CII technology division to focus on new sciences

Chamber eyes tie-ups in hydrogen energy, nanotechnology

Emerging technologies like nanotechnology and hydrogen energy will be the focus areas of the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) technology division this year.

The chamber is looking at special public-private joint ventures for technology transfer with countries like the US, Japan and Taiwan.

In partnership with the department of science and technology, CII is working on a roadmap to promote research and development in the field of nanotechnology.

The chamber has already started a private initiative, led by Ratan Tata, for hydrogen energy R&D. In 2004-05, CII and the science and technology department will work on an integrated long-term programme (ILTP) with Russian laboratories to help showcase Indian nanotech and hydrogen energy capabilities. International collaborations with East European and CIS countries are also in the pipeline.

The Technology Exports Development Organisation (TEDO), a body set up by CII and the department of scientific and industrial research (DSIR), is also looking into technology-driven projects. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ukraine last month for mutual technology transfer.

Medicine, farm and food processing, chemicals and light engineering are other areas where TEDO will work on.

In its bid to encourage young scientists, the science and technology department and CII have started a "Steer the big idea" programme, where 10 young inventors around the age of 13 to 18, will be taken to Japan Institute of Innovation and Invention for exposure to scientific and technological methods used abroad.