Innovation @ work: Govt ties up with CII and Agilent

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The department of science and technology, the confederation of Indian industry and Agilent Technologies has come together for the India Innovation Initiative (i3). The idea is to create an ecosystem to encourage innovators of all ages.

The i3 program received nearly 800 entries. Among those who received top three prizes for innovation include Gurmeet Singh, Fardaus Jahan and Bijoy Chakraborty. The special awards to the most commercially viable innovations were also given.

Dr Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Planning, Science, Technology and Earth Sciences,   said that people’s aspirations and expectations are rising. “We need innovation for aam admi (common people) to make life more affordable,” he said.

Kumar believes that individuals need to look differently and the strategic part of technology and innovation is to facilitate edge. Agilent said that they have partnered with government and private institutions like TIFAC-TREMAP, CII-TDPC, BITS Pilani and Amity among others.

BP Singh, head of NCSTC at DST, said that leveraging technological innovation to root out corruption is critical. “Our aim is to harness the creativity, that would eventually contribute to innovation ecosystem in the country in the decade of innovation (2010-2020) and take India to the position of world dominance,” Singh said.

Parmeet S Ahuja, president and GM (India), said that it was the third year of the i3 program. “We continue to be heartened by the strong response we receive from across the country. It highlights the importance of avenues to bring out the hidden talent that India possesses, not just in metros, but in far-flung rural areas as well,” said Ahuja.