National Technology Day celebrates technologies offering solutions for citizens
The National Technology Day celebrations highlighted a surge in entrepreneurship spirit to develop cost effective indigenous technologies that offered solutions necessary in Indian context.
Awards are given to several innovators and entrepreneurs on this day every year. The day is a significant milestone in the history of India’s technological innovations as India successfully tested nuclear bombs in Pokhran on May 11, 1998 and is commemorated every year by honouring the architects of such innovations.
The focus this year was ‘Commercialising Indigenous Technologies: Journey from Benchside to Business Programme’ and dignitaries suggested ways to take this forward.
While felicitating the innovators with the awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind emphasized on the common attributes of the technologies awarded. “First, they offer solutions that are necessary in the Indian context, and contribute to the social and economic needs of our people. Second, they achieve all this at competitive prices. Third, and this to my mind is the most critical, they don’t compromise on quality,” he said.
Tracing India’s evolution in the arena of technologies Hon’ble President said that after Independence, India began to climb the value chain in technology and knowledge production in the areas of space and atomic energy and later expanded to best-in-class capacities in communication technology, IT, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. This he said has changed perceptions about the country and helped both its people and economy.
“National Technology Day is much more than the anniversary of a historical event. Like technology itself, it is a pathway to the future. Today we celebrate the achievements of some of our best scientists and innovators, and their success in shaping technology into usable, commercial products and processes that change the lives of people.”
He also stressed on India’s graduation from a centre of jugaad – small, incremental change or essentially a cut-and-paste approach to technology to one that is proud of its frugal and low-cost innovations.
The Hon’ble President also stressed on integration of gender equity with technology production and technology sharing so that more of the daughters of the country can enter the technology and innovation space.
The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan while complimenting Indian Scientists for their efforts emphasized on a renewed pledge of empowering people with inclusive technology. He said that Vigyan provides muscle to Jawans & Kishans and Ministry is taking several initiates to strengthen that.
Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology pointed out that new programmes taken by the Ministry had resulted in a surge in entrepreneurship.
“Among the award winners are some of the brightest mind of the country who are working on challenges that the people of the nation are facing. India's several missions offer opportunities for creation a seamless innovation ecosystem and several schemes of the Ministry are creating a robust innovation ecosystem,” he added.
Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, stressed on the vibrant innovation ecosystem that the country has developed and added India is now a much sought after partner in innovative technologies at the international level. The mantra of social innovations promoted by the office of Hon'ble President of India has encouraged entrepreneurs to work on technologies that benefit the people.
National Awards (Rs. 10 lakh and a trophy each) instituted by the Technology Development Board are presented to industrial concerns that display excellence in commercializing indigenous technologies by the Hon’ble President in three categories.
The categories and the awards include –
Category A - For successful commercialization of indigenous technology
M/s Agappe Diagnostics Ltd, Erankulam, Kerala for Mispa 13, an automated cartridge-based protein analyzer;
M/s Bharat Biotech International Ltd, Hyderabad, for Rotavirus vaccine - ROTAVAC.
Category B - For successful technology commercialization by MSME
M/s Synkromax Biotech Pvt Ltd, Chennai for Synkroscaff, a bovine scaffold for tissue engineering;
M/s ANTS Ceramics Pvt Ltd, Vasai East, Maharashtra for high-end Zirconia ceramic products and carbon sulphur analysis crucible;
M/s 3B Blackbio Biotech India Limited, Bhopal for TRUPCR: a two-step realtime BCR ABL 1 quantitative kit for detection of BCR-ABL 1 fusion transcripts in bone marrow, or peripheral blood samples.
M/s Envision Scientific Privated Limited, Surat, for Albuminus DES +, a drug eluting stent for diabetic patients; and
M/s Hind High Vacuum Company Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, for 3-layer metallization on alumina substrate.
Category C - For Technology Start-up
M/s Astrome Technologies Pvt Ltd, SID, IISC, Bengaluru, for GigaMesh, a wireless communication solution;
M/s CyCa Onco Solutions Pvt Ltd, KIIT, TBI, Bhubaneshwar, for CyPlatin and CyGlo for delivery of anti-cancer drug cisplatin.
M/s Xcellence in Bio Innovation and Technologies (xBITS) Pvt Ltd, Jodhpur, for RightBiotic, a point-of-care device for testing the antibiotic sensitivity.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan also launched three initiatives to mark the celebrations. The initiatives include – (i) Commercial launch of an electric charger- Lithium Ion Battery Chargers- developed by Ampere vehicles Pvt. Ltd (AMPVL) by support of Technology Development Board. (ii) Launch of the India, Science, Technology and Innovation web portal, which will have a 360° connect to all the activities of human resources, institutions, students, industry, public and private sector and all the other stakeholders of science and technology ecosystem. The third initiative is a web portal of Survey of India that allows the sharing of the digital map to every citizen of the country, to enable decision making for planning, development and governance.
