Tech Expo displays innovations developed by start-ups

From unmanned ground vehicles to pre-paid electricity cards, the tech expo by DST- Lockheed Martin called the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) 2012 was a display of exemplary innovations in different areas ranging from the defence to the pharmaceutical and communication and technology sectors. The innovations that were put up on display were the smart card operated prepaid energy meters and the unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that can help the Armed Forces defuse mines through the remote operated machine.

The DST-Lockheed Martin programme was organised on Thursday to help commercialise the innovations developed by start-ups. Corporate Vice President, Technology and Innovation Corporate Engineering and Technology, Lockheed Martin, Dr John D Evans, said that the innovation shows were part of the India innovation growth programme that has been started from 2007. He said that the programme has helped participants and companies generate revenues exceeding Rs 1,500 crore in the last two years. Officials said that IIGP has in fact seen a rapid rise of applications from 107 in 2007 to over 800 applications in 2012.

Harkesh Mittal, Secretary, Technology Development Board, department of science and technology (DST), said that the IIGP strives to create and innovative eco-system in India "through creating linkages between government, industry and academia."

"Our primary aim through this initative is to provide landholding services to the Indian innovators in taking their ideas to the global marketplace. The programme creates an eco-system for facilitating the birth of new ideas, nurturing them and converting these ideas into high value products and services," he said. At the event, 97 commercialisation agreements were also announced.

"The IIGP focuses on mind to market strategy by providing extensive training modules which are structured to help participants gauge and streamline their existing capabilities and formulate technology commercialization,'' said an official. From 2007-12 the IIGP has resulted in more than 250 agreements being signed.

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