Thirty innovators have been awarded under the the DSTLockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme which in its eighth year received a record 1,300 applications from diverse sectors such as health care, textiles, agriculture, defence and food processing.

Of the applications received, 45 innovators were downselected and given a week-long advanced training in basic principles of product commercialisation, readiness for market, business models, IP rights, competitive positioning and mechanisms for revenue by experienced faculty members from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Of this 30 final winners were announced after a prestigious jury panel reviewed the applications. Twenty of the top 30 innovators received a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh each and ten will be taken on all expenses paid trip to the Silicon Valley.

Of the applications received, 45 innovators were downselected and given a week-long advanced training in basic principles of product commercialisation, readiness for market, business models, IP rights, competitive positioning and mechanisms for revenue by experienced faculty members from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Of this 30 final winners were announced after a prestigious jury panel reviewed the applications. Twenty of the top 30 innovators received a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh each and ten will be taken on all expenses paid trip to the Silicon Valley.

The programme has helped participants and their companies generate revenues exceeding Rs. 1,500 crore ($275 million) during 2010–12, thereby contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth.

Innovation is Key

Speaking at the awards’ ceremony, Dr Ray O. Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation, said, “Innovation is key to India’s economic growth. While innovation cannot be managed, it can be supported. Our support is demonstrated by our partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, which is creating an innovation ecosystem to help solve global problems and create jobs in India. We have been humbled by this partnership these last eight years, and it’s clear that we have only just begun.”

Lockheed Martin, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and the University of Texas, IC2 Institute launched the IIGP in March 2007. It was joined by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and the Indo-US S&T Forum November 2008 onwards.

Winners

The 2014 winners are: K.R. Suresh Nair (Non-invasive oral cancer detection device); Gajanan Nagarsekar (ECG using an android smartphone); Vishwas Dattatraya Joshi (Technology platform for producing proteins and viral therapies); Lavakumar Kuppan (Low cost automated web security solution); Dr R. Thomas (Hurdle technology for processing of shelf stable meat products); G. Madan Mohan Reddy (Low cost solar parabolic dish concentrator); Rajat Gupta (Advanced PCM heat exchanger for cold storage); Uttam Banerjee (Low cost, no consumable waterless urinal technology); Krishna Sai Inkoolu (Visually challenged ergonomic footwear); K.P. Ashwin Krishna (Solar boiler using linear Fresnel technology for process heat); Ravinder Vannam (Converting shuttle loom to rapier loom): Biplap Ketan Paul (Bhungroo – both waterlogging and irrigation solution); Dr Rajdeep Pavaskar (Broad spectrum root canal filling composition for endodontic usage); Shital S. Palaskar (Multifunctional finishing of textiles using eco-friendly material); Vikrant Vaidya (Medical diagnostic test kit); Dr Shaon Roy Chaudhri (Nutrient sequestration from waste water and reuse); Dr Vibha Tripathi (Swajal: smart water station); Arun Shenoy (Geothermal cooling technology); Dr A. Gnanamani (Bio-adhesive); Sudhir Reddy (Pest-repellent food protecting sheets); Dr S.K. Dhawan (Smart coatings for corrosion protection); Dr Cyja Jose (Assisted respiration); Ayin Agarwal (Cardio Track – remote ECG diagnostics); Dr Gayathree Mohan (Emergency labour cot); Jaspreet Singh (Ultra-light weight electric assist bike); Saurabh Srivastava and Keyur Sorathia (ICT intervention to empower maternal health care); Arumugam Muruganandam (Companion diagnostics for diabetes management); D.B. Prabhu and Rupal Fadia (E-water recycling and metal separation plant); Dr E.C. Thomas (Mosquito breeding disruptive device); and Sathyavrathan Pathanjali (Redox engineering for 3-hydrooxypropionic acid).

An overjoyed Gajanan Nagarsekar said the programme would help the innovators further. “I think we will benefit from the IC2 UT Austin’s Global Commercialization review and fine tunning of our models especially to penetrate the market. Also, leverage the brand to associate with strategic partners across the globe.” So also the Stanford school platform to pitch at TiE and connect to other VC platforms will help the company gain attention and investment if required for further growth and importantly to enter US and International markets, he added.