The National Fair finale of the India Innovation Initiative (i3) saw around 40 best-in-class innovation entries battling it out for top honours. The finalists were shortlisted after participating and winning in the Regional Fairs organized at NOIDA, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
Overall, i3 2013 saw around 900 submissions and 400 innovation entries this year. i3 is the successful partnership between Agilent Technologies, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to create and sustain an ecosystem of innovation and encourage innovators of all ages and backgrounds.
A jury panel comprising eminent industrialists, reputed incubators partners, scientists, business management experts and government representatives came together to evaluate each of the finalists’ entries. The initiative is being supported by government and non-government incubator and investor associations for incubation, entrepreneurship and marketability. There will be other awards, recognition and support to winners.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anuj Sharma, Head, Corporate Relations and CSR, Agilent Technologies India said, “This is the fifth year of i3. We continue to be heartened by the strong response we receive from across the country; it highlights the importance of avenues like i3 to bring out the hidden talent India possesses, not just in large metros, but in far-flung rural areas as well. It makes us proud that Agilent can play a small role in this.”
“In order to bring true value to the winning innovators, we have partnered with prestigious government and private institutes like TIFAC-TREMAP, AICTE, IVCA, and IAN among others. These partnerships will mentor and incubate the winners and provide them the necessary support and checkpoints to make their ideas a marketable reality. In this way, i3 will truly become a benchmark for innovation,” he added.
“Entrepreneurship is gradually taking centrestage in the Indian innovation space. Among various initiatives to spread awareness for inclusive innovation, Department of Science and Technology is organizing India Innovation Initiative – i3 with its partners for the 5th consecutive year. For the last 4 years i3 has successfully drawn attention of individual innovators above 18 years of age who aspire to be entrepreneurs, and provided them linkages for incubation, funding, industry connect and others, in order to benefit all sections of society”, said Dr. B P Singh, Head NCSTC, Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
Anjan Das, Senior Director, CII highlighted, “CII believes that demographic dividend will be a reality only when educated Indian youth are employed in high-income ventures and bulk of others as skilled workers. Industrial employment will always have limitation for high incomes, given the sheer number of youth seeking high income employment. Therefore educated youth need to be channelized to create new start-up enterprises. The current ecosystem does not adequately encourage and support start-ups to sustain & succeed. CII jointly with DST and Agilent Technologies have been contributing for last few years in identifying most promising innovations from across the nation, awarding the top innovators and connecting them with the existing support system like Incubators, Mentoring, Funding etc, through CII’s Network partners to facilitate innovations reaching the market by successful entrepreneurs and start-ups. A few success stories have already emerged and I am sure that this PPP initiative will become the spring board for successful and innovative entrepreneurship in India.”
The top five cash award winners selected by the national jury were
Mr. Sunder Muruganandhan (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) – Rs. 1 lakh
Dr. Jankiraman Ramachandran (Bangalore) – Rs. 75,000/-
Mr. Kushal Nahata (New Delhi) – Rs. 50,000/-
Mr. Sunil Gupta (Panchkula, Haryana) – Rs. 25,000/-
Mr. Amit Tandon (Panchkula, Haryana) – Rs. 25,000/-
ABOUT i3
i3 provides a unique platform to upcoming innovators by giving them an opportunity to not only showcase their innovations but bringing them to life under the global expertise of Agilent Technologies in transforming innovations into products, the strong knowledge based networks of DST and the demand base for innovations from CII.
With a distinct challenge based format, the nation-wide competition is open for all innovators in India in the age group of 18+ years. Interested participants can register online at www.innovationgrid.org/i3.
The entries will judged on five parameters namely- creativity, innovation, implementation strategy and relevance by an expert panel of judges comprising of eminent scientists, industrialists and experts. Winners will be awarded with special cash prizes and selected innovations with potential for commercialization will get an opportunity to get their ideas incubated, in addition to other awards, recognition and support.
ABOUT THE PROMOTERS
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company’s 20,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.9 billion in fiscal 2012. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
Department of Science & Technology (DST)
National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) is the apex body of the Government of India set up with the objectives of popularization of Science and Technology (S&T) and stimulation of science and technological temper among people. NCSTC supports research and development in the area of S&T communication, develops software in different languages, helps prepare competent science communicators through short- and long term courses, encourages and recognizes outstanding communicators and institutions involved in S&T popularization and organizes state/country-wide field projects. NCSTC maintains up-to-date databases in areas of relevance to S&T communication. More information about NCSTC is available at www.dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/s-t_ncstc.htm
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
CII works to create and sustain an environment conducive to growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative process. CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led to industry-managed organization, playing a proactive role in India’s development process. Founded over 115 years ago, it is India’s premier business association, with a direct membership of over 8100 organizations from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 90,000 companies from around 400 national and regional sectoral associations. More information about CII is available at www.cii.in.
