Annual Report 2004-2005

Technology Development

Instrumentation Development Programme (IDP)

Department of Science & Technology under its Instrumentation Development Programme (IDP) has been funding projects on design and development of indigenous instruments/technologies for over two decades. As a result, various instruments have been developed such as IR Spectrometer, UV-VIS Spectrophotometer, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Soil Salinity Tester, Ion Selective Electrodes, Digital Tide Gauge etc. at various R&D institutions and know how of 31 such technologies have been transferred for their commercial production to industry.

During the 10th plan, the Department has initiated the Instrumention Development programme in mission mode and a National Instrument Development Board has been constituted for the purpose. The following thrust areas have been identified by the Board:

• Analytical / Optical Instrumentation ;
  
• Medical Instrumentation;
  
• Industrial Instrumentation; and
  
• Imaging Techniques and Instrumentation.

Major Achievements

In order to further implement the policies & strategies laid down by NIDB, following activities were carried out during the year to strengthen R&D in instrument design and development, generation of new programmes & generation of human resources in priority areas :

New Programmes initiated

Development of following instruments/systems was initiated and/or supported:

• Development of micro gravimetric diagnostic kit for Hepatitis B at CSIO, Chandigarh.
  Design and fabrication of layer by layer sequential absorption instrument at IACS, Kolkata.
• Design and development of Tectile Sensor at IISc, Bangalore.
  
• Design and development of MEMS based sensors for continuous monitoring of humidity, temperature, CH4, Co in coal mines at Jadahavpur University, Kolkata.
  
• Design and development of Pt heater for ceramic based sensor at CEERI, Pilani.

Instruments/systems under Development

Some of the major instruments/Systems under development are as follows:

• Multidisciplinary microcomputer based student lab at Delhi University, Delhi.
• PC based semi optical inspection system for printed circuit boards (PCBs) mounted with surface mounted devices (SMDs) and conventional components at CSIO, Chandigarh.
  
• Development of multizone optical fibre based perturbation sensing system at CSIO, Chandigarh.
• Development of Electronic Nose at Pune University, Pune.
• Development of LPG/Oxygen sensor based on Nanomaterials at IICT, Hyderabad.
• Development of controlled atmosphere instrumentation for long shelf life of Apples at NRTC, Parwanoo (H.P.).
  
• Development of humidity meters based on thick film ferroelectric lead magnesium niobate at CGCRI, Kolkata.
  
• Development of National facility for testing & calibration of ceramic based sensors at NPL, New Delhi ( Figure 6.7).

Development of Microendoscope of various diameters at CSIO, Chandigarh.

Development of Digital ECG amplifier an essential hardware for the Automatic Function Test (Heart Rate Variability) at AIIMS, New Delhi.

Design and development of Biscuit inspection system at CEERI Centre, Chennai.

Instruments / Systems Developed

Some of the major instruments/systems developed and which are available for manufacturing are mentioned below:

• Process technology for design and development of LPG & CNG Sensors at CGCRI, Kolkata.
• Differential Thermal Analyzer at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
• Real Time Sound Analyzer at CSIO, Chandigarh.

Technologies transferred

• Technology of Force Transducer developed at NPL, New Delhi transferred to M/s Raguram Instruments, Madipur, New Delhi (Figure 6.8).
  
• Technology of Dispergraph developed at CSIO, Chandigarh transferred to M/s Optomech Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad (Figure 6.9).

Other Highlights

In order to identify frontline instrumentation and also impart training to scientific professionals, following programmes related to advanced instrumentation were organized:

• Training school on Electrochemical Sensors at BARC , Mumbai;
• Training school on Agro electronic instrumentation at Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh;
• Training school on Sensor material Characterization and design of sensor at SASTRA, Deemed University, Thanjavur; and
• Training school on Bio sensor design and development at Punjab University, Chandigarh

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is a system evolved by OECD, used for achieving the above goals. The OECD Principles of GLP have been internationally accepted. In India, National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority was set up in April 2002 with the approval of the Cabinet to help Indian industries to obtain GLP certification for their test facilities, so that data generated by these test facilities is eventually acceptable in OECD countries. India, at present, enjoys the status of a Provisional Member of the OECD for the purpose of GLP.

The GLP Authority functions through an Apex Body, which has Secretaries of concerned Ministries/Departments, Director-General, CSIR and the Drugs Controller General of India as its members with Secretary-DST as its Chairman. This Apex Body is responsible to ensure that the National GLP Programme functions as per OECD norms and principles and achieves OECDrecognition and India acquires full member status in OECD.

Some of the major achievements of the Indian GLP programme are given below:

• Head, National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority has been nominated as observer to the OECD’s Working Group on GLP and National Coordinator for OECD’s Test Guidelines Programme. The Authority representative also attends meetings of the OECD’s Working Group on GLP.
• GLP Certification has been given to four test facilities/laboratories and four are in pipeline.
• Advertisement has been given in the various leading newspapers for inviting applications from test facilities/laboratories for GLP certification.
• Information is being collected from the industry on their GLP status in OECD member countries through a questionnaire on GLP.
• Guidelines for inspection of Indian test facilities by foreign GLP monitoring authorities have been framed.
• Committee for framing legislation on GLP has been constituted.
  
• Designing and development of the Programme’s website has been initiated.
  
• The following training courses/workshops have been organized:

  (i) One six-day tutor’s training course with WHO support in New Delhi;
  (ii) Two three-day training courses on GLP in Lucknow; and
  (iii) One three-day “National Symposium on GLP and Regulatory Issues & CE (Continuing Education) Course on GLP” at Trivandrum.

The Technology Development Board (TDB) was constituted under the provisions of the Technology Development Board Act, 1995. TDB administers a fund called Fund for Technology Development and Application. It provides equity capital or any other financial assistance to industrial concerns and other agencies attempting commercial application of indigenous technology or adapting imported technology for wider domestic applications. It also provides financial assistance to research and development institutions engaged in developing indigenous technology or adaptation of imported technology for commercial application. TDB has so far signed 143 agreements with the total project cost of Rs. 1935.55 crore. This includes TDB’s commitment of Rs. 556.59 crore against which TDB had disbursed Rs. 503.66 crore. TDB’s support covers all sectors namely, Health & Medical, Engineering, Chemicals, Transport, Information Technology, Tele-communication, Agriculture and Energy & Waste Utilization spread over in 16 States/Union Territories.|

During the year 2003-2004, TDB had concluded 23 agreements with 23 commercial enterprises which was more than twice the number in the previous year. However, during 2004-2005, TDB has signed 6 agreements with 6 commercial enterprises for implementing 6 projects. The total project cost is Rs. 55.73 crore including TDB’s committed loan assistance of Rs. 17.03 crore.

Major Achievements

SARAS – Maiden test flight

The country’s first indigenously-built civilian aircraft, ‘SARAS’, designed and developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL),CSIR, recorded its maiden test flight at the HAL airport, Bangalore, on 29th May 2004. The aircraft made its formal inaugural flight on 22nd August 2004 in Bangalore. The aircraft has been designed to touch a speed of 550 km an hour and cruise at an altitude of 7500 metres. With 14 passengers aboard, the aircraft will have a maximum range of 400 km with an endurance of six hours. The funding for the project has been provided by TDB, CSIR and Ministry of Civil Aviation. The demand for such a small aircraft would rise both from the civilian and defence sectors.

Transplantation services

The Global Hospital, Hyderabad, under Ravindranath GE Medical Associates Private Limited, had performed a life-saving liver transplant on a five year old girl from Pakistan in August 2004. The girl has been suffering from progressive and irreversible liver disease. The girl’s father donated a segment of his liver. The Hospital reported that out of 17 liver transplants conducted at the hospital so far, 15 are alive and doing well which is considered as a respectable success.

Peptide based lotion

Issar Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, Hyderabad, launched its peptide-based lotion – Melgain – for the treatment of vitiligo in August 2004. The company has claimed that it has patented it in USA, Australia and India and is awaiting patent approval in European countries. The drug is able to stimulate the re-growth of melanocytes and results in re-pigmentation on the skin. The company intends to develop and commercialize the technology for the peptide lotion/gel/ointment to treat vitiligo, tanning of skin and reduce wrinkles in skin.

Banana based products

Dorven Agro-Eco-Bio Ventures Private Limited, Chennai, has launched its processed value added banana based products, namely fig, jam and sauce, pickles, juice and flour. The technology is provided by the National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, a constituent unit of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, New Delhi. The project is located at Golden Jubilee Biotech Park for Women at Siruseri Village, Kanchipuram District.

Tyre bead wires for vehicles

Rajratan Global Wire Limited, Indore, has set up the facilities at Pithampur for the manufacture of tyre bead wires and commenced commercial production in August 2004. Tyre bead wire is a high carbon bronze coated wire used in all pneumatic tyres. The main function of the tyre bead wire is to hold the tyre on the rim and to resist the action of the inflated pressure which constantly tries to force it off.

Other Highlights

On the occasion of the 92nd session of the Indian Science Congress held at Ahmedabad from 3rd to 7th January 2005, the Prime Minister, Dr. Man Mohan Singh, in his inaugural address on 3rd January 2005 stated, interalia, “India’s Shantha Biotech came out with a recombinant DNA vaccine (Shanvac) on Hepatitis-B. This vaccine was being sold for US $ 15 per dose. Thanks to the entry of Shanvac, the prices of the vaccine kept on tumbling till they came to less than a dollar per dose. Shanvac today supplies this vaccine to UNICEF for 50 cents! This is a spectacular reduction in price by a factor of thirty! India’s unique S&T capacity as well as low-cost manufacturing capacity can benefit India and the whole world.”

Shantha Biotechnics Private Limited, Hyderabad, was the first company to be funded by TDB for development and manufacture of Hepatitis-B vaccine.

Technology Day Awards

The President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was the Chief Guest at the National Awards Function of the Technology Day 2004 held on 30th June 2004 at New Delhi. The President gave away the National Award of Rs. 10 lakhs and a trophy to M/s Indian Oil Corporation Limited. He also presented the SSI Units, Sahajanand Laser Technology, Ahmedabad and Mecpro Heavy Engineering Limited, New Delhi, Rs. 2 lakhs and a trophy each.

National Award was given to Indian Oil Corporation Limited for the development and successful commercialisation of indigenous technology, namely, conversion of residue and other heavy hydrocarbons into LPG and high-octane gasoline using INDMAX catalyst in a fluidised bed reactor regenerated system. InDane Maximization technology is for process improvement developed through in-house R&D unit. INDMAX technology converts hydro-carbon residue to high yield of LPG directly. The process and catalyst of INDMAX technology is protected through US, European and Indian Patents. The process was scaled up and a 100,000 MTPA INDMAX plant was set up at Guwahati Refinery based on process design by Indian Oil R&D Centre.

Sahajanand Laser Technology, Ahmedabad, was given the award for SSI unit, for the successful commercialisation of Laser Planning and Mapping of rough diamonds developed through in-house technology. This results in eliminating wastage of raw material and saving maximum carat of diamond.

Mecpro Heavy Engineering Limited, New Delhi, was given the award for SSI unit, for the successful commercialisation of Vent Air Purification System and Low Temperature Miscella Separation System developed through in-house technology. Both the systems are used in edible oil refining industry.

Interactive Meetings and exhibitions

TDB organized a number of interactive meetings with industry associations, R&D organizations, academic institutions and entrepreneurs. TDB also participated in a number of exhibitions.