After the success of the India Innovation Initiative (i3) last year, which brought several cutting-edge ideas forward, the partnership of Agilent Technologies, Department of Science & Technology (Government of India) and Confederation of India Industry is back to launch the third season of the nationwide innovation competition for all innovators.
Last year, the scale of the event had been expanded to cover a wider spectrum of industries including water, transportation, energy, environment, internal security applications and education among others. There was also a wider geographical spread of the initiative last year, by organizing the preliminary selection rounds through four regional fairs in four regions. This resulted in wider participation from far-flung areas of the nation.
In 2009, the total number of entries for i3 was around 250. By expanding the spread in 2010, this number went up to nearly 1000. With a robust structure in place, i3 wants to spread the message of innovation deeper into the country and encourage all to come forward and participate.
Commenting on i3 2011, Mr. Parmeet S. Ahuja, President and Country General Manager, Agilent Technologies India, said “We continue to be proud bearers of Agilent’s mandate to spread the innovation temperament in our local geographies. Last year, we received nearly four times the entries from 2009, so we know that our efforts are being seen and felt. This year, we want to keep that structure intact, but execute better and be more impactful. The more people get aware of this platform’s existence, the more they will come forward, and our efforts have to be to facilitate that spread with the proper support.”
According to Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Head, National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) Department of Science & Technology, “Innovation is key to economic development. Growing challenges like providing for an enormous population, mammoth devastation caused by natural calamities and the increasing global competition in a liberalised era, call for a highly productive and innovative ecosystem. Merit and competition are engines for viable innovations. The young population has the capability to provide out of the box solutions to problems of daily life with the help of Science and Technology. i3 plays a crucial role in this endeavor.”
According to Dr. Naushad Forbes, Chairman, Innovation Council, Confederation of Indian Industry, “CII, through its emphasis on - Business for Livelihoods” a theme adopted consecutively 2011 and 2012, is committed towards developing innovation and entrepreneurship in India in a sustainable manner. Keeping in line with its commitment, this year’s i3 (India Innovation Initiative) focuses on strengthening Indian specific innovation ecosystem by bringing greater number of incubators and investors on board. This scale up of the initiative will substantially boost mechanisms to facilitate Innovative Indian minds and help them accrue more support for commercialising their innovations. This is a significant step forward from the previous years and will generate greater impact towards creating new ventures and start-ups.”
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 engage with incubators and examine their ideas for real-world marketability. in addition to other awards, recognition and support.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, electronics and communications. The company’s 18,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.4 billion in fiscal 2010. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
Department of Science & Technology (DST)
Department of Science and Technology endeavors to create a strong knowledge society. It does not only enable academicians and researchers to generate knowledge, but through its science and technology communication wing, it tries to demonstrate technologies and popularize the use of science at grass root level. In order to take its message to the people, it employs various techniques such as holding congresses, seminar/symposia, capacity building training exercises, help from print and digital media etc. More information about NCSTC is available at ww.dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/s-t_ncstc.htm.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes.
CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organisation, playing a proactive role in India's development process. Founded over 116 years ago, it is India's premier business association, with a direct membership of over 8100 organisations 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.
CII catalyses change by working closely with government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and expanding business opportunities for industry through a range of specialised services and global linkages. It also provides a platform for sectoral consensus building and networking. Major emphasis is laid on projecting a positive image of business, assisting industry to identify and execute corporate citizenship programmes. Partnerships with over 120 NGOs across the country carry forward our initiatives in integrated and inclusive development, which include health, education, livelihood, diversity management, skill development and water, to name a few.
CII has taken up the agenda of “Business for Livelihood” for the year 2011-12. This converges the fundamental themes of spreading growth to disadvantaged sections of society, building skills for meeting emerging economic compulsions, and fostering a climate of good governance. In line with this, CII is placing increased focus on Affirmative Action, Skills Development and Governance during the year.
With 64 offices and 7 Centres of Excellence in India, and 7 overseas offices in Australia, China, France, Singapore, South Africa, UK, and USA, as well as institutional partnerships with 223 counterpart organisations in 90 countries, CII serves as a reference point for Indian industry and the international business community.
Last year, the scale of the event had been expanded to cover a wider spectrum of industries including water, transportation, energy, environment, internal security applications and education among others. There was also a wider geographical spread of the initiative last year, by organizing the preliminary selection rounds through four regional fairs in four regions. This resulted in wider participation from far-flung areas of the nation.
In 2009, the total number of entries for i3 was around 250. By expanding the spread in 2010, this number went up to nearly 1000. With a robust structure in place, i3 wants to spread the message of innovation deeper into the country and encourage all to come forward and participate.
Commenting on i3 2011, Mr. Parmeet S. Ahuja, President and Country General Manager, Agilent Technologies India, said “We continue to be proud bearers of Agilent’s mandate to spread the innovation temperament in our local geographies. Last year, we received nearly four times the entries from 2009, so we know that our efforts are being seen and felt. This year, we want to keep that structure intact, but execute better and be more impactful. The more people get aware of this platform’s existence, the more they will come forward, and our efforts have to be to facilitate that spread with the proper support.”
According to Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Head, National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) Department of Science & Technology, “Innovation is key to economic development. Growing challenges like providing for an enormous population, mammoth devastation caused by natural calamities and the increasing global competition in a liberalised era, call for a highly productive and innovative ecosystem. Merit and competition are engines for viable innovations. The young population has the capability to provide out of the box solutions to problems of daily life with the help of Science and Technology. i3 plays a crucial role in this endeavor.”
According to Dr. Naushad Forbes, Chairman, Innovation Council, Confederation of Indian Industry, “CII, through its emphasis on - Business for Livelihoods” a theme adopted consecutively 2011 and 2012, is committed towards developing innovation and entrepreneurship in India in a sustainable manner. Keeping in line with its commitment, this year’s i3 (India Innovation Initiative) focuses on strengthening Indian specific innovation ecosystem by bringing greater number of incubators and investors on board. This scale up of the initiative will substantially boost mechanisms to facilitate Innovative Indian minds and help them accrue more support for commercialising their innovations. This is a significant step forward from the previous years and will generate greater impact towards creating new ventures and start-ups.”
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 engage with incubators and examine their ideas for real-world marketability. in addition to other awards, recognition and support.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, electronics and communications. The company’s 18,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.4 billion in fiscal 2010. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
Department of Science & Technology (DST)
Department of Science and Technology endeavors to create a strong knowledge society. It does not only enable academicians and researchers to generate knowledge, but through its science and technology communication wing, it tries to demonstrate technologies and popularize the use of science at grass root level. In order to take its message to the people, it employs various techniques such as holding congresses, seminar/symposia, capacity building training exercises, help from print and digital media etc. More information about NCSTC is available at ww.dst.gov.in/scientific-programme/s-t_ncstc.htm.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes.
CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organisation, playing a proactive role in India's development process. Founded over 116 years ago, it is India's premier business association, with a direct membership of over 8100 organisations 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.
CII catalyses change by working closely with government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and expanding business opportunities for industry through a range of specialised services and global linkages. It also provides a platform for sectoral consensus building and networking. Major emphasis is laid on projecting a positive image of business, assisting industry to identify and execute corporate citizenship programmes. Partnerships with over 120 NGOs across the country carry forward our initiatives in integrated and inclusive development, which include health, education, livelihood, diversity management, skill development and water, to name a few.
CII has taken up the agenda of “Business for Livelihood” for the year 2011-12. This converges the fundamental themes of spreading growth to disadvantaged sections of society, building skills for meeting emerging economic compulsions, and fostering a climate of good governance. In line with this, CII is placing increased focus on Affirmative Action, Skills Development and Governance during the year.
With 64 offices and 7 Centres of Excellence in India, and 7 overseas offices in Australia, China, France, Singapore, South Africa, UK, and USA, as well as institutional partnerships with 223 counterpart organisations in 90 countries, CII serves as a reference point for Indian industry and the international business community.
