A motivated strategic drive coupled with dedication has resulted in National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) registering an enhanced surplus before tax of Rs.61.59 lakhs in 2007-08 as compared to Rs. 33.76 lakhs in 2006-07. The Corporation’s income from its principal sources of revenue i.e. lump sum premium and royalty on the licensing of indigenous technologies to industry in 2007-08 was Rs. 419.28 lakhs as compared to Rs. 412.37 lakhs in 2006-07.

The Department of Public Enterprises has given an ‘Excellent’ rating to the Corporation for its MOU performance during the last three years (i.e. 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08). The Corporation continued its efforts to widen its technology resource base by nurturing long-term relationships with R&D Organisations as well as universities, technical institutes, industries and individual inventors. In this endeavour the Corporation signed Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Agreements with Punjabi University, Patiala, PSG College, Coimbatore, IVRI, Izatnagar and Y.S. Parmar University, Nauni for assignment of technologies developed by them.

During the year 2007-08 the 58 new processes were assigned to the Corporation as compared to 39 processes in previous year. Some of the commercially important processes acquired during the year were Ayush AG Tablet, A Process for Preparation of Wheat Based Choclate Bar, Thermo Chemical Processing of China Clay, Fresh Spices Processing, Eco Friendly Process for Manufacture of High Grade Synthetic Rutile, Non-Conventional Driers for Drying Agro Products, Papaya Powder, Development of Probiotic Fermented Indigenous Food, B-Carotene & Iron Rich Biscuits and Shakarpara, Hydrogel, Nemagel. These processes have considerable potential for marketing and licensing to industry both at home and abroad.

The Corporation signed 41 licence agreements with industry during the year. Some of the major technologies licensed by the Corporation during the year were: FMD Vaccine, Acido Whey, Aonla Pricking Machine,Test kit fir Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water, Morizyme-b, Hydrogel, High Pressure Sericulture Sprayer, Seri Humidifier-cum-Heater, Medicine Kit Containing 17 Formulation, Mosquito larvicide formulation of Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT). Substantial royalties are expected from these processes in the coming years.

The Corporation had initiated developing Basic Engineering Design Packages (BEDP) for up-scaling the lab scale technologies. During the year, BEDP were developed for Goat Pox Vaccine, Herbal Lipstick, Re-refining of used Engine Oil, Long Shelf Life Paneer, Mozarella Cheese, Low Cholestrol Ghee.

Apart from transfer of eco-friendly technologies to the industry, vigorous efforts have been made to meet the Social Responsibility of the Corporation. With a view to take a step in this direction, the corporation initiated Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme with the objective to empower women by improving their economic status and bringing them into the mainstream of development and also various programmes in the North East region.

NRDC is a public sector Enterprise of the Department of Scientific Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, company wholly dedicated to developing, licensing and commercialisation of indigenous technologies. Its basic charter involves technical, commercial and financial measures needed for closing gaps in the ‘innovation chain’ through which an idea, invention or process is converted into a product in the market.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : February 11, 2009