Prasenjit Kundu selected as 'Young Innovative Pioneer'

25 Sep '08

4 min read

G. Rajmohan & C.K. Anish of National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi and Kranthi Kiran Vistakula & Prasenjit Kundu of Dhama Apparel Innovations, Ahmedabad who bagged the first prize of Rs. 3 Lakh in two different categories of the India Innovation Pioneers Challenge will also get an opportunity to participate at the Intel-University of California, Berkeley Technology Enterprenuership Challenge 2008.

The National Institute of Immunology team has invented Polyskin, an artificial skin substitute for burn wound treatment.They plan to develop biomaterial based innovative products catering to the health care segment, especially in the area of wound healing and regenerative medicine. Dhama Apparel Innovations aims to be a leader in the development of wearable technology. Their products such as ClimaGear - a jacket/vest, ClimaNeck - a neck accessory, and ClimaMet - a helmet, allow the wearer to maintain their body at a specified temperature by actively either adding heat or removing heat, regardless of the external environment.

In an effort to locate budding 'technopreneurs' with innovative ideas at a very early stage, reward them suitably and to nurture their initiative, Department of Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and Intel conducted the India Innovation Pioneers Challenge (IIPC) a technology business plan competition which provides an unparalleled avenue of opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs to explore and share ideas and gain insight for commercializing their venture through the mentoring and networking support.

IIPC is a part of the Rs 2.1 crores (~ US $ 500,000) worth Technology Entrepreneurship Program, a public-private partnership between National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India and Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd. (INTEL) and Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) to boost the entrepreneurial spirit in India.

IIPC invited entries for two categories viz.,

Scholar Sparks: Scholar Sparks was a competing platform for students from the engineering, science & medical institutions and business schools across the country having an innovative technology business plan.

Champion of Champions: This category invited entries from teams having secured top 3 positions at prominent business plan competition held in India over the last 2 years and incubatees attached with prominent technology business incubators.

Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences awarded prize to the winners of India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2008 at a ceremony held in New Delhi on the 18th of September 2008 in the presence of Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Dr. Praveen Vishakantaiah, President, Intel Technology.

The top three teams under each category received cash award of Rs three lakhs (First prize), Rs. One lakh (Second prize) and Rs. Fifty thousand (Third prize) respectively.The Award Ceremony recognized the best three teams in both categories of the India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2008.

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