Recent Inventions
This section highlights some recent inventions, which may have huge benefits, and would motivate the future inventors to work and contribute more in technology for benefit of the society. Readers may volunteer to share their own or other people’s works. Some interesting inventions are here.
- Artificial Glaciers of Ladakh (Ice Stupa): An excellent solution to Ladakh’s water problem during April-June period, by a talented Indian, Sonam Wangchuk and his team. This is one of the greatest examples that shows how a simple (but generally unbelievable) solution may exist for a complex problem. The working of the system relies just on gravity and ambient temperature, which is amazing! The system has made its journey beyond India, with a similar system being built by the team in Switzerland. A reverse trend for sure in an era when we often depend on foreign technologies for almost everything. Hats off to this gentleman. Watch a short video here or see details in their website.
- Foldscope: An ultra-affordable yet powerful paper microscope invented at Stanford University. A remarkable invention, no doubt. Watch co-inventor Manu Prakash talking about it in Youtube or see details on their official website. Those who are comfortable in Bengali can read about it here.
- CO2 to Fuel: Researchers at Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences have demonstrated an efficient catalyst that converts CO2 to gasoline range hydrocarbons. For more details click here. Is not it amazing? This invention is one of the 250 research articles that the Springer Nature have recently identified to potentially impact on society’s most pressing problems. Other such potential research outcomes are available at the Springer Nature’s Change the World.
Coming Events of Relevance
- Forthcoming Events – AGNIi: A number of events are in line for various focus areas. Visit the website and find out what interests you as an inventor, startup etc.
Recurring Events of Relevance
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): It is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Their framework includes Atal Tinkering Labs (school level), Atal Incubators (to promote entrepreneurship in Universities and industry), Atal New India Challenge (to promote technology driven innovations) and Defence India Startup Challenge. Keep an eye on the official website for the programmes and calls in 2019.
- Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations (AGNIi): It is a Government of India initiative that provides innovators with a platform to bring their solutions to industry and to market. The inventors can apply online with their invention details. Find details here.
- India Innovation Challenge Design Contest: Texas Instruments, in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology (DST), organise this contest. It is open for all Indian engineering students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees with Indian engineering colleges. Support for design, incubation and launch of products. Find details here.
- IGNITE Awards: Annual event by NIF that calls for original technological ideas and innovations by children, up to Standard XII or the age of 17 years, in or out of school. Find details here.
- National Biennial Competition: Another event by NIF, happens every alternate year. Unaided/unsupervised technological innovations and traditional knowledge developed at grassroots by an individual or group, without support from external agencies, are considered for the competition. Find details here.
- Annual School on Grassroots Innovations: A full-time, free annual residential programme by NIF, usually happens in January for a week. Open for those who are involved or have keen interest in grassroots innovations. See details here.
- Training at RGNIIPM, Nagpur: Various training programmes throughout the year on intellectual property rights. Keep an eye on their website.
New Tools
- The Indian Patent Office have launched an official mobile app “Intellectual Property India” for intellectual property rights. Find details here – http://www.ipindia.nic.in/newsdetail.htm?376/ or search google playstore.