MARGAO: Goa State Innovation Council (GSInC) recently launched a scheme to provide grant-in-aid for prototyping technology-based innovative products under the Virtual Innovation Register (VIR).
Under this scheme, which was launched in November 2020, applicants can avail of grants up to Rs 20,000. “True to its commitment to foster technology-based innovations in the State, the Government of Goa has launched this grant-in-aid to help students, research scholars, and startups take their inventions to the prototyping stage,” said Jose Manuel Noronha, GSInC chairman.
“Students, young entrepreneurs, emerging startups, having innovative ideas with a vision to transform them into scalable products are truly the main driving force behind rapid economic growth, increased productivity, social transformation as it also helps in reshaping and redefining almost every aspect of our lives and environment,” he said.
The scheme is primarily formulated with the objective to support and finance students, startups, innovators, research faculty, and entrepreneurs, having technology-based innovative ideas which they wish to translate into working and marketable prototypes/products. It aims to encourage innovators to achieve new heights in sustainable technologies by providing grant-in-aid for prototyping their product/ideas. To create a vibrant innovation ecosystem by supporting faster implementation of innovative ideas and converting the same into scalable products/ processes, the applicant is required to submit an online application form which is available on: http://goastateinnovationcouncil.com/ under the Virtual Innovation Register (VIR) and sign up as a New Idea.
Noronha announced that a total of 19 projects listed under the VIR had been awarded the grant-in-aid. Of these, 16 are student-led projects, while the remaining three are from startups. The grants were offered on the basis on the eligibility criteria formed by selection committee. The interviews are conducted monthly; the first phase interviews were conducted on November 13, 2020, while the second round of interviews was conducted on December 18, 2020.
The titles selected for the prototyping grant-in-aid included design and development of drones for spraying pesticides on coconut trees, wee-water everywhere every day, construction material from iron ore tailings, medical clinic that can be setup within days, fully-equipped, sturdy and cost-effective. Developed in consultation with experienced professionals in healthcare and architecture with the primary customer being the government, hospitals and NGO’s, Dronile – drone missile combo, a facemask with a filtration system, design and development of multi-purpose vibration test rig, electronic stethoscope, diabetic retinopathy detection using machine learning, KARNA is a semiautonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for military and tactical operations, cake making and baking using 3D printing technology, railway track failure detection system: implementation, maintenance strategies, advance detection of cataract surgery using AI, image processing technique to detect rice disease (brown spots), ITC – an IoT that makes exiting air conditioners energy efficient, breast cancer detection using machine learning techniques, drone mid flight battery replacement, hot fluid spillage, and coconut harvester robot.
Transforming a design or a product concept into a material form is crucial for its scalability. Often, bright innovators and keen minds fail to turn their dreams into reality owing to a lack of funds. The prototyping grant-in-aid for technology-based inventions is a vital step towards solving this problem.
“We encourage startups, students from schools and colleges, inventors, and research faculties to register their ground-breaking ideas on VIR and apply for this grant. Eligible applicants can register their innovations and ideas on VIR for free of cost,” Noronha urged.
