GUWAHATI, June 14 � Making use of local wood of the State as humidity sensor, innovation in puppet making and development of low cost housing by using bamboo are some among many projects being currently implemented by the Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC) and the council expects some results within next few months.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, Dr RK Barman, head of Science and Technology division of ASTEC, said altogether 15 projects by individual and institution-based researchers are currently being implemented under the �Innovation, Technology Generation and Awareness� programme launched by the State government in 2011 and some more are to be taken up soon.
There were 61 proposals or concept notes for technology generation received by ASTEC during the last fiscal, of which 15 were selected.
�Some of the projects are at an advanced stage. We are supporting the projects for a two-year period,� Barman said.
He said ASTEC has already called for concept notes for technology generation for this fiscal.
�This year we will select around ten projects with a maximum budget estimate of Rs 3.5 lakh for a project. Already we have received some proposals including one for a new kind of bio-pesticide and another for a machine for cleaning safety tanks.
�We will accept the concept notes till June 30 and then our expert committee will study them and decide on the ones which are to be selected,� Barman said.
He said that the entire process for selection of new projects for this fiscal would be completed in two-three months.
He said once the projects achieve the technology generation compatibility stage, ASTEC will guide the innovators to file patent applications and commercialize their innovations, besides helping to showcase them.
This fiscal, ASTEC is looking to support projects in the fields of traditional technology, agriculture, transportation, medical, education, tourism, food processing, engineering and IT, among others.
�The entire Innovation, Technology Generation and Awareness programme was launched with an aim to promote grass-root level innovation and stimulate the research field in the State. Such innovators generally do not receive recognition and the programme was intended to give them a support,� he said.
Barman said supporting innovators is also a way of strengthening the culture of technology generation in Assam.
�Our project scientists Pradyut J Deori and Santa Kalita are coordinating the programme. Every six months reports are gathered from the researchers to find out about the progress of work,� he said.
