel.

Patent Assistance Cell : As per the Patent Assistance Cell (PAC) Scheme of the Government of Gujarat, 50% of the total expenses incurred by the patent applicant were to be reimbursed at the time of grant of the patent. Given that patent award in India can take as much as five years, GIAN made a request to the government to revise the scheme so that the reimbursement could be sought by the applicant at the time of filing of the patent on the basis of the Patent Application Number. The government is positively considering the request.

GIAN NorthGIAN North has several innovations at various stages in the incubation cycle. Eight innovations whose incubation has so far been facilitated are now being taken to the market and attempts have been made to get these innovations commercialized, of which three were facilitated in this year.

Validation of InnovationsA Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on grassroots innovations was organised at GIAN-North on November 17, 2003 with a view to seek expert opinion on technical feasibility of the innovations, develop a technology/ product development plan, and gather experts’ opinion on market potential and business development plan.

Innovations that were deliberated in the FGD included (a) Remote Operated Cracker Firing Device for Safety by Mr. Balram, (b) Innovative Tea Making Machine by Ashok Dhiman, (c) Electricity Generation from Road Transport by Premsingh Saini, (d) Engine driven by Compressed Air by Premsingh Saini and (e) Electricity Generation from Road Transport - (using magnetic rod at the bottom of the vehicles) - by Premsingh Saini.The first meeting of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) was organized on December 15, 2003 to discuss and evaluate the shortlisted

grassroots innovations from Rajasthan. A total of 86 innovations and practices were discussed which broadly comprised of 3 categories namely (a) Herbal Medicines (either human and veterinary use), (b) Agriculture and (c) Engineering (including farm implements). A team of 9 experts from various disciplines evaluated only the latter two categories of the innovations and practices. A separate RAC meeting was organized in January 2004 to discuss and comment on the herbal innovations and TK. The committee recommended 8 outstanding innovations for further pursual. GIAN North has communicated the comments of the expert group to NIF for further screening.

Technical EvaluationA model for saving power, developed by Prakash Suthar of Bhilwara has been demonstrated and submitted to the Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering, MNIT, Jaipur. They have given their preliminary report highlighting the need of developing another prototype, which could show the real potential of the device, particularly for the lighting-related applications. Modified concept of bicycle and a diesel engine developed by Madan Singh Ratnu were discussed with the Professors of the Mechanical Engineering department, MNIT, Jaipur. They recommended these models for prototyping for further evaluation.

Field Trial of Herbal PesticidesA project on conducting field trials to determine the efficacy of two herbal pesticides developed by SRISTI Sadbhav Sanshodhan Lab and one developed by an innovator from North East was commissioned in collaboration with an NGO called SOAM (Society for Organic Agriculture Movement), Jaipur. SOAM has submitted an interim field trial report of these pesticides to GIAN North in the last week of January 2005, which showed that 13 farmers of different villages were conducting these trials in wheat crop against termite and heliothis attack.

Validation / DocumentationGIAN - N prepared the scouting documents for several innovations such as Compact High Sensitivity Microphone (Jaibhawan Saini, Kaithal, Haryana), Potato Digger ( Nitin Kumar, Hapur, UP), Bulb Saver (Kamal Chajed, Kota, Rajasthan), Artificial Limb for Animals (Praval Dey, Udaipur, Rajasthan), Magnetic Motor (Shyanvir Singh, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan), Model of Power Saving Device (Prakash Suthar, Bhilwara, Rajasthan), Paddy Seeds Embedded in Clay Balls (Ram Abhilash, Uttar Pradesh), Drinking Water Management for Animals through Hand-pump (Shyambhu Sharma, Udaipur, Rajasthan), Mini Rotavator ( Ashok Kumar, Khore, Madhya Pradesh), Herbal Medicine for Diabetes (Rajender Singh, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan), Tea Making Machine (Ashok Kumar Dhiman, Panchkula, Haryana) and Remote Operated Device for Safe Firing of Crackers (Balram Singh Saini, Ambala, Haryana).

NetworkingGIAN-N participated in several activities and events in partnership with other institutes like India International Center, New Delhi, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi, Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, Entrepreneurship Management Institute, New Delhi. Students of premier technical institutes like IIT- Kanpur and IIT- Kharagpur have worked on the technical documentation and bridging technology gaps of innovations of North India. Market research/ techno-economic viability studies have been carried out by the students of premier management institutes like Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, Xaivier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar, IIT- Kanpur, IIT, Mumbai, Aravali Institute of Management, Jodhpur, MNIT, Jaipur . A SCAI chapter has been proposed at BITS, Pilani

IPR ActivitiesGIAN (North) prepared the technical documentation of selected innovations for filing of applications for patent through NIF IPR cell [see in NIF IPR table].

Dissemination Activities at GIAN North in 2003-04Exhibitions, Workshops and PresentationsA presentation and discussion on GIAN North activities and probable association with at the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) of BITS Pilani were explored during their national event “Ideas 4 Rural India” in March 2004. GIAN-N facilitated participation of innovators and other stakeholders in Gram Shree Mela-Rural Science Congress organized by Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti in February 2004 at Wardha, Maharashtra., Indian Science Congress at Chandigarh in January 2004, an interaction with entrepreneurs on December 22, 2003 at IIC, New Delhi, exposition and discussion on Grassroots Innovation and Exhibition at Chandigarh on April 2003, TechKriti - 2003" – A technology fair organized by IIT, Kanpur in February 2003; and StoneMart 2003 – an international fair on marble industry organized at Jaipur by CII and RIICO in February 2003.

Minister of S&T, Government of Rajasthan Madhav Singh Diwan visited GIAN-N on July 23, 2003 to discuss the possibility of association between DST Rajasthan and GIAN-N to support need-based grassroots innovations and their dissemination through proper channel. Dr. R A Mashelkar, Chairperson, NIF and Secretary, DSIR, Govt. of India and Madhav Singh Diwan Honorable Minister, S&T of Rajasthan visited GIAN-N on July 15, 2003.

Grassroots Innovations in MediaActivities of GIAN-N in support of innovators have received wide media coverage in Jaipur, Chandigarh and Dehradun through Television, Radio and newspapers - Artificial limb for animals – Rajasthan Patrika – Jaipur, July 31, 2003; Improved Multicrop Thresher – Vaigyanic Dristikon, Jaipur – March, 2003; Tea Making Machine – Amar Ujala, Chandigarh Sept 23, 2003; Dainik Jagran, Chandigarh Nov 06, 2003, Punjab Kesari, Chandigarh Jul 7, 2003), Dainik Bhaskar, Ambala Jan 28, 2004); and Remote Cracker Firing Device – Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Tribune, Chandigarh – October 2003.

New Awards AnnouncedImpressed by the initiatives and interventions of NIF/GIAN-N in the interest of innovators, DST, Govt. of Rajasthan has decided to institute a state award to encourage grassroots innovators. It has announced “Rajasthan State Award for grassroots innovations” to be given to best three

innovators and one best scout from Rajasthan. To sensitize the media in this direction, Bhoruka Charitable Trust, has sponsored a competition for “Best reporting on grassroots innovations” in both print and electronic media for three years.

Projects Taken up by GIAN North for Value Addition in 2003-04

Sr. No

Innovation Innovator Innovation Details Status

1 PowerSavingPump

RamNareshYadav

A double cylinder –reciprocating pump that saves energy (electricity/diesel) reportedly by about 60%.

Incubation support provided by way of product development, patent application and financial assistance. Radically new, energy efficient, lightweight prototype of the pump developed with contributions from two entrepreneurs from Kanpur. Entrepreneurs invested about Rs 3 lac in developing the dyes of two critical components and provided a salary of Rs 6000 to the innovator in addition to a share of 33% in the company. Project closed.

2 LPG KitforMopeds

Ram Kumar An attachment Developed for Mopeds to on LPG instead of Petrol for mopeds to run on LPGas instead of petrol.

Prototyping has been completed and is with the innovator. Innovator was requested several times to supply the prototype for further testing and evaluation. No response received. Project closed.

3 HerbalMedicine forTreatmentof KidneyStones

RameshNehra

An herbal treatmentfor removing kidney stones. The ingredients used aregrape leaves, glycerin and lemon juice in definite proportions added at a definite time.

The medicine originally was available in paste form; later, two more forms were developed in liquid and powder. The innovation was discussed atCDRI, Lucknow for validation but they did not have a model for validation of kidney stone medicine.

4 HydraulicSystemfor Marble Cutting Machine

Shyam Sunder Jangid

A concept that claims to save energy up to50% if hydraulic systems are used in stonecutting industryin combination with electrical motors.

Evaluation by IIT-G done. A proposal for product development was made and submitted to DST under their TePP scheme. The proposal is under consideration and DST officials want a personal interaction with the innovator.

5 HorizontalWind Mill

MadanSingh Ratnu

A new design of wind mill in which the blades are placed horizontally instead of vertically.

Product development support was provided to the innovator but he could not complete the development. Project closed.

6 SteamOperatedStove

RajivAgarwal

A hybrid stove powered by kerosene and steam.

Tested and modified by IIT-G. Project closed

7 ElectronicStick for theVisuallyHandicap ped

Mayank Shekhar, Rajeev Verma,Ratul Ahuja and Anurag

An effective and easyto use electronic stick for the visually challenged. It helps to sense the moist oil or

One prototype developed and demonstrated at NIF and Blind People’s Association at Ahmedabad.

Rastogi stagnant water. It contains an anti-theft alarm also.

8 Power Saving Device

PrakashSuthar

Model of an electronic device to enable operation of multiple devices using the same power source.

Supported for prototyping.Two prototypes developed and evaluated at MNIT, Jaipur. The results showed no saving of power. Project closed.

9 ForageCutter

Karan Pal Vishwakarma

The innovator has developed a modified version of forage cutter using improved materials and bearings to reduce drudgery.

One prototype developed and tested by the innovator. Also displayed at someexhibitions and received encouraging response. Market survey conducted through a management student.

10 Seed cum Fertilizer Drill

HazarilalOjha

An apparatus that places the seeds uniformly and coversthem with soil and thereafter places fertilizer over it.

Promoted the technology in other states. Encouraging response has been received from Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka already.

11 Multi-cropThresher

Madanlal Kumawat

A thresher that couldbe used for threshing a number of crops. The advantage is that the grains are cleaner and the changeover from one crop to the other takes very little time.

Provided help in adding new features and bring out a lower cost model. The new model is ready. Extended some working capital support to tide over his immediate financial compulsions. Now, the unit is on its way to revival. The innovator has started a new workshop at Wardha in partnership with a local investor, on 50% share in profits in lieu of the technical know-how.

12 TrenchCuttingMachine

NathulalJangid and Radhey ShyamTailor

Cost-effective indigenous machine for trench cutting. It is tractor driven and ideally suited for laying cables and pipes.

Facilitating cash-credit facility through MVIF, market linkage and dissemination of this technology to scale up its operation. BSNL has shown interest in this innovation for trench cutting for fiberoptic cable laying. Market survey done through a student.

13 LPG- driven Pump RambilasSharma

LPG driven engine to run pumps and/or two wheelers

Extended financial and productDevelopment assistance to the innovator at the time of financial hardship. Market survey done through a student.

14 Tea Making Machine

AshokDhiman

An electric machine that makes Indian style boiled tea. It consists of timers that operate the number of motors, pumps and heater to get the desired output. The proportion of sugar, tea leaves, milk etc, can be controlled through a control panel.

Second improved prototype of the machine has been developed and demonstrated before an expert group. Electrical motors used reduced from 9in the first prototype to 6 and the function of two timers was integrated into one. Support has already been granted for this product under MVIF. An agreement has also been signed between GIAN North

and a Jaipur- based unit for the development of a prototype.

15 Remote Controlled Cracker Firing Device for Safety

Mr.BalramSingh Saini

Firecrackers can be ignited from a safe distance, away from the actual place of burning. Various types of prevailing crackers can be ignited using any standard TV remote control.

Two prototypes have been developed and, the second prototype has been demonstrated before an expert group. Based on its recommendations, another prototype is being developed. Support has already been granted for this product under MVIF. Firework dealers at Jaipur have also shown interest in procuring this product, once it is developed.

GIAN North East CellDuring the financial period 2003-04, a portfolio of technologies were undertaken for testing, product development, Intellectual property rights protection and business development. A significant attempt was made to explore the market potential of innovations from other regions in north eastern states to generate employment and augment livelihood options. Similarly, given the access to IIT Guwahati, testing of technologies from other regions was also facilitated.

Product DevelopmentTestingSome of the products that were on the testing phase during this period were (a) Power disc: Transfer of technology was achieved for the power disc innovated by a professional R.K. Debgupta after successful trials at IIT, Guwahati and Kirlosker Small Engines Division, Pune, (b) Two herbal products - Herbal Termite Control and Herbal Mosquito Repellent were developed by different girl students were sent for testing to Forest Reseach Institute, Dehradun, (c) Low Discharge Zero Energy Water Pump by Imli Toshi is being tested by GIAN-NE team, (d) Innovative fan blades were tested at Tezpur University and NAL, Bangalore and (e) Kerosene cum Water Stove by Rajeev Agarawal was tested at IIT, Guwahati.

PrototypingThe following technologies were supported for prototype development: (a) Manual wood cutting machine - Three different prototypes were developed and another model was sold to an interested customer; (b) Zero head water turbine by Nirpen Kalita - The prototype for this innovation has been made and successfully tested as a water pump. Theoretical research on its electric generation capacity was initiated, (c) L drop auto door protector by Govinda Gogoi; (d) Water filter by Imli Toshi, (e) Detachable Bicycle attachment and power tiller by Kanak Das; (f) Bicycle power disc by R K Debgupta and (g) Innovative arrangement of fan blades by Nipul and Bipul bezbora.

Business Development / Market SupportRice Pounding MachineWith the help of GIAN-NE, Bharali, a local innovator from N Lakhimpur has been able to sell more than 500 units of his rice-pounding machine within three months.

Automatic Flow ControlThis is an innovation by Stephen Sangluaia of Aizawl, Mizoram for automatic control of water flow in roof top water tanks. With the assistance of GIAN-NE, evaluation of the design and concept was undertaken. He was also linked up with an interested entrepreneur for the Mizoram market, and with CIPET for developing moulds for the plastic float component. However, the project had to be shelved since the innovator wanted the device to be patented but NIF could not do so as it was not patentable. Such an innovation by Mr. Manihar Sharma from Imphal, Manipur was already discovered and funded by DSIR under the TePP Scheme.

Shoe PolishThis is a novel formulation of a shoe polish by Stephen Sangluaia of Aizawl, Mizoram. During this period, an interested entrepreneur was linked up with the innovator. Further, preliminary work for market research by MBA students from Assam Institute of Management was done. However, the

project had to be shelved since the innovator refused to disclose the formulations due to his disappointment with not having been able to patent his earlier innovation.

Herbal Mosquito RepellentNegotiations were going on with two small players - one from Haryana and another from Erode, Tamil Nadu for supply of raw materials for the herbal mosquito repellent. Due to the limited capability of GIAN-NE to further refine the product, the negotiations have been dropped. Efforts to get help from formal institutes for improving product have not been successful so far.

Mosquito RepellentSamples for coils prepared with own expertise at GIAN-NE, were not found to be feasible. Research Centre for Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Nogaon was contacted for possible research on the plant, However, they have expressed their inability to conduct such verification and research activities. Letter of intent has been received from an entrepreneur, Mr Parag Mahanta, who is ready to take up the termite control.

Bamboo PenWith the assistance of GIAN-NE, a self-help group from Silchar, Assam, has managed to semi automate their production of writing pens from leftover bamboos. They have been selling well so far.

Technology TransferTechnology know how of the Power disc innovated by R K Debgupta has been transferred to a local entrepreneur Deepak Das of Guwahati.

AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE DEPUTY CHARITY COMMISSIONER, AHMEDABAD REGARDING AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS OF NATIONAL INNOVATION FOUNDATION-INDIA FOR THE PERIOD FROM 01-04-2003 TO 31-03-2004. Regn.No.F/7412/Ahmedabad 1. We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of NATIONAL INNOVATION

FOUNDATION as at 31st March, 2004 and the Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended on that date annexed thereto. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our responsibility is to express an Opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

2. We have conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in India. Those standards require that we plan the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statements presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

3. The Accounts are maintained regularly and in accordance with the provisions of the Act and

the rules. 4. Receipts and disbursements are properly and correctly shown in the accounts. 5. The cash balance and vouchers in the custody of the Trustee on the date of the audit are in

the agreement with the accounts. 6. Books, Deeds, Accounts, vouchers and other documents and records required by us were

produced before us. 7. An inventory, certified by the Trustee of the moveable of the trust has been maintained. 8. The Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Sanjeev Saxena appeared before us and furnished the

necessary information required by us.

9. No property or funds of the trust were applied for any object or purpose other than the objects or purpose of trust.

10. The amounts outstanding for more than one year are Rs. 54,000/- and Rs. NIL is written off

during the year.

11. Repairs or construction work involving expenditure exceeding Rs.5000/- was not undertaken during the year.

12. No money of the public trust has been invested contrary to the provision of Section 35 of the

Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. 13. The trust has no immovable property. 14. No special matter is to be reported. For S. J. Pathak & Co. Chartered Accountants Place : Ahmedabad S. J. Pathak Date : 14-08-2004 Partner

National Innovation Foundation- India

Schedule -1 Other Fixed Assests 2003-2004

Particulars

Opening Additions/ Closing Balance as Deductions Balance as

on during the on01-04-2003 year 31-03-2004

Furniture & Fixtures 502745 162982 665727

Computers 1878167 524600 2402767

Fax Machine 29232 - 29232

Refrigerator 8510 - 8510

EPABX System 51908 0 51908

Xerox Machine 326402 - 326402

Fire Extinguisher 9405 - 9405

Telephone Instrument 70933 23200 94133

Equipment (Camera) 10790 108980 119770

Equipments 11500 66315 77815

Software 115544 126429 241973

Electrical Installation 11710 - 11710

       

Total 3026846 1012506 4039352

CAPITAL EXPENSES NATP RS. Computer 206079.00 Printer 122400.00 Video Camera 47800.00 Still Camera 32590.00 Tape Recorder 24425.00Total 433294.00

National Innovation Foundation- India

Schedule- 2 Other Advances 2003-2004

Sr. No. Particulars Rs.

1 Cricket Club of India – Mumbai 0

2 CB Vijaya Vittala 0

3 National Physical Laboratory 0

4 Mr. N.M. Sampathkumar 0

5 Gujarat Techno. 0

6 Net 4 India Ltd. 0

  Total 0

National Innovation Foundation- India

Schedule- 3 2003-2004

INNOVATION PROMOTION EXPENSES RS. RS.A. General     a. Stationery & Printing Expenses 385642.00   b. Conveyance Expenses 55674.00   c. Xerox & Typing 196520.00   d. Telephone Expenses 144189.00   e. Postage Expenses 161491.00 943516.00

B. Administrative expenses      a. Bank Charges  5997.67   b. Legal and Professional Expenses 7250.00   c. Advertisement Expenses 42027.00   d. Office expense  43878.00   e. Travelling Expenses & Conveyance 228153.00   f. Communication Charges 112943.00   g Repairs and Maintainance 96989.00   h. Books & Subscription   1545.00   i. Rent expense  355700.00   j. Insurance Premium  14284.00   k. Electricity exp. 153482.00   l Audit Fees  10800.00   m. Salary 463855.00   n. Recruitment Exp.  387703.00   o. Books and Periodical Exp 0.00   p. Meeting Exp.  1214318.00   q. Data Entry Charges  0.00   r. Consultancy Charges   85000.00   s. Staff Refreshment Charges 11182.00   t. Security Exp 0.00 3235106.67

   

C. NATP     a. Documentation & Background Research 43448.00   b. HR for Scouting 89854.00   c. Building Linkages 56113.00   d. Dissemission & Awareness Creation 30300.00   e. Stationery 132686.00   f. T. A  44229.00   g. Workshop   100000.00   h. Contructual Services  48903.00   I. Grant  37000.00 582533.00

D. Information Technology     a. Database 615047.00   b. Computer Maintanance & Upgradation 216369.00   c. Internet   102903.00   d. Network Server 112998.00   e Website/ Web Hosting .  334956.00   f. Exhibition/Seminar/Workshop 160952.00   g. Communication   15193.00   h. Travel   20015.00   I . Salary   362281.00   j. Computer Consumables  148458.00   k. Tranning  105960.00   l. Consultansy Charges 22000.00 2217132.00

E. Grants giveto Grant       GIAN WEST  119102.00   GIAN NE  1526000.00    GIAN NORTH  1309200.00 2954302.00

  F. Business Development Activity     a. Salary 352133.00   b. Grant 2000.00   c. Exhibition/Workshop & Commpetition Exp. 138660.00   d. Communication  54716.00   e. Travel exp.  1003003.00   f. Training   110138.00 1660650.00

    G. IPR Activities      a. Patent/ Trade Mark 78017.00   b. IPR Awareness  14156.00   c. Travel  39756.00   d. Communication 9193.00   e. Salary & Fellowship  1308438.00   f. Training 23935.00   g. Books & other Material 16796.00 1490291.00

       H. Scouting & Documentation     a. Salary 690217.00   b. Grant  1190673.00   c. Travel  203556.00   d. Communication  41290.00   e. Stationery & Printing  2929.00   f. Workshop/Seminar/Exhibition   284649.00   g. Videography & Photography 5302.00   h. Books Magazine & Membership 463416.00   I. Consultancy Charges 164667.00 3046699.00       I. VARD Activities     a. Salary  252339.00   b. Grant  1000.00   c. Exhibition/Workshop/Seminar 2500.00   d. Stationery & Printing  1200.00   e. Communication  4782.00   f. Travel  7511.00   g. Training  23112.00   h. Consultancy Charges  32996.00   I. Awareness  14156.00 339596.00

J. AWARD Function Expenses      a. Prizes  1500.00   b. Food & Accommodation   30100.00   c. Travel  41404.00   d. Stationery & Printing  123000.00   e. Exhibition & Other Expenses  10378.00 206382.00

Total 16676207.67