US tech museum scouts for Indian innovations
Monday, 10 January 2005, 20:30 IST
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BANGALORE: The US-based Tech Museum of Innovations has sought more nominations for its 2005 awards from India, which is attracting attention as a source for innovative technological solutions that could change the lives of millions. Tony Santos, public relations manager of the Tech Museum, said: "Indian participation has been relatively strong this year but I know they can do a better job. The Tech Museum is an internationally recognised organisation that leverages Silicon Valley technologies to foster the spirit of innovation locally and globally. "In 2003, we had 35 nominations from India, out of 534 nominations from 70 countries. In 2004, we had 49 Indian nominations against 580 nominations from 80 countries," Santos said. Since 2000, India has had six "laureates", while Bangladesh and Nepal had two each and Indonesia one. Each year, 25 laureates are honoured by the Tech Museum and a winner from each of five categories is awarded $50,000. Rajasthan's "Barefoot College" in Tilonia, founded by Roy Bunker, got a cash prize in 2002. This institution solely serves the "illiterate margin of society". In 2003, Orissa-based Gram Vikas was chosen as an economic development laureate. This non-profit organisation has created a brick kiln that can fire batches of bricks in 24-30 hours, compared to the 20-30 days needed in other kilns. In 2002, the Karnataka government's "Bhoomi Project" was chosen as an economic development laureate. It involved computerising over 20 million land records and making them accessible to individual landowners. In 2003, Brij Kothari of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad became an education laureate.
Source: IANS
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