Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network - North ( GIAN-North ) came into existence on January 18, 2003 as an autonomous body by the joint initiative of Government of Rajasthan and National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad (NIF). It is registered as a society under Society's Act 1958 under the chairmanship of Sh. Inderjit Khanna, Retd. IAS, ( Former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan ). Its governing board comprises of senior government officials many at secretary level, academicians, Entrepreneur, Innovator, NGO and member from NIF. The area of operation is the states of Northern India i.e., States of Rajasthan, Punjab , Haryana, Uttrakhand, NCT of Delhi and UT of Chandigarh. The financial support is provided by NIF and a corpus contribution of Rs. 50 lacs by the government of Rajasthan along with infrastructure support through state DST.
The very purpose was to strengthen the initiatives of NIF at regional level in a result oriented manner to help support the innovations/ innovators at grassroots. This is done by providing handholding support to the rural innovators and links them to the formal systems of technical, financial and marketing services such that a viable business model could be developed out of the rural innovation. In the GIAN model, emphasis is on a resource in which economically poor people are rich that is their knowledge, innovations or practices. GIAN tries to add value to this knowledge and facilitate the commercial and non-commercial diffusion. This generates rewards for the innovators and more efficient green choices for the consumers and people struggling with same or similar problems.
The mandate of GIAN (North) is to link grassroots innovation with enterprise development which includes:-
1. Incubation (Idea to product/practice)
2. Product development (development of product prototype)
3. Intellectual Property Protection (patenting, trademarks)
4. Market Research and Venture Promotion (Project Planning, Technology transfer, commercial launch, pilot and Commercial scale Production, distribution and vendor development and dissemination of information)
5. Cross-regional technology diffusion/ replication/ transfer.
The Augmentation activities are now supported through the Micro Venture Innovation Fund provided to NIF by SIDBI. HDFC has also come forward and provided a fund to GIAN-N for supporting such innovations.
National Innovation Foundation (NIF) is the apex body established in March 2000 as an autonomous society with a corpus fund from the Department of Science and Technology, GOI and institutional support from IIM Ahmedabad. The Finance Minister in his budget speech of 1999 had announced the establishment of NIF. The objective of NIF is to unleash the true potential of innovators and traditional knowledge experts at grassroots who are economically poor but knowledge rich, who could neither, have privilege of formal education nor could mobilize any support required in augmenting their knowledge from organized sector. NIF helps such grassroots innovators by recognizing, respecting and rewarding their creativity. NIF scouts their innovations; helps them in nurturing them and finally scaling them up in the form of commercial enterprises. NIF honours innovators and traditional knowledge experts through a competition.
DR. R.A. Mashelkar, Ex-Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the Chairperson of NIF and Prof Anil Gupta of IIM, Ahmedabad who has been instrumental in the whole initiative is its Executive Vice Chairperson.| Patents Applications on Innovations from Northern India |
| SN | Comp | Innovation & Innovator | Country | Law Firm | Status | Application No. |
| 1. | First | Improved Multicrop Thresher.Madanlal Kumawat | India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi | Granted | Patent No. Awaited A.N.1273/DEL/2002 F.D.17/12/2002 |
| 2. | Second | Pathfinding Android.Prem Singh Saini | India | Anand &Anand, New Delhi | Abandoned | 40/DEL/2003 15-01-2003 |
| 3. | First | Moped LPG Kit.Ram Kumar | India | Anand &Anand, New Delhi | Appl put in order for grant | 978/DEL/2003 8-8-2003 |
| 4. | First | Power saving PumpRam Naresh Yadav | India | Subramaniam, Natrajan & Associates, New Delhi | FER Filed | A.N.354/MUM/2003 F.D. 10/4/2003 |
| 5. | Second | Process - Medicine for Kidney-stone Ramesh Kumar Nehra | India | Surana & Surana, Chennai | Abandoned | 693/DEL/2003 25-04-2003 |
| 6. | Second | Tooth extraction MachineDr. Rahul Bihari | India | Surana & Surana, Chennai | Allowed to lapse | F.D.16-01-2003 |
| 7. | Second | Tribulus terrestris as antitubercular Todaram Dammiwal |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
Withdrawn | A.N.1026/Del/2006 F.D. 20/04/2006 |
| 8. | Third | Tile Making MachineSukhranjan Mistri | India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi | Examination Report Awaited | 995/Del/2004 31/05/2004 |
| 9. | Third | Tea Making MachineAshok Kumar Dhiman | India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi | Examination Report Awaited | 994/Del/2004 31/05/2004 |
| 10. | Third | A Nuts Digger cum Separator Device.Mohd. Yusuf Khan | India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi | Appl put in order for grant | A.N.1806/Del/2004 F.D. 23/09/2004 |
| 11. | Third | Multipurpose BicycleMohd. Kamaruddin | India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi | CS Filed | A.N.1255/Del/2003 F.D.13/10/2003 |
| 12. | Fourth | Mobile Operated Switch for Irrigation SystemPrem Singh Saini | India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi | CS Filed | 618/DEL/2006 08.03.2006 |
| 13. | Fourth | Tea Boiler Saini Premsingh Bakhtavarsingh |
India | Y.J.Trividi & Co. A'bad |
CS Filed | A.N.1866/DEL/2006 F.D. 21.08.2006 |
| 14. | Fourth | Heartbeat amplifier Saini Premsingh Bakhtavarsingh |
India | Y.J.Trividi & Co. A'bad |
CS Filed | A.N.1868/DEL/2006 F.D. 21.08.2006 |
| 15. | Fourth | Water Level Indicator Saini Premsingh Bakhtavarsingh |
India | Y.J.Trividi & Co. A'bad |
Withdrawn | A.N.1867/DEL/2006 F.D. 21.08.2006 |
| 16. | Fifth | Walnut Cracker Mustaq Ahmed |
India | Anand & Anand New Delhi. |
CS Filed | 2347/DEL/2006 F.D. 27/10/2006 |
| 17. | Fourth | Five Wheeled Car Mr. Manoj and Mr. Harimohan Saini |
India | Anand & Anand , New Delhi |
CS Filed | 2136/DEL/2006 F.D. 27/09/2006 |
| 18. | Fifth | Talking Poster Saini Premsingh Bakhtavarsingh |
India | Y.J.Trividi & Co. A'bad |
CS Filed | 2448/DEL/2006 F.D. 10/11/2006 |
| 19. | Fifth | Phone Operated vehicle security device Saini Premsingh Bakhtavarsingh |
India | Y.J.Trividi & Co. A'bad |
Withdrawn | 2449/DEL/2006 F.D. 10/11/2006 |
| 20. | Fifth | Phone operated high power III phase AC line switch Saini Premsingh Bakhtavarsingh |
India | Y.J.Trividi & Co. A'bad |
Withdrawn | 2447/DEL/2006 F.D. 10/11/2006 |
| 21. | Fourth | Multi-utility herbal formulation for farming Ishwar Singh Kundu |
India | Y. J. Trivedi & A'bad |
CS Filed | 1104/DEL/2007 F.D. 22/05/2007 |
| 22. | Fourth | Lamination Device Amandeep Singh |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
CS Filed | 403/Del/2007 F.D. 26/02/2007 |
| 23. | Fourth | An apparatus and process for the efficient vermincomposting of organic containing wastes, Nitin Kumar Tyagi |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
Withdrawn | 402/Del/2007 F.D. 26/02/2007 |
| 24. | Fourth | Adoptable vehicle equipment for physically challenged, Mujib Khan Nawab Khan Nagori |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
CS Filed | 401/Del/2007 F.D. 26/02/2007 |
| 25. | Fourth | Herbal treatment for cancer, Vishnu Kumar Sharma |
India | Y. J. Trivedi & Co., A’bad |
CS Filed | 1103/DEL/2007 F.D. 22/5/2007 |
| 26. | Fifth | Climbing Device Mustaq Ahmed Dar |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
PS Filed | 1230/DEL/2007 F.D.07/06/2007 |
| 27. | Fifth | Metering Dispersion System & Process thereof Gopal Dave |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
CS Filed | 365/DEL/2008 F.D. 12/02/2008 |
| 28. | Fifth | Multi-functional Farm Equipment Singh Amandeep & Ranjeet |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
PS Filed | 366/DEL/2008 F.D. 12/02/2008 |
| 29. | Fifth | Portable Multipurpose Processing Unit and Process Therefore, Dharamvir Singh |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
PS Filed | 367/DEL/2008 F.D. 12/02/2008 |
| 30. | Fifth | A Peeling Device, Asish Khatri |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
PS Filed | |
| 31. | Sixth | Compost Aerator Machine, Gurmel Singh Dhonshi |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
PS Filed | 1717/DEL/2008 F.D. 21/07/2008 |
| 32. | Sixth | Belt system for Body support, Ganeshram Jangir |
India | Anand & Anand, New Delhi |
PS Filed | 2155/DEL/2008 F.D. 12/09/2008 |
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An informal network of farmers, artisans, students, academicians and scientists began in late eighties. They believed in IPR of peasants and advocated development activity based on the knowledge system of local people. This network was called Honey Bee Network (HBN). The name Honey Bee signifies a philosophy of discourse which is authentic, accountable and fair. Honey bee does two things. Honey bee collects pollen without impoverishing the flowers, and it connects flower to flower through pollination. The idea of HBN is that when it collects knowledge of people, it ensure that people don't become poorer after sharing their insights. Further, it connects one innovator with another through feedback, communication and networking in their local language. HBN shares with the providers of knowledge what it did with the knowledge.
Honey Bee is an experiment in people to people learning: English language connects us globally but alienates locally. We can not reach the people from whom we have learnt. Thus, while we grow in our careers and achieve wider recognition and professional rewards, the people suffer, often silently. The ethics of knowledge extraction, its documentation, dissemination and abstraction into theories, institutions or technologies is thus the central concern. Honey Bee is brought out in six languages through collaborators. Honey Bee network supports National Innovation Foundation and GIAN.
HBN insists, in its work, that three principles are followed without fail
The Honey Bee newsletter is now brought out in seven local languages, the most recent entrant being the Oriya version in April 2002.
Informal and voluntary in nature and spirit, the Network has its partners spread allover India and 75 other countries. The Honey Bee database of innovations and valuable traditional knowledge now contains more than 23, 000 examples in its distributed database.
There are cases where such knowledge and innovations find its way to the problems of a different country. For example a practice by pastoralists in Mongolia solved selenium deficiency problem in the young calves in Canada; the know how of an innovative foot pump designed in Gujarat, India found a licensee in USA. This shows the potential of the network and the global dimension of the value chain.
The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) was set up in March 2000, by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (GOI), as an autonomous society under the chairpersonship of Dr R A Mashelkar, Director General, Council for Scientific & Industrial Research and Secretary, Dept. Of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. NIF is pursuing the mission of making India Innovative and a global leader in sustainable technologies. The idea is to build upon Honey Bee philosophy and provide a nurturing platform to unsung heroes and heroines of our society who have solved a technological problem through their own genius without any outside help. The purpose is scouting, documenting, spawning, augmenting, adding value, protecting intellectual property rights, disseminating on commercial as well as non-commercial basis. Focus is on the contemporary unaided technological innovations as well as outstanding examples of traditional knowledge from individuals and communities. NIF is based at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
In 1997, an International Conference on Creativity and Innovations at Grassroots (ICCIG) was organised at IIM, Ahmedabad, co sponsored by SRISTI, FAO, World Bank, NABARD etc. It identified the need for an institutional framework that would provide handholding support to the rural innovators and link them to the formal systems of technical, financial and marketing services. In 1998, the Government of Gujarat came forward to set up Gujarat GIAN with the missions of sustaining the spirit of innovation. Since then GIAN has learned to facilitate the transition of innovators into inno-preneurs, arrange formal negotiations with the prospective licensees and also organising interactions with critically appreciative peer group on behalf of the innovators. GIAN-G has successfully converted few green technologies into viable business models.
The lessons of GIAN-G (now GIAN-West) leads to a new model of innovation based enterprise development. Conventional models of development have built upon the resources in which people were often poor or inadequate. In the GIAN model, emphasis is on a resource in which economically poor people are rich that is their knowledge, innovations or practices. GIAN tries to add value to this knowledge and facilitate the commercial and non-commercial diffusion. This generates rewards for the innovators and more efficient green choices for the consumers and people struggling with same or similar problems.
Encouraged by the GIAN-G success, NIF decided to setup four more GIANs in four regions of the country with the help of respective local governments. Besides GIAN (West), two other GIANs viz. GIAN (North-East) and GIAN (North) are operational now.
Setting up of GIAN (North)
To strengthen the spirit of creativity and to give voice to the hitherto unnoticed innovations of the region, Government of Rajasthan joined hands with NIF to set up a GIAN for the north Indian States and Union Territories viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Delhi and Chandigarh.
Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of Rajasthan has provided space and basic infrastructure for GIAN(N) office at its Science Park premises at Jaipur. Government of Rajasthan has also provided financial assistance of Rs. 50 Lakh, through Dept of S&T, towards Corpus Fund of GIAN (N). NIF, on the other hand has committed a set up fund support of Rs. 30 Lakh over 2-3 years. NIF presently bears all operational expenses of GIAN (N).
GIAN (north) was registered as a society in November 2002 with an empowered Governing board comprising of members from government, academics, industry, NGOs, NIF and innovators. To mark its formal launching, a two-day programme of regional exposition and workshop on grassroots innovations was organised at Jaipur, Rajasthan, in January 2003. People from different places and fields attended the programme: scientists, government representatives, industrialists, students, teachers, social workers, bankers, media persons and the grassroots innovators- villagers, farmers, artisans, mechanics and traditional knowledge holders. It was an extremely productive meet between the formal sector and informal sector of knowledge, creativity and enterprise.
Main Objectives of GIAN-North:
In the second NIF National Campaign of contemporary unaided technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge, an encouraging number of innovations were received from 300 districts all across the country. This tremendous achievement was reflected in the Honourable Finance Minister’s Budget speech last year: “The National Innovation Foundation was set up in March 2000.......This initiative has shown a good result. In the second annual campaign NIF has received more than 11000 entries from all over the country, up from 948 entries in the first year. Encouraged by this enthusiastic response I propose to set up a micro venture capital fund for small innovations......... to facilitate the transition of innovations to enterprises.”
| Governing Board of GIAN-North has members from Government, Academics, Industry, NGO etc. Members of the Present Governing Board are as under: |
| Chairperson Sh. Inderjit Khanna I. A. S. (Retd.) GIAN-North Science Park, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur – 302 016 Ph:- 0141 – 2304161 / 2523340 |
| Ex-Officio Members Principal Secretary, Finance Govt. of Rajasthan Main Building, Secretariat, Jaipur Phone: 0141-2227664 |
| Add. Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner Govt. of Rajasthan 278, Main Building, Secretariat, Jaipur Ph: - 0141 – 2227587 |
|
|
|
Principal Secretary, Science & Technology Govt. of Rajasthan SOS Building, Room No. 202, Secretariat, Jaipur |
| Nodal Officer of NIF in Rajasthan Principal Secretary Technical Education, Govt. of Rajasthan Secretariat, Jaipur |
| Nominee |
| National Innovation Foundation Bungalow No. 1, Satellite Complex, Jodhpur Tekra, Premchand Nagar Road, Ahmedabad – 380015 Ph.:- 079 – 26732095/ 2456 |
|
|
| Members |
|
Professor Kuldeep Mathur B-083, Belvedere Park DLF City – III, Gurgaon - 122002 Ph.:- 0124– 5069938/39 Email:- kuldeepmathur@airtelbroadband.in |
| Prof. Shabd S. Acharya Former Chairman, CACP, GoI Honorary Professor (Former Director), IDSJ 33, Shahi Complex, Sector - 11, Udaipur (Rajasthan) India - 313 002 Tel:- (R) 0091-294-2584782 |
| Mr. Sanjit (Bunker) Roy Director Social Work Research Centre Tilonia, Via Madangarh- kishangarh Ajmer- 305816, Rajasthan Phone: 01463-288203-15-5 Email :- bunker@vsnl.com |
| Sh. Arvind Ojha Secretary, URMUL TRUST URMUL Bhawan, Near New Roadways Bus Stand, Bikaner- 334001 Ph.:- 0151-2545097/2523093 Email :- ojhaarvind@gmail.com |
| Mrs. Vibha Puri Das Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India, Room No. 193, North Block, New Delhi - 110001 Phone: 011 - 23093668 Email :- vibhapuridas@gmail.com |
| Mr. Vikram Golcha Director, Golcha Group Golcha Gardens, Agra Road, Jaipur – 302003 Ph.:- 0141-2640301 |
| Sh. Sundaram Verma (Kumawat) Dhabayali Kothi, Gram Post Danta, Zila -Sikhar, Rajasthan - 332702 Ph: - 01577 - 270074, 270221 Email :- sundaramverma@yahoo.com |
| Sh. Samir Mathur FC & PS to Government of Haryana Transport & Civil Aviation Department Chandigarh Phone: 0172 –2711952 |
| Ms. Nivedita Narain Programme Director Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) 3 Community Shopping Centre, Niti Bagh, New Delhi 110 049 Tel: 011 2651 8619, 51640611 Tel/fax: 011 2651 4682 E-mail: niveditanarain@pradan.net |
| Member Secretary |
| Sh. Rajeev Singhal Chief Innovation Manager GIAN-North Jaipur Phone: 0141-2304161 Email:- rajeev@gian.org |
GIAN (North) has set up a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to guide on matters of technologies, validation, evaluation etc. It draws from eminent scientists, technologists, academicians, medical experts etc. from various institutes of repute. The present RAC is as under:
1. Dr. S.S.Acharya
Instt for Development Studies
8-B Jhalana Insttl Area,
Jaipur-302004, Rajasthan
Phone: 0141-2705348
2. Dr. Pratap Singh, Director Research,
Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology
Udaipur
Phone: 0294 - 2417334
3. Dr. S.D.Gupta, Director
Indian Instt of Health Management & Research
1, Prabhu Dayal Marg,
Near Sanganer Airport,
Jaipur
Phone: 2792135
4. Dr. P.Ghosh, Director
Birla Institute of Scientific Research,
Statue Circle
Jaipur
Phone: 2381183
5. Dr. B.L.Gaur, Director
National Institute of Ayurveda
Zoravar Singh gate, Subash Chowk,
Amer Road, Jaipur
6. Dr. Gopal Agarwal,
Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Malvya National Institute of Technology,
Jwaharlal Nehru Marg, Jaipur
7. Dr. Sandeep Sancheti,
HOD - Electronics & Communication
Malvya National Instt of Technology
Jawahrlal Nehru Marg,
Jaipur
8. Dr. Ashok Jain (Emeritus Scientist)
Coordinator,
EU-India Cross Cutural Innovation Network
Instt of Informatics & Communication
University of Delhi, South Campus
Benito Juarez Road
New Delhi – 110021
Phone: 011-4103938
9. Mr. Rakesh Goel,
Managing Director
SK Dynamics P. Ltd.
B-5, Industrial Estate
Roorkee – 247667
Phone: 01332 – 273616
10. Dr. B.L.Kumawat,
Department of Neuro Medicine
Mahatama Gandhi Hospital
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
GIAN-North
Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network-North (GIAN-North) is a registered society set-up jointly by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and Government of Rajasthan at Jaipur in November, 2002. It works for augmenting the grassroots innovations from the northern states viz. Rajasthan, Punjab , Haryana, Uttarankhand, NCT of Delhi and UT of Chandigarh. Selected innovations from the NIF database are taken up for value addition and diffusion. GIAN (N) is systematically creating synergy with the centers of excellence, financial institutes, Government bodies, scouts/ collaborators and volunteers to expand the mission and to strengthen the process of value addition, IPR protection, dissemination and commercialization of the creativity of our informal scientists.
The mandate of GIAN (North) is to convert grassroot innovations into a sustainable enterprise through value addition. The process involves:-
• Incubation (Idea to Innovation)
• Product development (Provide/raise technological, infrastructural, financial support)
• Intellectual Property Protection (patenting, trademarks etc.)
• Market Research and Venture Promotion (Project Planning, Technology transfer, commercial launch, pilot and Commercial scale Production, vendor development and distribution, dissemination of information)
The augmentation activities are supported by National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad and Department of Science and Technology, Government of Rajasthan. The venture promotion is supported through the Micro Venture Innovation Fund (MVIF) provided to NIF by SIDBI. HDFC has also come forward and provided a fund to GIAN-North for supporting these innovations.
To encourage the participation of Media in these activities, GIAN-North in association with Bhoruka Charitable Trust, Jaipur has also instituted Media Awards for Best Reporting on Grassroots Innovations from Northern India consecutively for three years (2005-2007).
Governing Board
Its governing board consists of representatives of the government, academia, industry, NGOs, innovators, and NIF representatives.
1 |
Chairperson |
Sh. Inderjit Khanna, Retd. IAS |
2 |
Member |
Principal Secretary, Finance, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
3 |
Member |
Development Commissioner, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
4 |
Member |
Principal Secretary, Science & Technology, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
5 |
Member |
Secretary, Hr. & Technical Education, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
6 |
Member |
Nominee, National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad |
7 |
Member |
Professor S. S. Acharya, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur |
8 |
Member |
Sh. Vikram Golcha, Director, Golcha Group, Jaipur |
9 |
Member |
Professor Kuldeep Mathur, Gurgaon |
10 |
Member |
Sh. Sanjit (Bunker) Roy , Director, Social Work Research Centre, Tilonia, Ajmer |
11 |
Member |
Sh. Arvind Ojha, Secretary, URMUL Trust, Bikaner |
12 |
Member |
Sh. Sundaram Verma, Honey Bee Collaborator, Sikar, Rajasthan |
13 |
Member |
Mrs. Vibha Puri Das, Principal Secretary & Commissioner, Forest & Rural Development, Government of Uttaranchal, Dehradun |
14 |
Member |
Sh. Samir Mathur, Financial Commissioner, Environment Department, Government of Haryana, Chandigarh |
15 |
Member |
Ms. Nivedita Narain, Program Director, PRADAN, New Delhi |
16 |
Member Secretary |
Chief Innovation Manager, GIAN-North, Jaipur |
General Body
1 |
Chairperson |
Sh. Inderjit Khanna, Retd. IAS |
2 |
Member |
Professor S. S. Acharya, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur |
3 |
Member |
Sh. Debasish Ray Choudhuri, Kolkata, WB |
4 |
Member |
Sh. Vikram Golcha, Director, Golcha Group, Jaipur |
5 |
Member |
Sh. M. D. Kaurani, State Information Commissioner, Govt. of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
6 |
Member |
Sh. M. K. Khanna, Principal Advisor, Planning Commission, Government of India , |
7 |
Member |
Sh. Ravi Mathur, Joint Secretary (Technical), Department of Secondary & Higher Education, New Delhi-110001 |
8 |
Member |
Professor Kuldeep Mathur, Gurgaon |
9 |
Member |
Sh. Arvind Ojha, Secretary, URMUL Trust, Bikaner |
10 |
Member |
Sh. Sanjit (Bunker) Roy , Director, Social Work Research Centre, Tilonia, Ajmer |
11 |
Member |
Sh. Ashok Sampatram, Principal Secretary, Industries, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
12 |
Member |
Ms. Madhu Sarin, Social Worker, Chandigarh |
13 |
Member |
Ms. Riya Sinha, National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad |
14 |
Member |
Sh. Sundaram Verma, Honey Bee Collaborator, Sikar, Rajasthan |
Milestones
• Since its inception, GIAN-N initiated several augmentation activities and took them forward to provide incubation support to selected grassroot technologies. Linkages with state government, departments, organizations, technological and business institutes, entrepreneurs and other stake holders were established and strengthened. Special efforts were made to bridge the gap between our informal scientific community and the formal scientists. It is important to mention here that now formal community has started recognizing the contribution of grassroots innovators and in many cases have extended support in nurturing their work. In one of the cases, the scientist who was formally engaged in testing of two of the farm machineries wrote papers with the innovators and these got published in a National Journal.
• GIAN-North in collaboration with Bhoruka Charitable Trust, Jaipur instituted Media Awards for best reporting on grassroot innovations from North India . This was an initiative to encourage the participation of media personals in this movement.
• An Innovation Promotion Fund (IPF) was conceptualized and constituted which has speeded up the process of providing small hand holding support for prototyping and all kinds of promotional and supporting activities for grassroots innovations. This fund comprises of the donations by individuals, savings of project and general funds etc.
• Technology Transfer : - The technology of the groundnut digger (a recognized innovation from Sikar, Rahasthan) was transferred to an entrepreneur from Andhra Pradesh for application as a Sea beach cleaner. The project has also been supported by DSIR under TePP for the said development. This is a unique initiative by GIAN-North in which the technology is transferred for another application and entrepreneur and DSIR would be investing in the development of a new product.
• Social Diffusion :- GIAN-N also took initiatives for development of an improved Hand Pump by clubbing two recognized innovations with the help of another innovator and facilitated the development of a pilot lot of 120 such modified pumps. 60 of these pumps have been installed in different villages of Sikar, Rajasthan and remaining were handed over to PHED for further installations whenever any replacement takes place. Efforts are on to diffuse it further with the help of other voluntary organizations and government departments.
The department of Science and Technology, GoR has also initiated the process of its diffusion in Rajasthan. As a trial, Dungarpur Distt. has been selected to diffuse a lot of 10 such hand pumps. GIAN-N is facilitating the supply of these modified heads to them and a voluntary organization at Dungarpur is taking up their installation.
• GIAN-N took initiatives for interstate technology diffusion by involving state government in the process. Ten grassroots technologies from Rajasthan , Assam , Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka were identified, procured and provided to seven Science Villages at Rajasthan under DST, GoR.
• Showcasing of Dryland Forestry Technique of a progressive farmer from Rajasthan at DST's Science Park , Jaipur. This is for creating awareness about the technique among masses. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan and Honb'le Chief Minister of Rajasthan also visited the site and appreciated the efforts of a farmer.
• Showcasing of grassroots technologies in various National, International and rural fairs/ workshops/ seminars through prototypes, models and posters.
• If we look at the major statistics so far, 12 technologies have been commercialised/ socially diffused and another 12 are ready to be commercialised. Evaluation/ prototyping and other value addition and/ or diffusion activities have been carried out on 73 innovations since 2002 and another 21 are under process. So far 23 innovations have been provided venture support under MVIF and HDFC funds and out of which 8 have been successful business/ social models. 30 innovations have been supported for protecting IPR i.e. patent has been filed.
• Apart from these incubation activities, GIAN-N has always been instrumental in mobilizing expertise for documentation, evaluation and validation of innovations short listed in the National Competitions on Grassroots Innovations.
Recognition and Registration
• Society Registration at Registrar of Societies under Rajasthan Society Act, 1958 – Reg. No. 1057/Jaipur/ 02-03 dated November 20, 2002 .
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (FCRA) under Section 6(1) (a) – Reg. No. 125560162 dated January 30, 2004 , Nature Educational Social.
• Registration under section 80 G of Income Tax Act 1961 – Reg. No. 2008-2009/4/21 dated June 13, 2008 .
• GIAN-North has been accorded recognition as Scientific and Industrial Research Organization ( SIROs ) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Reg. No. 11/438/2005-TU-V dated April 23, 2008 .
Rajeev Singhal
CIM, GIAN-North
December 2008
The Road ahead
A humble beginning has been made. But there is long way to go to before the aspirations of the creative people at grassroots are met. New frontiers in value addition, IPR, commercialisation have opened up where formal sector has lent full support to the efforts of the informal sector. Now a renewed drive is needed to churn out viable products/ solutions from the immensely potential indigenous knowledge system and to link them with enterprise/ livelihood options.
NIF and GIANs have been systematically building synergies with organisations and institutes to facilitate up scaling of grassroots innovations with inputs on design, development, testing, IPR, diffusion and promotion of technologies. Now, with NIF’s convincing advocacy to the government, a micro venture fund is being set up to incubate and commercialise the outstanding innovations and traditional knowledge based best practices. This would lead to the socio-economic upliftment of the underprivileged section by way of employment generation, wealth creation, wider and better choices for the consumer and eventually usher in the paradigm of “innovative society”.
While GIAN (N) is committed to augment innovations from the Region, it has limitations too. Some concern areas are:
• Scientific/ technical validation of substantial number of innovations from diverse fields and wide geographical spread is a great. Answer lies in the involvement of scientists, specialists, students and volunteers in this great task. Also, availability of facilities for fabrication, testing and guidance on technological issues are essential for scaling up. Closer institutional linkages, access to and effective sharing of the resources/ knowledge of the formal sector is essential in overcoming this challenge. Technical Institutes, Research & development bodies, subject experts, techno-professionals and students can make a difference in this respect.
• Handholding support to innovation based micro enterprises is another issue of import. The commercialisation process involves market studies, business planning, assessment and valuation of technologies and outreach to prospective venture partner/ licensee. In addition, setting up and sustaining a new business in present day competitive environment is a formidable challenge. A virtual mentoring framework will be needed to show ways to the grassroots inno-preneurs. EDIs, business schools, industry associations, concerned government departments, economists, social entrepreneurs and business leaders can catalyse the required change process.
• Adoption and diffusion of technologies at a wider scale is of paramount importance. Initiatives of government departments, non-govt. development organisations, development funding institutions in this direction will ensure that desired benefits reach to the larger masses.
• To broadbase the innovation movement spearheaded by NIF/ GIAN, dissemination and awareness generation is critical. Role of media is extremely significant. Adequate space for representation of the grassroots endeavours needs be given in all media as well as in formal events/ forums. Such exposure in the public media can make a lasting impact on the cultural psyche of the nation towards this cause.
• Field officers and workers of government and NGOs can make a very big difference in identifying creative works and knowledge resources from remote corners and hinterlands of the country. They need to be sensitised and empowered to undertake this invaluable job of unearthing the hidden treasures. Similarly the efforts by individual volunteers and scouts need to be encouraged and strengthened. Integrating the scouting and dissemination process into Government and Non-Government sectors rural programmes will help immensely.
• The innovation orientation needs to be embedded in our learning system. Inclusion of exemplary creative works by unsung heroes and heroines of our society should find place in the curriculum. This surely will ignite the young minds to break away from beaten track. A proactive approach by the academics can surely make a sea change in this respect.
GIAN (N) with its limited capacity can hardly meet the challenges. But it believes, with effective networking and harnessing the power of distributed knowledge and shared resources, much can be achieved.
Institutional Networking
In the first year itself, effective linkages have been established with many organizations from fields of science & technology, technical & business education, legal & IPR, NGOs, trade associations and development funding organizations etc. GIAN (N) has been instrumental in forging alliance with IIT, Kanpur; especially with the SIDBI Innovation & Incubation Centre there. Similar associations are on the anvil with Universities of Agriculture & Technology in Udaipur and Panth Nagar and Entrepreneurship Development Institutes of Jaipur and Delhi. Also to scale up the innovations pertaining to agriculture and herbal practices, livestock management and farm machineries; GIAN (N) has formally entered into an understanding with Morarka Foundation for incubating and help commercialising these innovations from North India as well as other parts of the country.
• Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Rajasthan
• Indian Institute of Technology -Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology -Kanpur
• MNIT, Jaipur
• Aravali Institute of Management, Jodhpur (www.aravali.org )
• Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur (www.bisrjaipur.com )
• J.K. Agri Genetics, Jaipur
• SK Dynamics, Roorkee (www.skdynamics.com )
•Entrepreneurship & Management Development Institute, Jaipur (www.emirajasthan.org )
• Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur
• EMPI, Delhi (www.empiindia.com )
Patent Attorneys
• M/S Surana & Surana, Channai
• M/S Subramaniam, Nataraj & Associates, New Delhi
• M/S DP Ahuja & Company, Calcutta
• M/S Anand & Anand, New Delhi
• M/S Global Business Solutions, Chennai (http://www.gbsindia.net)
Industry Associations
• CII, Chandigarh
• CII, Jaipur
• TiE, Kanpur
Development Organisations
• SWRC, Tilonia
• URMUL, Bikaner
• Seva Mandir, Udaipur (www.sevamandir.org )
• Morarka Foundation, Jaipur
• SRISTI Gyan Kendra, Panthnagar
• National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad (www.nifindia.org)
• Honey Bee Network, Ahmedanad,
• SRISTI (www.sristi.org)
• Other GIANs
Students involvement
Students of premier technical institutes like IIT-Delhi, IIT- Kanpur and IIT- Kharagpur have worked on the technical documentation and technology gaps of innovations of North India. Market research/ techno-economic viability studies have been carried out 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 on various innovative products from the region.