Contribution of IITs to Indian Society 2024| IIT Current Affairs 2024 | Recent innovations by IITs| Important launches (Part-2)

IIT Madras launches medical van to tour across T.N.

V. Kamakoti, director of the institute has commissioned the Van on April 15, 2014. Around 45 types of life saving medical equipment can be calibrated through this facility. The equipment involves foetal simulator, ventilators, defibrillators, BP monitoring machines, ECG machines and incubator analyzers and many others.

This calibration will provide precise diagnoses with enhanced medical equipment accuracy. This van can not only reduce the transportation cost but also reduce the calibration cost and time for healthcare people.

According to the director, this initiative would lead towards achieving the national sustainable development goal (SDG)3 of health and welfare for everyone.

Health-tech accelerator launched at IIT Madras

Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (GDC) at IIT Madras has collaborated with TDK corporation to launch ‘TIIC Accelerator Program 2024’.

This programme will pursues start-ups’ participation from various segments of healthcare technologies and diagnostics centers. This programme will give targeted support, partnership and mentorship and opportunities of investment to enhance the growth of healthcare technology projects.

The experience of TDK in technology industry along with experience of GDC in research commercialization for developing entrepreneurship is combined in ‘TIIC Accelerator Program 2024’.

The call for application for this programme will start in 2024, from which the deserving start-ups will be short listed. Afterward, an in person workshop will be hosted by GDC at the IIT Madras campus. Thereafter, 6-8 weeks focused training will be provided to the team. Next the Business Mentorship program will be there for further set of shortlisted team.

India’s first electric flying taxi prototype: Mahindra’s Appreciation for IIT Madras

Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra has disclosed images of prototype of India’s first electric flying taxi. This shows significant development in the journey of India in the direction of electric air mobility. This initiative was taken by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and the prototype is developed by ePlane company. It is expected to be in operation by next year, showing advancement of Indian technologies in transportation field.

IIT Madras is highly appreciated by the Mahindra as it is performing as incubator of invention, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group has mentioned IIT Madras as one of the most active and exciting incubators of world in his post on X.

Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023

India’s First Dimethyl Ether Fueled Vehicle

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has developed India’s first 100% Dimethyl Ether (DME) fueled vehicle for application of both on and off road. This launch offers lower emission and higher efficiency than the baseline diesel engine. The support for this research has been received from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of Department of Science and Technology (DST).

This project lined-up with the Niti Ayog’s ‘Methanol Economy’ program, the objective of which, is to minimize the greenhouse gas emission and oil Import bill of India. DME is widely used in the chemical industries and as fuel, solvent and refrigerant.

Wipro and IIT Delhi- Center of Excellence (CoE)

The formation of pioneering Center of Excellence (CoE) on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been announced by the Wipro which is in Partnership with the IIT Delhi. This reveals the commitment of Wipro to conduct innovations continuously in developing technologies which builds its position as a leader in the tech industry.

Wipro is an Indian Multinational company which offers business process services information technology and consultancy. The Ground breaking innovation that is Ai360 ecosystem of Wipro enhance the level of talent and facilitate seamless integration of AI into every aspect of our methodologies.

HSBC India’s Green Hydrogen Partnerships

For developing innovation in green hydrogen field, strategic partnerships between HSBC India (HSBC CEO: Hitendra Dave) with IIT Bombay and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF) has been launched by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.   

This collaboration aims to provide a substantial boost to the government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. This showcases the government’s attention towards green reform that not only increases the employment opportunities in the green economy but also supports the commitment of country to achieve international climate targets and developing a strong and greener economy.

Artificial Rain tested by IIT Kanpur

The temporary solution to the problem of toxic air, pollutants and dust particles in Delhi and its neighboring regions is obtained using artificial rain which is tested by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

Artificial rain is a weather alteration method which is also known as cloud seeding. Which has been developed to produce rain through alteration in clouds’ microphysical processes. Significant attention has been gained by this technique because of its potential to manage droughts, overcome the problem of scarcity of water, to enhance the productivity of agriculture.

Cloud seeding or artificial rain is achieved by introducing cloud seeding agents into the clouds. These cloud seeding agents involve calcium chloride, potassium iodide and silver iodide. The selection of agents depends on factors like climatological conditions and target cloud type.

The injection of particles in clouds leads to the generation of ice crystals more efficiently, which either melts and produces raindrops or creates snowfall depending on temperature. Also, the amount of snow or rain produced by clouds depends on the amount of water developed around ice nuclei and the number of ice nuclei.