Annual Report 1999-2000

Autonomous Institutions

Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC)

The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) is a registered society under Department of Science & Technology. The main objectives of TIFAC include generation of Technology Forecasting/Technology Assessment/ Techno Market Survey documents, developing on-line nationally accessible information system, promotion of technologies and evolving suitable mechanism for testing of technology and enabling technology transfer as well as commercialisation. TIFAC has so far produced more than 200 reports including the 25 document series on Technology Vision up to 2020 and 16 document series on S&T in different sectors.

Three major Technology Missions are being implemented by TIFAC in addition to promotion of about 50 Home Grown Technologies.

Technology Forecasting (TF), Technology Assessment (TA) and Techno Market Survey (TMS) Studies

After covering all the major sectors, which are of relevance to Indian in the earlier TMS Reports at aggregate levels, the current series of TMS Reports have a narrower and sharper focus. The new focus is on specific products, processes, and their applications and related services.The aim is to target technology linked business opportunities for products, processes etc. for which earlier TMS Reports projected very high demand.

In this series, three new studies had been commissioned, namely, 1) " Technology for production of lactic acid, itaconic acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, and L-Lysine from molasses", 2) "Nicotine and it's derivatives from tobacco waste", and 3) "Bauxite benefaction for removal of iron oxide " during the year 1998-99 and are being pursued.

• Reports Finalised

1.Reports Finalised

Four study reports which were commissioned in 97-98, have been have been finalised in the areas of :

• Systems Approach for Utilisation of Gypsum-Mineral Resource(TMS-149)
  
• Solid Waste generation and utilisation in Calcareous Stone Industry.(TMS-151)
  
• Geothermal Energy - An alternative source of energy. (TMS-153)
  
• Traffic Management: Streamlining Technologies.(TMS-154)
  

Studies under finalisation

Draft reports of five studies commissioned during previous year have been received. The reports have been examined and are under finalisation.

• Waste Utilisation from Construction Industry.
  
• Industrial Pumps and Motor Systems.
  

Non Conventional Fertilisers and Conditioners to enhance Agricultural Productivity.

4. Multimodal Transport System for Northeast Region.

5. Technology for production of lactic acid, itaconic acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, and L-Lysine from molasses.

During the year (99-2000) four studies have been commissioned in the areas of :

• Technologies for agricultural application of glauconite – a potash mineral
  
• Technologies for utilisation of low grade phosphate as fertiliser
  
• Utilization Of slaughterhouse Waste Material for the Preparation of Animal Feed.
  
• Recovery of Potassium fertiliser salts from sea bittern.
  

CD-ROMs of TIFAC Reports

In keeping with the technologies of the information age, TIFAC has taken up the task of putting its wealth of more than 200 informative reports (Techno-Market surveys, TF/ TA, Vision 2020, Industrial Safety, Comprehensive picture of Science & Technology reports) in an electronic form and making them available on interactive sector wise CD-ROMs. The CDs are designed to have good interactive features, user friendly navigation, fast access to information, a powerful search mechanism, on line help, flexible switching between screens and a printing facility for reports. For industries these TIFAC CDs give competitive technologies and business opportunities, for R&D Institutions they give the areas of great demand and for the Strategic Planners they provide a roadmap. The work has begun for the production of two CDs viz. Food & Agriculture CD and Health CD initially and their prototypes have been completed and these two CDs are undergoing final testing.

Technology Information Services

The TIFACLINE Services has been reviewed in the context of Data Information Service available on INTERNET and it has been decided to provide technological services concentrating on customer services rather than database generation. Seventy queries has been serviced since April’99 to November 1999.

TIFAC Library

To facilitate and foster the flow of scientific and technical information through the formal channel, TIFAC Library continued to support the enhanced requirement of scientists and users. During the period 95 books and reports have been procured raising the holdings of TIFAC Library to 1648 upto November 1999. In addition, 56 journals including specialised serials have been subscribed.

TIFAC News

With a view to disseminate information on the various activities of TIFAC, three issues of newsletter have been broughtout. The circulation of the newsletter is about 5000 amongst R&D institutions, academic and industrial sectors.

• Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC)

The PFC continued its efforts towards meeting its objectives and the achievements during the period are given below.

IPR Bulletin

Seven issues were brought our till November 30, 1999. These bulletins interalia covered WTO’s third Ministerial Conference, patent laws of Norway, litigation in patents, different case laws, Indian universities in patent filings, patenting of display devices and few case studies based on patents awarded in different areas. A case study based on US patent granted to an anti-diabetic herbal drug based on karela, jamun and brinjal was published in the bulletin. This attracted a lot of media attention and public interest and resulted in healthy debates at various forums.

Patent Awareness Workshops

Conducted nine (9) IPR/patent workshops during the period through which more than 900 scientists and technologists were sensitised. The workshops were held at the following places:

• Council of Science & Technology, U. P., Lucknow , May 3, 99
• ISRO (SAC), Ahmedabad, July 20, 99.
• GB Pant University of Agriculture & Tech., Pantnagar, July 28, 99
• Assam Science, Tech & Environment Council, Guwahati Guwahati, Sept 15, 99
• Meghalaya Council for Science, Technology, Environment, Shillong, Sept. 16, 99
• Regional Engineering College , Kurukshetra, Oct 9, 99
• Thapar Centre for Industrial Research & Development, Patiala, Nov. 9, 1999.
• Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, November 29, 1999
• A.P.S. University, Rewa, December 4, 1999.

Patenting/IPR Protection Activity

Facilitated filing of 19 patent applications during the period, to make the total filings to 71 patent applications, including 20 applications filed abroad and one Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) application. Out of these, one patent has been granted in Sri Lanka. Six applications for registering designs of a gas stove developed for the blind were also filed.

Patent Searches

PFC has provided patent search services to a large number of users from university, R&D institutions, government departments and private industry ever since the activity was started in the middle of 1996. The search services were extended to about 60 universities, research institutions, industry, etc. Some of these are Saurashtra University (Rajkot), Jadavapur University, Berhampur University (Berhampur), Maulana Azad College of Technology (Bhopal), North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (Itanagar), Central Pulp & Paper Institute (Shaharanpur), Kerala Minerals & Metals Ltd (Kollam), Vam Organics (New Delhi), Bharat Biotech Services (Hyderabad) and Daurala Organics Ltd (New Delhi) .

Hardware other facilities for patent search

CD-ROM databases for bibliographic/abstract searches on patents issued by US Patent Office, European patent Office and the PCT applications were updated. A new system with advanced features and a scanner were installed for scanning, Internet searches and patent searches. Internet was extensively used for conducting searches and obtain information on patents granted published in other countries, details of the International Deposit Authorities (IDAs) under the Budapest Treaty, details from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and the likes.

Ekaswa-A and Ekaswa-B databases

The CD-ROMs launched in 1998 has generated a good amount of response from the industry. Each CD has been priced nominally at Rs. 500/-. The data is being updated every quarter. 90 clients, including 60 annual members have subscribed the CDs. A revenue of 3.31 lakh was generated from the activity during the period September ‘98 to November ‘99.

Special Reports / Publications

The PFC has been bringing special reports and publications for awareness, for showing how patent information could be used for technology forecasting and R&D decisions, licensing of patents etc. Special studies and reports were generated by the PFC. Last year, the Ministry of Environment & Forests had awarded a study on "Patenting in Micro-organism" to PFC and had provided partial funds for the same. The report was completed and submitted to ME&F and other concerned departments and ministries in August ‘99. Extensive studies and analyses of patent laws in other countries in respect of micro-organism, some 10,000 patents granted in US and Europe, & response sent by 23 countries to a structured questionnaire were made. The report has four volumes namely, executive summary, Patent Laws & Practices, Deposit Mechanisms & Examination Standards and Case Studies.

Counseling and advisory role

PFC has become a referral point for industry, universities, government agencies, NGOs, foreign embassies and individual scientists, innovators and consultants, for information and advice on IPR related matters, especially upto date patent information. In the process, PFC was instrumental in generating critical inputs including conceptual framework, actual patent data, analysis, etc., for decision making, policy formulation and future planning at the national level in the area of IPR and related matters. Many of the government agencies namely DAE, ISRO, ICAR, ICMR and BHEL approached PFC for specific inputs and organised patent awareness workshops with technical support of the PFC.

Role of a watchdog

A US patent granted to an anti-diabetic herbal drug based on karela, jamun and brinjal was brought to the public notice by the PFC. This attracted a lot of media attention and public interest and resulted in healthy debates at various forums. A patent accepted by the Indian patent office related to communication satellite was opposed successfully by the ISRO. The ISRO identified the application from the data provided in the IPR bulletin.

• Special Initiatives

Strategy Paper on Non-Ferrous Metals: TIFAC-Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) Joint project

TIFAC & IIM have to prepare ten techno-commercial reports on all-important Non-ferrous metals. So far, four reports (Aluminum, Copper, Magnesium, Titanium) have been released. The reports on Niobium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Rare Earths etc are likely to be completed by March’2000.

Surface Engineering

As a result of initiatives taken by TIFAC earlier in the field of Surface Engineering, several industries have taken lead in setting up new projects like development of Diamond- like coatings using PVD, coating by D-Gun, Titanium Nitride coating by PVD, Plasma coating of Ceramics on Hydro- turbine components. These projects have been funded under various mechanisms of TIFAC, DST etc. User awareness and propagation of knowledge on this emerging area is being continued by TIFAC through lectures, articles (a cover story was published on this technology in MM-The Industry Magazine this year).

Special Initiatives on Materials: Steel

Major initiatives taken on Steel sector by TIFAC earlier have led to formulation of a large number of R&D projects, which are now being considered by Ministry of Steel for funding. TIFAC is a member of the Evaluation Group set up to review and recommend proposals. During the past one year, this group has reviewed around 48 proposals, related to emerging technologies in the Iron and Steel sector. Out of these, the Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Steel has approved 20 proposals (Total value: Rs.149 crore, out of which Steel Development fund contribution is Rs. 79 crore).

Interaction with International agencies

TIFAC as a nodal agency for S&T cooperation with ASEAN countries, participated in the third ASEAN-India Working Group meeting on 26 & 27th August 1999 at Jakarta, Indonesia. TIFAC also participated in the second, ASEAN-India Working Group meeting on Science & Technology (WGST) which was held at Singapore on 25-26 October 1999. An eight-member delegation of scientists from India attended the meeting.

Fuel Pellets from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

This is a DST-CMC Technology executed by TIFAC through Andhra Pradesh Technology Development & Promotion Center (APTDC), a joint project of TIFAC, CII & Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. One technology project for manufacturing Fuel Pellets from MSW has been executed at Gundumguda; Hyderabad in Phase I. This plant is under commissioning/trial stage. In Phase II an electrical power generation plant using the Fuel Pellets would be commissioned. The plant will process about 1000 Tons Per Day (TPD) of MSW with a yield of about 200 TPD of Fuel Pellets which in turn would generate about 8 MW of electricity in Phase II. The Fuel Pellets also known as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) having a calorific value of about 3500 Kcal/kg, could be used to generate steam for use in Industrial boiler as well as to generate electricity. A number of Indian and Foreign companies have shown interests in this technology. Recently one request about this technology has been received from one Sri Lankan Company.

Hydrogen Technology Cell

A Hydrogen Technology Cell (HTC) of TIFAC has been approved with an objective to make a special initiative to embark on a series of studies and technology developmental pursuits for ushering in Hydrogen economy in the country on a programmatic approach. Developing information up dates, creating knowledge networks, building up local capacity for technology and human resources development, facilitation of resources development and innovative financing of new technologies and organizing regular awareness programmes are some of the immediate activities taken up by the HTC of TIFAC to make a beginning and gain a foot hold in opening up an environmental friendly era in the next millennium.

Energy Tower Project

This Eco-friendly concept of generating clean electrical energy from the atmospheric wind by artificially manipulating its humidity and thermal gradients is relatively a new concept. The principal concept is to cool the hot and dry air of desert by a fine spray of water within a tall and large diameter shaft where the higher density cooled downward air flow reaches high velocity and actuates turbine to generate electricity. TIFAC is studying the project with an experienced international group of technology.

Government / Industry Cooperation in Cartography

The Special Core Group constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary DST and Director (NATMO) as Member Secretary in March 1997 has submitted its report on "Government-Industry Cooperation in Cartography". The report gives an account of the Indian cartography in last fifty years, the current status of cartography in government sector and the industry, the technological scenario, Indo-foreign co-operation, strengths and weaknesses in government and industry.

The report also includes several recommendations for improved cooperation between government and industry.

Assessment of Innovation Potential of Students Practical Projects from Professional Colleges

TIFAC has signed a MoU with Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), New Delhi for carrying out a Pilot Study and collection of data on students projects. The study, which is to cover professional Engineering colleges, has already started and data on student’s projects is being collated by INAE to assess their innovation potential. These reports are to be circulated by INAE to select industries and research laboratories.

Interactive S&T promotion

In order to promote Science & Technology awareness in schools and colleges, along with IT based learning at homes, schools and colleges, TIFAC and Vigyan Prasar have taken up a joint project to develop an IT based model. The model uses CHOIS Server technology developed by M/s Innomedia Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore.

The CHOIS Server is placed at the cable head-end and allows distribution of interactive TV services over the Cable TV Network. This project proposes to extend the CHOIS Server for the educational needs and S&T promotional activities. The project has already begun with one server and the initial phase of building a replication model for this technology is being experimented with one school.

• Technology Vision for India upto 2020: Follow-up Action teams

There are a number of actions taking place independently including by some states towards follow up of recommendations of Technology Vision 2020. Some of the special items taken up by TIFAC are maturing into actions. The progress in brief of respective action teams is reported below:

Agriculture & Agromachinery

Bihar Project

A detailed study on benchmark Survey for the project "A Systems approach to agricultural production for increasing production in low productivity regions" was carried out. The work included identification of villages, soil testing and analysis, water management plans and strategies. Based on the benchmark survey study the detailed project was formulated during the previous year and has been approved during the year. The project envisages interalia, demonstration trial in Son Commands Complex, Patna district, Bihar. The results indicate increase in productivity by around 285% in selected demonstration area for Paddy.

Orissa Project

A detailed study on BenchMark Survey for the project "Science & Technology Experimental Project in Orissa for Agricultural Development as well as Village Sustainability" was carried out. Based on the Bench Mark Survey, a detailed project report has been formulated. The project envisages development in three phases – phase 1 being Water Resource Development Plan, phase 2 identifies cropping pattern and farming of different varieties of produce including training to farmers and phase 3 describes introduction and choice of tiny industries. Priority-1 (Phase-1) of the project, water resource development plan has been undertaken.

Agro Food Processing

Milk Sector

The Project "Improvement in Milk Quality & Yield through better Farm Management" has been approved during the year. The project envisages better farm management practices, use of milking machines, use of bulk coolers and training of extension officers and farmers.

Fruits and Vegetables

The project on "Mango Juice Preparation" and "Banana Juice Preparation" are being pursued.

Cereals

The projects on "Modernisation of Rice Milling Industries" and "Modernisation of Wheat Milling Industries" are being discussed with industries for preparation of detailed project reports.

Road Transportation

Based on the discussions with CRRI and Ministry of Surface Transport the following two projects have been considered for preparation of detailed project reports.

1. Performance based pavement designs & specifications.
2. Drainage road structure using geo-textiles

Electric Power

The action team identified the following two projects on priority basis

• Static Compensator (STATCOM)
  
• Phase Shifting Transformer (PST)
  

The projects are under consideration for approval and to be implemented by BHEL.
Advanced Sensors/Strategic Industries

ISRO is consolidating the various works done in the area. Mature technologies are being identified for development.

State of Uttar Pradesh

On the request of Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, and interaction with these officials, a concept & approach paper on ‘Technology Vision 2020 for the State of Uttar Pradesh’ in 8 core strength areas of U.P. This will be discussed for further follow-up.

• Integration of Computational Facility for Scientific Research-High Performance Computing Facility (ICOSER)

ICOSER project aims at development of high performance computing facilities in some of the research and engineering institutions in the country and networking these institutions.

Networking and Utilisation of computers in the 7 level-III centres namely IACS Calcutta, IIT-Guwahati, IOP Bhubaneshwar, IIT-Madras, Cochin University, IIT-Mumbai and Panajan University-Chandigarh have been developed.

Initiation of the establishment of 5 level-II centres will be done.

• HGT Programme

The Home Grown Technology (HGT) programme is a major mechanism of TIFAC for supporting the commercialization of technologies developed by indigenous R&D. HGT programme assists to reach technologies from a bench scale level to pilot scale or semi-commercial level. HGT has been organising workshops in association with industry bodies and other funding agencies on a quarterly basis to forward the dialogue between industry and technology developers.

During the year 20 new projects have been funded by TIFAC and two technologies were commercialised. They are "Rapid Diagnostic Kits for poultry and veterinary diseases" and "Synthetic substitute for Kerosene in pigment printing". The license for commercializing the diagnostic kit has been given to M/s Hoechst Rousell Vet Pvt. Ltd., Pune. The technology was released at a function held on the "Technology Day" (May 11th, 1999) and the Honorable Minister for HRD and S&T, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi received a cheque of Rs.50 lakh on behalf of TIFAC.

BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune developed this reliable, sensitive ‘farmer-friendly’ kit which can help farmers in diagnosing IBD disease in the poultry and Brucella in the cattle. The kit is based on ELISA technique and is small in the size. Using the kit farmers can easily diagnose these diseases and corrective measures can be taken in time.

Four Technology Business Meets were held in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ludhiana & Kanpur. These were organised jointly by TIFAC, TDB, CII and SIDBI Venture Capital Division.

TIFAC also actively participates in the Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP) which has been initiated as a joint venture between PATSER of DSIR and TIFAC, to promote the individual innovators and inventors in the country. So far five projects under this programme have been supported by TIFAC.