| Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) celebrated its 25th Foundation Day here today. Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was the Chief Guest and Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Ministry of Planning, presided over the function. Dr. Kalam conferred the ‘National Award for Commercializable Patents’ to 8 patentees, whose inventions have been selected by TIFAC as potential one that could be commercialized thereby contributing to the socio-economic benefits. Dr. Ashwani Kumar released the report ‘Indian Chemical Industry Technology Imperatives & Business Opportunities for Knowledge Chemicals’, the first of a three- series report in the chemical sector being brought out by TIFAC. The event witnessed felicitation of its past executive directors by Dr Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of TIFAC Governing Council.The National Award for Commercializable Patents is a new initiative under TREMAP (Technology Refinement and Marketing Program), a TIFAC program that aims at pushing products /prototypes up the commercialization cycle, towards market through a network of Technology Commercialization Facilitation Agencies (TCFAs). The Award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5.00 lakh along with a citation. The awarded inventions would be showcased by way of an exhibition to be held concurrently. The study on knowledge chemicals covers business opportunities, Indian & global technology trends and total market size of pharmaceuticals, industrial biotechnology & agrochemical industry in India. The technology status of Indian knowledge chemical industry was benchmarked against the global markets viz. USA, Europe, Japan and China to evaluate India’s position and ascertain the gaps.TIFAC is an autonomous society under the Department of Science and Technology. The institution was an outcome of the Technology Policy Statement 1983 of the Government of India and the subsequent recommendations of the Technology Policy Implementation Committee in 1985. The Technology Policy Statement highlighted the need for undertaking technology forecasting and assessment studies on a systematic and continuing basis. The Cabinet approved the formation of TIFAC in mid 1986 and TIFAC was formed as a registered Society in February, 1988.The mandate of TIFAC is to assess the state-of-the-art of technology and set directions for future technological development in India in important socio-economic sectors. As a unique knowledge network institution, TIFAC activities encompass a wide array of technology areas and fill a critical gap in the overall S&T system of India. The organization has carried out technology foresight exercise, facilitated and supported technology development; prepared technology linked business opportunity reports and implemented mission-mode programs.
The Technology Vision 2020 and various technology forecasting, technology assessment and techno-market survey studies carried out by TIFAC provided important policy inputs for various ministries of the Government, and helped R&D institutes and industry in choosing their technology pathways. TIFAC catalyzed academia-industry interaction and helped graduation of innovations towards commercialization through various programs like Technopreneur Promotion Program (TePP), Home Grown Technology Program and Technology Refining and Marketing Program (TREMAP). Since its inception TIFAC has also carried out some major initiatives in the sectors of sugar, leather, Advanced Composites, Fly Ash, automobiles etc. The current programs include the Vision 2035 Program, the TIFAC-SIDBI support for technology development, setting up of centres of excellences in higher educational institutions through the Mission REACH, technology development and demonstration in Bioprocess and Bioproducts, knowledge intervention in the MSME sector through linking of clusters with knowledge partners, and consortia-mode efforts for development of automotive sector. All these have had significant impact on the country in terms of technology development, and delivering economic, societal and environmental benefits. |
