4th Edition of Bangalore Nano Successfully Concluded

The 4th edition of Bangalore Nano, organized by The Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka under the guidance of Vision Group on Nanotechnology, concluded on a high note today.




At the valedictory function, Dr. V.S. Acharya - Hon'ble Minister for Higher Education, Planning & Statistics, Muzrai, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka said, “I am glad to be here. I am delighted to note Bangalore Nano has created a unique platform to deliberate on present trends in Bangalore on nanotechnology and the various aspects of industry. Nano technology has become the revolution of the 21st century. Nanotechnology is expected to impact many fields such as environment, energy, biotechnology etc. Medicine will be one of the most beneficial sector. Nanotech is not new for Indians. I hope that nanotechnology could find longterm solutions in medicine and healthcare, innovative diagnostics for cancer, smart drug delivery devices and help in development of personal medication. “The government will take necessary steps to include nanotechnology in the education systems."



Announcing the dates for the next edition of Bangalore Nano, Prof. C N R Rao, Said, “the 5th Edition of Bangalore Nano will be during 5th to 7th December 2012. He said “We are at the end of this years nano event, which in-fact has worked out to be a great celebration. It has been just 3-4 years since we started and today it has blossomed into a national and international event. It is my pleasure seeing scientists from around the world congregating for this event.”



Prof. Timothy S. Fisher - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, said, “India has a very bright future in this area because of a very intelligent scientific force and its proactive steps in building infrastructure required for research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Bangalore Nano will enhance the momentum thats already there.”



This two day event featured top global intellects, entrepreneurs and organizations in the field of Nanotechnology. Bangalore Nano 2011 enabled all the stakeholders to meet on a common platform to find solutions from nanotechnology for the betterment of mankind. The participants listen to inspiring talks, shared high quality research papers and showcased innovative & ground breaking nano-applications. Energy, Water and Healthcare took precedence in the 4th Bangalore Nano.



Prof. C.N.R. Rao, FRS, conferred the Bangalore Nano National Award 2011 to Dr. G Sundararajan - Director, International, ARCI, Hyderabad, in recognition for his extensive work on Behavior of Metallic Materials.



Introduced this year, the India Nanotech Innovation Award was presented to Panacea Biotech. The Malhotra Weikfield Foundation Award were given to five budding scientists from leading institution in India.



Young Scientists and Researchers from Institutions like IISc, JNCASR, IITs, NCBS and international Universities showcased several new concepts and ideas in the Poster Session. Overall 122 posters were displayed by the researchers. Mr. Achintya Bera from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Mr. Atanu Ghosh from IIT Madras, Mr. Ranjith Ramachandran from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research centre, Kochi and Mr. Tapan Adhikari of Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISC), Bhopal, were placed 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th respectively.



The tradeshow featured 25 exhibitors from across the globe. Cumulatively organizations from 12 countries like Russia, Germany, USA, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, France participated.



Bangalore Nano 2011 featured some of the well known and Internationally acclaimed speakers such as Prof. Stuart S.P. Parkin, IBM-Stanford Spintronic Science & Applications Center (SpinAps), IBM Almaden Research Center, USA, Prof. Anthony K. Cheetham, FRS, Goldsmiths' Professor of Materials Science, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, UK, Prof. Dr. E.W. Meijer - Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, Prof. Timothy S. Fisher - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, USA.



“Nano for the Young” had an over whelming response, this session was attended by over 450 students. The session inspired the youngsters, who were highly influenced by the panel of scientists when they shared their views and answered the questions posed by the youngsters.



Seven startups were given a platform to pitch for investments or collaborations from the VCs and Institutions under the Research Industry Collaboration Hub (RICH) programme.



“There was terrific interest and leads through exhibition. In fact we had a record number of enquiries at a show, ever.” said, Tom Wallik of Nano Ink.



Mr. Ashok Betraj from Apsara Innovations said, “Bangalore Nano was very useful for us. We received excellent response and this event would generate good business for us. We would like to participate next year too.”



Mr. Abhinandan Chiney a young researcher from Tata Consultancy Services-TRDDC said, “The tutorials were of the highest quality. It is a very good concept and getting academicians to talk was a master Stroke. The talks were well balanced, not too advanced nor too basic. I'm looking forward to Bangalore Nano next year.”



R Shivakumaran a scientist from ISRO who attended the tutorials in Nano Materials & Nano Sensors, said, “The tutorials was of very high quality to enhance our knowledge in fundamentals as well as applications.”



Prof. Ullrich Steiner - University of Cambridge, UK said, “its an excellent opportunity for scientists from other nations to interact with their Indian counterparts.”



Dr. Shantikumar Nair - Amrita Center for Nanosciences, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi –Said, “the tutorials is an excellent feature that been introduced for the first time. Its an excellent platform for students to gain knowledge about the basic as well as practical aspects of nano science & nano technology.



Mr. Jean-Charles GUIBERT of MINATEC, France Said, “The involvement of government bodies will definitely help to formulate new policies and strategies for making best use of the knowledge generated in this area. Bangalore Nano is an important event where people from India as well as other nations can meet and interact.”



Prof. Suman Chakraborty - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur said- “this platform is very good for interaction and networking for future collaboration and i had a very fruitful interaction with fellow speakers.”



Prof. Srinivas Sridhar - NSF Nanomedicine Science and Technology Program, Boston University, USA said “it is the first time such a symposium has been organised on nanomedicines."



Dr. Mano Manoharan - John F. Welch Technology Centre, GE Global Research, Bangalore said “the level of questions asked and discussed in this year’s event is quite high.”

Alexandria to develop Knowledge Park for Life science industry in Electronic City

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. today laid the foundation stone for Alexandria Knowledge ParkTM at Bangalore Helix, Electronics City, Bangalore marking the commencement of the prestigious project in the presence of Shri. B S Yeddyurappa, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka as the Chief Guest for the occasion. The ceremony was presided by Shri. M Krishnappa - BJP MLA. The Guests of Honor for the occasion were Shri. M.N. Vidyashakar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept. of IT, BT and S&T, Govt. of Karnataka, Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson of Vision Group on Biotechnology and CMD Biocon and Dr. Vijay Chandru President ABLE and Chairman & CEO Strand Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., and Shri. Arvind Jannu, IAS - Managing Director, KEONICS and Director IT & BT Government of Karnataka. amongst other dignitaries.

Alexandria Knowledge Park TM, Bangalore Helix would be modeled around the successful Greenfield clusters already conceptualized and developed by Alexandria in Mission Bay, San Francisco, Technology Square in Cambridge , Boston and Alexandria Center for Life science at NYC. Alexandria intends to introduce to Bangalore its successful global proprietary products like Alexandria Innovation Center (incubation Space), Science Hotel, Turn-key labspace.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jeffrey Newton, Vice President, Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. thanked the Karnataka state Govt. for extending their best possible support to Alexandria and also expressed his excitement about partnering with the very progressive state government. He expressed his belief and conviction about the Karnataka’s life science sector growing leaps and bounds under the able leadership of Shri. B S Yeddyurappa, Dr. Kiran Mazumdar and a very supportive department of IT/BT and Science & Technology with Dr. V S Acharya and Shri. M N Vidyashankar at its helm.

Alexandria’s vision of “Building the future of Life science” and its commitment to develop the world-class scientific research and development cluster Alexandria Knowledge Park at Electronic City will further strengthen Bangalore’s position as a leading life science/R&D and help it emerge as the most desired destination for Life sciences companies working on technologies of future.

The development of the park will happen in phases, the first of which is expected to be completed in 24 months.

Alexandria’s experience and expertise in providing state-of-the-art lab space will help catapult the Life sciences industry in Karnataka to greater heights. For the Indian Biotech industry to compete in the global scenario quality would be one of the key parameters. The compelling high quality research infrastructure developed by companies like Alexandria can truly create world class R&D environment thereby adding greater value to the industry as a whole.

Promoting Plant Biotech innovations for India’s sustainable future - Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011

On day 3 Bangalore INDIA BIO India's premier Biotechnology event organized by the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Vision Group on Biotechnology, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications and ABLE, featured a session on PROMOTING PLANT BIOTECH INNOVATIONS FOR INDIA’S SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. The session was chaired by Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy - Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies and the panelists were Mr. N.C. Muniyappa - Principal Secretary, Dept. Of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka , Dr. K. Narayan Gowda , VC, UAS, Bangalore , Mr. Gyanendra Shukla - Director Corporate Affairs & Cotton Traits, Monsanto , Ms. Madhavi Char - Legal Consultant, Mahyco and Mr. Chengal Reddy - Farmer Leader .


He opened the discussion by remarking that the real challenge India is facing today is feeding lots of people with lesser land and man power. Plus, what is required is not just quantity, but also quality nutrition. Pests and diseases are a major area of concern, especially since these pests travel from one nation to another. As a result, new ways of combating them have to be discovered. As environmentalists keep stressing, we need to re-tune our agricultural practices to suit changing environmental conditions.

Coming to Biotechnology, Prof Ramamurthy said that BT can help in increasing both quantitative and qualitative requirements of food crops. He said that assessment of new technologies is a pain point, for the public never reaches a consensus (considering that we live in a democracy). What is needed is a public platform wherein views and methods are shared with the public, in order to convince them of the positive effects of the said technology.

The first speaker of the discussion was Gyanendra Shukla, Director, Cotton Traits, Monsanto. He said that farmers need to produce more, to get higher income, in order to live a better life, and give their family a better lifestyle. He stated that India’s food requirement was likely to go up from 440 metric tons to about 850 metric tons in the next 10 years. What is worrying is that India is below average in crop production.

He said that land and water are a scarcity now; productivity has no meaning without either. He was of the opinion that farmers should be given a choice. They are smart enough to know what works for their land. Let them decide whether they want to use GM crops or not. They should be provided with the right tools to make farming better.



He then commented on environmentalists asking farmers to go “organic”. What they don’t know is that “93% of Indian farms don’t have enough organic manure”. It is high time that they opened their minds to BT and GM crops. Farmers should be allowed to make informed decisions for themselves.

Next to speak was Madhavi Char, legal consultant, Mahyco. She spoke of the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the field of BT. She said that it has been assumed that India’s population will be greater than China’s by the middle of the Century. Along with a growing population, we also have to deal with low productivity, pollution, and scarcity of resources. Innovation in agriculture is needed to feed people, which requires time and money; by money she meant investments.

These investments, she said, need to have a high Return on Investment (ROI) in the private sector. This is where IPR comes to the rescue, as it gives a high ROI and hence an incentive to continue with R&D. She noted that private sector tends to concentrate more on hybrids, while the public sector is more into varietals.

She clarified the misconception that IPR results in increased costs for the farmers, as it increases the cost of the seed. She said that a farmer spends only 5% of the cost on seeds, while the rest is spent on pesticides, fertilizers etc. she maintained that ABT is the need of the hour.

Ajay Jagar, farmer leader, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samajh, spoke next. He started off by saying that we have enough food to feed ourselves; in fact we have a surplus as of now. Why do we need BT then? “For the future,” he said. “As the population grows, so will the consumption. We have to be prepared through ABT. Other countries may be able to feed their people without ABT, but we might not be able to do so.”

He said that we have not really seen a shortage of food in our lifetime, so we believe that BT isn’t required. But when there is a real shortage, BT will prove to be beneficial. Every new idea faces opposition. The same is happening to BT and GM crops. He also felt that scientists are not doing enough for farmers.



Ajay said, “Bt cotton has proven safe and has given demonstrable sustainable benefits for the farmers, environment and the nation since its launch. Encouraging research in insect, disease and climate resilient technologies are a must to increasing productivity. If India has to increase crop yields sustainably and substantially to feed its ever-growing population, it needs to adopt the latest technologies like ABT in combination with traditional practices for input optimization and thereby bolster productivity”.



Chengal Reddy, farmer leader, Secretary general- CIFA, said, “There is no culture in agriculture”. It is a science, enterprise, and related to investment. It is not done by illiterate farmers anymore; PHDs and MBAs are required. Sadly, they don’t stay in India, let alone a remote village. He criticized several politicians and environmentalists for commenting on agriculture, without having any knowledge of the field. He wants people to communicate to the policy makers that they have to do something for the farmers. He demanded GM crops for the farmers. “We want economic equity, stability and respect,” he added.



Bhagirath Choudhary, national coordinator, ISAAA, the last speaker of the discussion, said that policy makers, scientists etc are not lobbying for GM crops aggressively. His company says GM is excellent, from personal experience. They promote GM technology, and understand that farmers definitely need it, and will benefit from it greatly.



He said that out of 36 million hectares of BT maize being grown worldwide, only 7-7 hectares exist in India. This is one of the reasons why he doesn’t see a very bright future for BT in India. Also, people oppose BT without really knowing what it can do.

As a concluding remark Prof Ramamurthy said that in the past few months, food inflation was around 15%. But farmer’s profit increased only by 5%. “Who pocketed the remaining 10%?”

STATE AWARDS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS FOR THE YEARS 2008 AND 2009

With a view to recognize and reward Scientific and Technological talent in the state, the Government of Karnataka has instituted several awards to the Scientists and Engineers of the State who have made significant contribution towards the development of the State in various fields of Science and Technology. These awards are being given every year since 1996.


The Government of Karnataka has constituted a high level committee consisting of many eminent scientists under the Chairmanship of Karnataka Rathna Prof. C N R Rao, Linus Pauling Research Professor/ National Research Professor/ Honorary President, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research /Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India/ Chairman, Vision Group on Science & Technology, Gok to select eligible Scientists & Engineers for these awards. Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) has been entrusted with the responsibility of operationalisation of these awards.



Sir M. Visvesvaraya Award for Senior Scientists


The Government of Karnataka instituted Sir M. Visvesvaraya award to honor the senior scientists considering their lifetime contributions for the development of science and technology in the State. This award is being given to two senior scientists, every year since 1996.This award carries a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000 (Rupees One Lakh) a memento and a citation.



Dr. Raja Ramanna Award for Scientists / Engineers



Dr. Raja Ramanna was one of the eminent scientists from Karnataka who made exceptional contribution in the field of Science and Technology in the country, especially in the field of atomic energy. To honor Dr. Raja Ramanna, the Government of Karnataka instituted an award in his name in the year 2004. The award is given to a scientist / Engineer who has made a significant contribution in the field of History & Philosophy of Science / Science & Society / Science Education This award carries a cash prize of Rs. 75,000 (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand), a memento and a citation.



Sir C.V. Raman Award for Young Scientists



To encourage the young Scientists in the state, the Government of Karnataka instituted Sir C V Raman Award. This award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand), a memento and a citation. This award is given to scientists who have made outstanding achievements in the following fields



Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Mathematics, Chemical Sciences,
Agricultural Science and Animal Husbandry, Medical Sciences



Prof. Satish Dhawan Award for Young Engineers



To encourage young Engineers in the State, the Government of Karnataka instituted Prof. Satish Dhawan Award in the year 2003. This award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand), a memento and a citation. This award is given to Engineers who have made outstanding achievements in the following fields.



Aerospace Science and Technology
Earth Science
Engineering Science
Computer and Electronics Engineering



Dr. Kalpana Chawla Award for Young Women Scientist / Engineer



To encourage the women scientists/engineers in the state, the Government of Karnataka has instituted an award in the name of Dr. Kalpana Chawla in the year 2003. This award is given to a woman scientist/engineer who has made outstanding work in her field for the development of science or technology in the state. This award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand), a memento and a citation.



During August April 2010, the KSCST invited the nominations for the above State awards for the years 2008 and 2009. The nominations were scrutinised by the selection committee and recommended to the Government. The Government has approved the nominations recommended by the selection committee.

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 from 4th to 6th May 2011 at BIEC, Bangalore

Department of Information Technology, Bio-Technology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Vision Group on Biotechnology and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications today announced that Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 (BIB 2011) will be held from May 4th to May 6th 2011 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Center (BIEC) on Tumkur Road, Bangalore, India.

Making the announcement Mr. Ashok Kumar C. Manoli, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of IT, Biotechnology and S&T, Government of Karnataka said, “This year we have scheduled our flagship biotech event in the sprawling BIEC premises from May 4th to 6th 2011. The event has earned the sobriquet of being one of the largest and most prestigious Biotech events in Asia and has made a great impact on the industry, positioning India as one of the top destinations for Biotech research & development, bio-services as well as a large market for end-products. The global biotech industry's response over the years is a proof of its popularity. India is a very important destination for the biotech industry worldwide. Bangalore INDIA BIO undoubtedly plays a major role in business development for India in the global biotech arena and has entrenched itself as a hub for innovations & collaborations.”



“The event is an unique platform where International Biotech Companies will connect with leaders in India’s Life Sciences Industry, Scientific Community, Policy Makers & Regulators and Biotech States.” he added.

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 will consist of an International Exhibition, Multi-Track Conference, BioPartnering India, CEO Conclave, Bio-IP Zone, Poster Session, BioQuiz and the Bio- Excellence Awards Function.

Over 170 exhibitors, 1000 delegates & over 5000 business visitors from across the World and India are expected to participate in Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011. Countries expected to participate in the 2011 event are USA, Canada, UK, France, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea & UAE.

The Multi-Track Conference will focus on areas that are essential to improve the quality of life, namely - Biopharmaceuticals, Clinical Research, BioMedical Technology, Bio Business, Bio Collaborations and Industrial BioTechnology.

BioPartnering India™- one of the key feature of Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 offers a unique platform for delegates to scout for partnering opportunities with the Global biotech community. The 2010 event was a huge success with 366 delegates, 219 Companies from 25 Countries participated. Over 800 meetings were facilitated for not only start-ups but established pharma and biotech companies. BioPartnering India™ this year will offer several more opportunities. Companies and individuals can showcase their technologies and services through podium presentations in addition to face to face business meetings.

The Trade-Show at Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 will be the largest congregation of biotech fraternity to conduct meaningful interactions and business. Leading Exhibitors from all over the country, from various verticals like biopharmaceuticals, bio-suppliers, bio-informatics, bio-medical devices companies, etc., will participate. Besides this, important biotech States of India will also participate in the Trade-Show. More than 170 companies, both from India and abroad are expected to participate in this Trade-Show.



CEO Conclave is an exclusive gathering of biotech community (CEOs, R&D Heads, Policy-makers, Venture Capitalists, Investment Bankers, etc). The highlight of the CEO Conclave is a Panel Discussion where the Panelists comprise of Industry Leaders.



After the success of the Bio-IP Zone initiative in the previous edition, Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 will enable leading National and International IP firms to come face-to-face with Biotech fraternity to address issues related to Licensing, Valuation, Patents, Trademarks & Copyright. It will also help Biotech companies to unlock the commercial value in their IPs.





Bio Excellence Awards will recognize the contribution of Biotech companies and Individuals for their outstanding achievements in the field of Biotechnology. Exhibitor Awards and Poster Awards will be presented during the programme.



The Poster Session - 'Walkway of Discovery' will provide an excellent opportunity to present Innovative idea, outstanding research or even a groundbreaking study that has the potential to make a significant impact in the field of biotechnology. Young Researchers and Scientists from Universities, R&D Labs, Government Organisations and Corporate Sector are encouraged to participate in the Poster Session and connect with the best of Biotech Industry.



To bring-in the student community to the fore and for them to get up-close with the developments in the BioTech field, Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011 will organise a State Level BioQuiz. Introduced in 2010, the first BioQuiz programme attracted 128 students from 64 colleges (across Karnataka). This year the numbers are expected to higher.



For more information on Bangalore INDIA BIO 2011, visit http://www.bangaloreindiabio.in/

Toyota Industries Corporation, Japan establishes a Subsidiary for Distribution of Material Handling Equipment in India

Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO, Japan), under the directions of President Ted Toyoda, established a Sales company in India in Dec 2010, named “Toyota Material Handling India Pvt Ltd” (TMH India) to expand sales in promising Material Handling Market of India. TMH India will have its Head Quarters in Delhi which is one of the biggest markets in India. TMH India will start its operation in May 2011 with sales & service branches in seven cities including Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai etc.,


TICO has developed its Material Handling business from August 2006 under its subsidiary named Kirloskar Toyoda Textile machinery Pvt Ltd (KTTM, Bangalore, India). Toyota was the first foreign Brand to have its fully owned sales & service network in India. KTTM also manufactures Textile Machinery & Auto Transmission parts.

Material handling division of KTTM will be demerged into TMH India. TMH India promises all the customers in India to provide high quality Product and Service with its own sales and service network.

Kirloskar group will be a joint venture partner of this new company.

Following the expansion of Indian economy, Material Handling Equipment market also is expected to grow in India. TMH India aims to increase the market share in India together with development of sales & service network, increase of sales engineers & service technicians and impart knowledge to them.



< Outline of New Company >



1. Company Name : Toyota Material Handling India Pvt. Ltd.



2. HQs Location : Delhi , INDIA



3. Establishment : Dec 2010



4. Operation Start : May 2011



5. Share Capital : 200 mil Rs



6. Business Range : Sales and Service of Material Handling Equipment branded Toyota & BT



7. Nr of Staff : 75 staff



8. Nr of Sales : 600units (plan in 2011)



* Share Capital, Nr of Branch and Nr of Staff are planned at the timing of operation start.

TECHNICOLOR DIVES INTO ORIGINAL CONTENT BIZ

Addressing the demand for children’s animated content, and the rapid growth and success of its Bangalore, India-based animation studio, Technicolor (Euronext Paris 18453; NYSE: TCH) today announced the formation of a new team to develop and produce animated broadcast content. Tim Sarnoff, president of Technicolor’s Digital Productions division, also announced the hiring of animation industry veterans Jean MacCurdy and Fonda Snyder who will team with Technicolor’s vice president of Digital Productions, Steven Wendland, to lead the development and production efforts.


The company’s first acquisition is the literary property, “Pete & Pickles,” the story of an unlikely friendship between deeply mismatched individuals, by Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Berkeley Breathed. This marks Technicolor’s first foray into producing its own original content.
“We are honored,” stated Sarnoff, “that Technicolor’s initial entry into content development is “Pete & Pickles,” and we are thrilled and humbled by Berkeley Breathed’s trust in partnering with Technicolor to produce a series that will be true to his creation.”



"I told the folks at Technicolor,” recounts Breathed, “that the only way I could get lured to the world of small screen pixels is if a company were to declare their intent to make the coolest, most unique animated show for children's television -- one that shakes up the art-form like my son shakes the grocery bag full of eggs just because its fun. The sneaky schemers agreed."

“We are equally thrilled to welcome Jean and Fonda to Technicolor,” said Sarnoff. “They are both recognized stars in the world of children’s animated content and they share our vision for developing world-class programming and fully utilizing our talented team at Paprikaas.”



Ms. MacCurdy was the former president of Warner Bros. Animation, and Ms. Snyder was the co-founder and former president of Storyopolis Productions and former vice president of original movies with Disney Channel. Steven Wendland joined Technicolor in 2008 as the vice president of animation after working in animation at Mainframe Entertainment for 10 years.
"The opportunity to once again play in the animation world with both familiar and new talents, and to engage with a company whose name is synonymous with quality, was simply too good to pass up,” stated Ms. MacCurdy. “Tim has assembled an amazing team and I am honored to be part of it."



“To be able to bring in some of my favorite authors and illustrators, and to invest in new talent to create compelling CG animated TV series with Technicolor, is a thrilling opportunity,” offered Ms. Snyder. “I am so excited to have been hired to work with Tim, Jean and the entire Technicolor team whose rich history is inspiring.”



“It’s thrilling to watch Technicolor make its own history in the world of creative content development,” stated Wendland, “and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Infinera Expands in India

Infinera India is expanding its research and development team to build on Infinera’s success with new products and platforms geared at new segments of the optical networking market. Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) India is recruiting hardware, optical and software engineers to add to an organization that is already Infinera’s largest R&D center outside the USA . As part of the expansion, Infinera India is also expanding its existing lab to include hardware and optical R&D and test.

Following the success of the Infinera DTN, the first optical system based on large-scale photonic integrated circuits, Infinera is expanding its product portfolio to address other segments of the optical networking market. After just four years on the market, the Infinera DTN has taken 10% of the global long-haul optical networking market (according to figures from independent analyst firm Ovum) and won 62 customers worldwide, including world-leading telecom operators like Reliance Globalcom, NTT of Japan, and Deutsche Telekom of Germany .

Infinera India has made significant contributions to the award-winning Infinera DTN product family since its launch in 2004. The India team played a leading role in critical Infinera software packages including the IQ Network Operating System, Network Management Suites and Network Planning System. Infinera India has also been a key contributor to the industry-leading GMPLS network intelligence in the Infinera digital network and to Infinera’s own ASIC silicon chips.

“Our corporate strategy is to focus on fundamental technological innovation to deliver value to our customers,” said Infinera CEO Jagdeep Singh. “To continue our tradition of breakthrough innovation, we need to find and recruit the best people in all the disciplines and technologies we are engaged in. There is a deep pool of highly qualified world-class hardware, optical and software engineers in India and we are excited about expanding our operations there.”

STEER POWERS INTO CHINA - Acquires China based Zheng Feng, a single screw pipeline manufacturer

STEER, a globally acknowledged force in polymer processing machinery has made a significant acquisition to strengthen its position as a leading extruder designer and manufacturer with the acquisition of China-based Company Zheng Feng, a single screw pipeline manufacturer. This acquisition will provide STEER with enhanced manufacturing and assembling capacities to speed up time-to-market single screw, twin screw, and R & D extruders

STEER’s foray into China , one of the biggest contenders in the manufacturing space today, marks a turning point in the company’s growth. STEER’s footprint in China opens the door to a wider global reach, as well as an opportunity to be a strong player in the Chinese market.
Dr. Babu Padmanabhan, Managing Director, STEER said, “Being one of the largest producers of consumer durables, there is presently an immense demand for high-quality engineered plastics in China . STEER intends to address this requirement with its technology-driven application based single screw, twin screw extruders, elements and peripherals. Over the next few years, STEER will make a powerful impact in the Chinese market by providing superior extruders for plastics extrusion, polymer compounding and color-batch manufacturers.”

STEER’s development extruder OMICRON and its Yellow Jacket Line offerings will play a pivotal role in triggering new application-based development. Dr. Babu said, “The need of the hour is to find new and innovative ways to develop more efficient materials. STEER is at the forefront of this movement bringing together its expertise in materials, technology, metallurgy, kinematics and mathematics, in an integrated fashion, to create efficient application-based solutions. STEER’s development products are positioned to facilitate researchers in solving complex challenges in area of difficult-to-process materials for the polymer, pharmaceutical and food processing industries.”
“The powerful combination of technology assets and a large manufacturing capability in China, will give Steer an unprecedented advantage to address clients’ needs in a unified, cost-effective way,” concluded Dr. Babu.

2nd edition of Bangalore Nano to benefit Researchers and Startups in NanoTechnology

The Department of IT, BT and Science & Technology, Govt. of Karnataka and JNCASR ( Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research) have scheduled the YESSS & RICH programme as a part of Bangalore Nano 2008, on the 13th of December 2008 at the Grand Ashok Hotel, Bangalore . YESSS & RICH will be one of the main highlights of the 2nd edition of this annual event. The YESSS & RICH programme is being done in association with Indian Venture Capital Association (IVCA). This will also be the second edition of Research Industry Collaboration Hub (RICH) – a platform to showcase innovative and novel research ideas to seek partnership and commercialization opportunities to investor and industry professionals. RICH brings together researchers in the filed of nanotechnology face-to-face with the industry as well as investors. Several IVCA members, independent VCs & investment firms will be attending the programme. There's significant research work being carried out in the field of nanotechnology at a laboratory level in various leading academic institutions as well as small and medium enterprises. In the RICH programme these ideas can be presented, with the objective of exploring further possibilities of investments, collaborations and partnerships to take these ideas from Lab to Market. While in the YESSS Programme (Young Entrepreneurs Startups in Soaring Spirits) – a special segment to encourage budding entrepreneurs with business ideas to meet industry professionals & VCs face-to-face for business interactions. Start ups & incubating companies can present their business plans to scale up their operations by forging alliances with people who see value in the same. Both the programs are aimed at giving fillip to nanotech based industry in India . About 10 individuals / organizations will be offered an opportunity to make 10 minutes podium presentations on their research ideas and business plans, followed by one-to-one business meetings. The programme is expected to be attended by select audience representing industry as well as investment community. There are no charges to be a delegate and attend the RICH & YESSS sessions. The Government of Karnataka has always played a crucial role in encouraging and fostering new and frontier technologies. Bangalore is already the capital of Information Technology and Biotechnology and also hosts the leading research institutes in the filed of nanotechnology like JNCASR and IISc. Programs like YESSS and RICH under the banner of Bangalore Nano is another important initiative of the government to take early leadership in this emerging field of Science and Technology.