Category: Business & Economy

INTERNATIONAL: KARTATAKA : California based Glean Technologies launches its first India office in Bengaluru

The office will be the centre of operations for India, and will house finance, sales, R&D and business operations functions, Glean said.

California-based enterprise AI platform Glean Technologies on Friday announced the launch of its first office in India, located in Bengaluru.

The office will be the centre of operations for India, and will house finance, sales, R&D and business operations functions, Glean said.

Glean has so far raised over $350 million from top VCs that include General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed and others, and is currently valued at $2.2 billion. The platform’s Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is growing at 300% y-o-y.

Arvind Jain, founder and CEO at Glean Technologies, said, “Our Bengaluru office will enable us to closely collaborate with Indian enterprises, helping them unlock the full potential of their knowledge through our AI platform. Additionally, this office will serve as a crucial hub for our global operations, driving a significant portion of our international projects.”

Addressing the media, the CEO also shared the vision for AI innovation in India, the capabilities of its platform, and the impact on local industries. He added that this is its biggest investment outside the US. The company plans to triple its headcount to over 450 from the current 150 by next year.

The founder also said the company is actively expanding its customer base in the APAC region, forging partnerships with leading enterprise companies, including a top Southeast Asian commercial bank, the leading ridesharing platform in the region, a global electronics and entertainment company, and a global automotive manufacturer.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: BOEING’s LARGEST : PM Modi inaugurates Boeing’s largest campus outside US in Bengaluru

Boeing’s new campus will also serve as the hub for Indian startups and universities.

While inaugurating the Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Bengaluru is a city that connects aspirations with innovation and achievement.

“Bengaluru connects India’s technological capability with global demand,” said PM Modi in Bengaluru.

This is Boeing’s largest centre outside the US, built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crore which is also Boeing’s largest such investment. Modi also launched Boeing’s Sukanya Program that aims to support the entry of more girl children from across India into the country’s aviation sector. The program will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

Boeing’s centre in Bengaluru will house engineering, test, research and technology teams, performing advanced high-quality aerospace engineering works. It includes support in structural and systems design, manufacturing, aircraft testing system development, and digital solutions that drive sustainability in aviation. The centre will also work in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet-of-Things, Cloud Solutions, Model-Based Engineering, and Additive Manufacturing to enhance quality, safety, and productivity.

Boeing’s new campus in Bengaluru will also serve as the hub for Boeing’s work with Indian startups and universities. Currently Boeing has collaborated with seven incubators, including Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – IIT Mumbai, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer – IIT Delhi, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center – IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Madras Incubation Cell, Society for Innovation and Development – IISC Bengaluru, T-Hub Hyderabad, and Technology Business Incubator – KIIT Bhubaneshwar. Together, they host the Boeing University Innovation Leadership and Development program (BUILD) annually in India.

The Boeing’s Sukanya Program was launched in the backdrop that India leads the world with women comprising 15 percent of all pilots, exceeding the global average of 5 percent. The Indian aviation sector is also witnessing a surging demand for pilots. More than a doubling of the current roster of 9,000 pilots will be required. Under this program Boeing is establishing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Labs in girls’ schools, especially in tier 2 and 3 towns, to expand awareness, knowledge, and exposure to careers in aviation.

With around 150 locations planned, local program managers will engage with as many as 75,000 students through these STEM labs, with the intent of reaching 60 percent of the young girl students. The initiative will support learning through various digital products, including Virtual Procedure Trainer, Virtual Airplane, and Private Pilot License ground school courses. Boeing will also provide scholarships for training, covering aspects such as foundation, jet bridge, type rating, and more.

Besides this Boeing will have full-flight simulator capacity to support the women’s pilot program and collaborate with customers to ensure candidates are airline-ready. These investments – both hard assets, and Competency-based Training and Assessment (CBTA) courseware aim to produce a large pipeline of female pilots entering the airlines annually.

During the inauguration PM Modi was joined by the Governor of Karnataka Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition – Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka and Stephanie Pope Boeing’s Chief Operating Officer, along with other senior Boeing executives. 

source/content: theweek.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: IISc designs device to make infrared light visible, with diverse applications in defence and optical communications

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have fabricated a device to increase or up-convert the frequency of short infrared light to the visible range. This up-conversion of light has diverse applications, especially in defence and optical communications, said IISc.

“The human eye can only see light at certain frequencies (called the visible spectrum), the lowest of which constitutes red light. Infrared light, which we can’t see, has an even lower frequency than red light. IISc researchers have now fabricated a device to increase or up-convert the frequency of short infrared light to the visible range,” IISc said.

2D material used

The institute added that in a first, the IISc team used a 2D material to design what they call a non-linear optical mirror stack to achieve this up-conversion, combined with widefield imaging capability. The stack consists of multilayered gallium selenide fixed to the top of a gold reflective surface, with a silicon dioxide layer sandwiched in between.

It said that traditional infrared imaging uses exotic low-energy bandgap semiconductors or micro-bolometer arrays, which usually pick up heat or absorption signatures from the object being studied.

However, existing infrared sensors are bulky and not very efficient. They are also export-restricted because of their utility in defence. There is, therefore, a critical need to develop indigenous and efficient devices.

The method used by the IISc team involves feeding an input infrared signal along with a pump beam onto the mirror stack. The nonlinear optical properties of the material constituting the stack result in a mixing of the frequencies, leading to an output beam of increased (up-converted) frequency, but with the rest of the properties intact. Using this method, they were able to up-convert infrared light of a wavelength of around 1,550 nm to 622 nm visible light. The output light wave can be detected using traditional silicon-based cameras.

Going forward, the researchers plan to extend their work to up-convert light of longer wavelengths. They are also trying to improve the efficiency of the device by exploring other stack geometries.

Worldwide interest

“There is a lot of interest worldwide in doing infrared imaging without using infrared sensors. Our work could be a game-changer for those applications,” said Varun Raghunathan, associate professor, Department of Electrical Communication Engineering.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: WIND ENERGY: Karnataka ranks 02nd in All-India Wind Power Generation

The event highlighted significant advancements and achievements in the wind energy sector across the nation.

Karnataka secured second place in the all-India wind energy generation capacity commissioned for the year 2023 -24. The state stood second after Gujarat, while Tamil Nadu ranked third, a release said on Wednesday.

Karnataka was honoured by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as part of Global Wind Day celebrations in Delhi on June 15, with the central theme of ‘Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India’. The event highlighted significant advancements and achievements in the wind energy sector across the nation.

As per data from the energy department, the commissioned capacity for wind power generation for financial year 2023- 24 is 724.66MW. Gujarat’s commissioned capacity is 1743.8MW, while Tamil Nadu’s is 586.37MW. KP Rudrappaiah, managing director, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) received the award from Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik and MNRE secretary Bhupinder S Bhalla.

Reacting to this, Energy Minister KJ George said Karnataka’s significant strides in the wind energy sector reflect its dedication to renewable energy and its vision for a sustainable and prosperous future.

Gaurav Gupta, additional chief secretary, energy department, said the achievement reflects the commitment towards sustainable energy and efforts to harness wind power.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: SPACE: IN-SPACe launches Pre-Incubation Entrepreneurship for youngsters

Applicants should not have received any grants, funding, or monetary support from private or government schemes and all submissions must be original work to qualify.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has launched the Pre-Incubation Entrepreneurship (PIE) Development Programme to support and nurture early-stage space startups. The programme aims to cultivate and empower the next generation of space tech innovators, providing them with the tools and guidance necessary to transform their space ambitions.

The 21-month programme will guide aspiring entrepreneurs through a comprehensive journey divided into different phases such as ideation, innovation, and prototype development. The programme will ensure that budding entrepreneurs receive structured support at each critical stage of development.

PIE aims to target students in technical courses or those with a strong interest in space technology, expected to graduate in 2024, or pursuing Master’s or Doctorate programmes and early-stage start-ups focusing on space technologies and aiming to develop entrepreneurial ventures.

Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, said, “India’s space sector is poised for exponential growth, and young entrepreneurs are crucial to driving this expansion. PIE will provide them with a launch pad, equipping them not only with technical expertise but with the business acumen needed to navigate the complexities of space industry.”

Applicants should not have received any grants, funding, or monetary support from private or government schemes and all submissions must be original work to qualify.

Star-ups registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on or after July 1, 2022, are classified as early-stage start-ups.

For more details, visit www.inspace.gov.in

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Alstom bags contract worth 96.2 million euros for Bengaluru Metro’s new signalling system

The contract awarded to the French company covers training of Bengaluru Metro’s personnel and annual maintenance for five years.

Alstom has been awarded a contract to design, manufacture, supply, install, test and commission a fully automated communications-based train control signalling system for the Bengaluru Metro’s upcoming phase 2, Reach 6, 2A and 2B corridors.

The contract worth 96.2 million euros from Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) covers training of personnel and annual maintenance for five years, the company announced on Wednesday.

To enhance passenger safety, full-height platform screen doors will be installed at all underground stations on the Reach 6 corridor and the airport-line terminal, and half-height platform screen gates will be installed at one at-grade station in the 2B corridor.

The platform screen doors, to be installed on the metro’s corridors for the first time, could save significant energy by reducing air-conditioning needs and prevent suicide attempts.

This project aims to cater to the three major corridors of the Bengaluru metropolitan region, by linking the critical junction at Silk Board on Outer Ring Road (2A) to Kempegowda International Airport (2B) via KR Puram. Reach 6 will connect Bannerghatta Road to Nagavara with interchanges at MG Road (purple line which links to Whitefield), and yellow line at Jayadeva Hospital and the blue line at Nagavara.

The company will enable driverless operations across the metro’s combined line length of 80.39 km. This is expected to alleviate traffic congestion by minimising travel time by at least 50 per cent and reduce carbon emissions. The company’s rail cybersecurity solution will also address emerging cyber threats.

Alstom will also deploy its predictive maintenance tool, HealthHub, to enable real-time condition-based monitoring of the health of trains, infrastructure and signalling assets using advanced data analytics to predict the remaining useful life. This approach minimises operational downtime, maximises system availability and optimises lifecycle costs.

Alstom’s communications-based train control Urbalis solution will also offer the highest grade of automation, which is commonly known as the “driverless technology”, across 50 stations and three depots. The company’s Urbalis Vision platform will be set up at the integrated operation control centre in Baiyappanahalli. A backup control centre to be set up at Peenya will serve as a command centre to control and monitor all train operations.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA gets five Union ministers. Nirmala Sitharaman, HD Kumaraswamy, Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje & V Somanna

Though the saffron party members won from the coastal region, they are all first-time MPs and have not been included in the ministry.

As Karnataka has elected 19 National Democratic Alliance MPs, the highest from South India, it was on Sunday rewarded with five ministerial posts in the Modi 3.0 cabinet. Of the five ministers, including Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Sitharaman, two are women.

Apart from Nirmala, the four other ministers are Pralhad Joshi, JDS state president HD Kumaraswamy, Shobha Karandlaje and V Somanna. While Nirmala, Joshi and Kumaraswamy have cabinet rank, the other two are ministers of state. Interestingly, Kumaraswamy was among the first few MPs to take oath in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Of the 293 NDA MPs, the state’s contribution of 19 MPs constituted over 6 per cent and the number of ministries too is above that mark, considering that the Modi cabinet has 72 ministers.

Even among these five ministers, the representation to the Old Mysore region is more. Kumaraswamy represents Mandya, Shobha Bangalore North and Somanna Tumkur. Joshi, who has been reinducted, is the only MP from North Karnataka. This could be because of the lacklustre performance of BJP in these parts. Though the saffron party members won from the coastal region, they are all first-time MPs and have not been included in the ministry.

Joshi, who has the Sangh Parivar background and is the fifth time MP, had served as Law and Parliamentary minister in the previous government. Shobha, the first-ever woman MP from Bengaluru, had served as a minister of state.

Somanna, who was with Congress and JDS, joined BJP in 2009 and has stayed with the party since then. After suffering a defeat from two constituencies in the last Assembly polls, he won the parliamentary polls this time from Tumkur. His loyalty to the party has paid off with a ministerial berth.

Kumaraswamy, who is JDS state president, became a chief minister for the first time in 2006, thanks to his party’s alliance with BJP. But as per the power-sharing agreement between the two parties then, he refused to transfer power to BJP’s BS Yediyurappa in 2007, ending the coalition. The fallout was ugly and the two parties had kept their distance since then. But the 2023 Assembly polls were a wake-up call to the regional party as it won mere 19 seats. Fearing a complete meltdown, the party tied up with BJP for the Lok Sabha polls and Kumaraswamy helped BJP get a good number of seats in the Old Mysuru region.

Breaking down the caste equation, two Brahmins (Joshi and Nirmala), two Vokkaligas (Kumaraswamy and Shobha) and one Lingayat (Somanna), have made it to the Modi ministry.

Sources from BJP said that though two Vokkaligas have been given the honour, only Shobha is originally from BJP. Asked why former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar were not inducted, they said, “Since both are former CMs, they cannot be made ministers of state.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: Meet IIT graduate Ravi Poovaiah who designed EVMs, became beacon of innovation

As India is bracing up to hold the seventh and last phase of polling in the ongoing 2024 general elections, the spotlight continues to shine on the electronic voting machines (EVMs), a pivotal tool in the democratic process. While the device itself is familiar to most, the minds behind its creation have remained largely anonymous—until now.

Leading the charge in designing the EVMs were Ravi Poovaiah and A G Rao, both products of the esteemed Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). Among them, Ravi Poovaiah stands out as a luminary in the field. A distinguished faculty member at the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay, Poovaiah’s journey is a testament to his interdisciplinary prowess.

Armed with degrees in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras and Product Design and Graphic Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the USA, Poovaiah brought a unique blend of technical expertise and creative insight to the table. His academic journey culminated in an MTech. degree from IIT Bombay, where he now holds the esteemed D L Shah Chair for Innovation.

But Poovaiah’s impact extends far beyond the academic realm. His advocacy for open-sourcing design and integrating design education into mainstream curriculum underscores his commitment to democratizing knowledge and innovation.

In the professional arena, Poovaiah’s collaborations with industry giants like Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google India speak volumes about his practical acumen and problem-solving abilities. His contributions to projects with Motorola India, Indian Oil Corporation, and Siemens India further cement his reputation as a leader in his field.

Through his leadership in the EVM project, Poovaiah has not only revolutionised electoral technology but also underscored the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in addressing complex societal challenges. As India stands on the finishing line to the 2024 general elections, Poovaiah’s legacy as the visionary behind the EVM serves as a beacon of innovation in the world’s largest democracy.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: Bengaluru gets new ‘Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation’ in collaboration with IKP Knowledge Park and Good Food Institute (GFI)

According to industry experts, the highest profit in this sector can be derived from exporting alternative meat (Rs 8,652 crores) followed by dairy (Rs 1,889 crores) and eggs at Rs 632 crores.

With the right roadmap and investment from individuals and companies, the smart protein or alternative protein industry in the country is poised to grow 10x by 2040 and a total evaluation of four billion US dollars by 2030.

According to industry experts, the highest profit in this sector can be derived from exporting alternative meat (Rs 8,652 crores) followed by dairy (Rs 1,889 crores) and eggs at Rs 632 crores. However, currently with regulatory restrictions, a volatile market, a lack of research and development facilities and limited investment from venture capitalists, the 100+ smart protein startup ecosystem in the country needs a bigger push to scale its full potential.

The IKP Knowledge Park, science park and incubator, along with Good Food Institute (GFI) has launched the Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation in the city. The centre will be dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create sustainable alternatives for food and materials by offering them early research and development support, mentorship, legal and regulatory assistance, and more.

Deepanwoita Chattopadhyay, Chairman and CEO, IKP said, “India has several challenges ahead of itself while it aims to become an economic power. As aspirations grow the need for protein intake is also important. Food and nutrition are paramount for a healthy country. Unfortunately, 80% of children in the country are nutrition deficient. It’s time for a protein revolution.”

The CEO added that the standard cultivation and production of protein is limited and climate-inefficient. “The ratio of what goes into production and the final protein product is barely touching 1:10 or 1:8. With incubation centres such as these more startups can collaborate and make India a bigger player.”

Leveraging the country’s large crop biodiversity and building sustainable value addition in pulses, millets and other crops can make India a big contributor to smart protein products. “We are home to one of the most talented competitive pools and skills such as entrepreneurship, engineering and scientific skills need to be recognised,” said Aiyanna Belliappa, Senior Innovation Specialist, GFI India.

The group echoed the sentiment that India is already home to the best biotechnology innovation, capitalizing on it is the way ahead.

With three modalities in the alternative protein – plant-based, fermentation and cultivated (grown from animal cells in labs) Sneha Singh, Acting Managing Director, GFI said, “Though India has some regulatory pathway for plant-based protein, the fermentation and cultivation need more support from the government, its progress is slow.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited0

Kasturba Hospital, Manipal wins recognition as one of India’s most trusted IVF and fertility centres

 Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, has been honoured by Insights Care as one of India’s most trusted IVF and fertility centres. This recognition celebrates the hospital’s remarkable advancements in healthcare services, medical research, and its compassionate approach to healthcare delivery.

The Manipal Assisted Reproduction Centre (MARC), with 35 years of dedicated service to infertile couples, received this prestigious award during a ceremony held at the Fortune Inn Valley View, Manipal, on May 27, 2024. MARC has been instrumental in facilitating the birth of over 10,000 babies through various procedures, with the oldest IVF child now 25 years old.

The Insights Care Award is a prestigious recognition given to healthcare organizations that have demonstrated exceptional performance in advancing healthcare services, medical research, and fostering a culture of compassion in healthcare delivery. This award highlights institutions that have made significant strides in their respective fields, showcasing excellence, innovation, and a patient-centered approach.

Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor of MAHE Manipal, presented the award and said, “We are immensely proud of the achievements of MARC. The dedication and expertise of the team have brought joy to thousands of families. This recognition by insights care is a testament to their hard work and the compassionate care they provide. We look forward to continuing our journey of excellence in reproductive healthcare.”

C G Muthana, COO, MAHE Manipal, Dr Anand Venugopal, COO Teaching Hospitals, MAHE, Manipal, and Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and whole MARC team were present.

Dr Pratap Kumar, professor and Head of MARC, provided an overview of MARC’s journey since its inception in 1990, highlighting its significant achievements in the field of infertility.

He explained that MARC began with basic procedures and introduced the test tube baby (IVF) procedure in 1998. The IVF process involves fertilising an egg from the wife with sperm from the husband outside the body, then placing the embryo into the woman’s womb.

The first IVF baby was born on February 18, 1999. Dr. Pratap Kumar emphasised that MARC offers a comprehensive range of treatment programmes for sub-fertile couples seeking assisted conception. The centre is supported by expert doctors and scientists who have received specialised training abroad and possess extensive experience in handling sub-fertility issues. The centre’s pioneering technological advancements have positioned MARC as one of the most advanced infertility treatment centers in India.

Dr Satish Adiga, professor and chief embryologist at MARC, along with his team of skilled embryologists, was acknowledged for their crucial role in the success of the test tube baby procedures. Other key team members, including Dr Prashanth K Adiga, professor, Dr Anjali Suneel Mundkur, associate professor, and Dr Vidyashree G Poojari, associate professor, were also congratulated by university and hospital officials.

MARC boasts of a fully equipped andrology laboratory for male subfertility evaluation and semen banking for both short-term and long-term storage. Its embryology laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that meet international standards. The centre also offers laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery for fertility enhancement and provides oncofertility techniques.

This recognition by Insights Care underscores MARC’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of reproductive medicine, making it a beacon of hope for countless couples seeking to build families.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)