Applications are invited for “Tata Innovation Fellowship”, a highly competitive scheme instituted by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India to recognize and reward scientists with oustanding track record in biological sciences and a deep commitment to find innovative solutions to major problems in health care, agriculture and other areas related to life sciences and biotechnology.

OBJECTIVE

The scheme is aimed at rewarding interdisciplinary work where major emphasis is on innovation and translational research with a potential towards commercialization.

ELIGIBILITY

i)      The fellowship is open to Indian Nationals residing in India who are below the age of 55 years as on 21st November, 2011.

ii)       The applicant should possess a Ph.D. degree in Life Sciences, Agriculture, Veterinary Science or a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences, Engineering or an equivalent degree in Biotechnology/related areas. The applicant must have put in several years of work in the specific area.

iii)      The candidate must have a regular position in a University/Institute/Organization and should be engaged in research and development. If he/she is availing any other fellowship, he/she will have to opt for only one of the fellowships.

iv)      The applicant should have spent atleast 5 years in India before applying for the fellowship.

NATURE OF SUPPORT

0 The amount of the fellowship is R& 20,000/- per month in addition to regular salary from the host institute (Revision of fellowship to Rs. 25,000/- p.m. is under consideration). If an awardee is receiving salary from international organization, he will be entitled for research grant i.e. contingency only.

i) In addition, each Fellow will receive a contingency grant of Rs. 5.00 lakh per annum for meeting the expenses on consumables, equipment, international and domestic travel, manpower and other contingent expenditure to be incurred in connection with the implementation of ongoing research project under the fellowship.

iii)      The Tata Innovation Fellows would be eligible for other regular research grant(s) through extramural and other research schemes of various S&T agencies of the Government of India.

HOST INSTITUTION

i)        The candidate will continue to work at the place of his/her employment.

ii)       The Institution where the candidate is working would provide the necessary infrastructure and administrative support for pursuing the research under this fellowship.

NUMBER

Number of fellowships is 5 per year. DURATION

The duration of the fellowship will be initially for three years, extendable further by two years on a fresh appraisal.

HOW TO APPLY

Application (one copy) may be sent as per proforma downloadable from OBT website (www.dbtindla.nic.in) and duly forwarded by the competent authority to Dr. A. K. Rawat, Joint Director. Department of Biotechnology, Block-2, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi- 110 003, latest by 21″ November, 2011.

Other details regarding the proforma may be seen at www.dbtindia.nic.in

Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Succession: India’s Changing Business Landscape

Published: September 16, 2011 in India Knowledge@Wharton

Over the past 20 years, India’s information technology and outsourcing companies have grown at an extraordinary pace, with many reaching revenue numbers in the billions of U.S. dollars and seeing staff sizes grow exponentially. But this is almost entirely in the services arena; in product space, Indian companies have been singularly unsuccessful. Services may well have been the path of least resistance, said panelists during a discussion at the 15^th Wharton India Economic Forum in Philadelphia.

“Whether you use Accenture, IBM or Wipro, India is literally the back office for global information technology,” according to Vish Tadimety, chairman and CEO of CyberTech Systems and Software, a leading provider of geo-solutions in India and the U.S. But thus far, Indian companies have not proved as successful in the product and shrink-wrapped software realm. With so many Indian multinationals increasing operations outside the country, many in the Indian business community are asking if India is preparing to remain competitive in the changing economic ecosystem. Does India have the resources, structures and innovation it needs to meet the challenges of the coming decade? What are the opportunities for first-time entrepreneurs in India?

Click Here for the full Story

The TiE Stree Shakti (TSS) Workshop and Awards is a forum for women entrepreneurs to create trust-based partnerships through active networking. The objective of TSS is to create a platform of belonging for women entrepreneurs.

TSS is spearheaded by a power panel of accomplished and successful women – Anita Ramchandran, Cerebrus; Bharti Jacob, Seed Fund; Chanda Kocchar, ICICI Bank; Farzana Haque, TCS; Gita Dang, Talent Advisory Services; Ireena Vittal, McKinsey; Rama Bijapurkar, Market Strategist and Author and Shikha Sharma, Axis Bank. Also on the panel are TIE members and successful entrepreneurs in their own right, including Shilpi Kapoor, Purvi Sheth and Sridar Iyengar, President, TiE Mumbai

As part of its efforts to enable women entrepreneurs, the initiative includes:

• On-ground focused activities for Women Entrepreneurs across various TiE Chapters, leveraging the existing TiE charter of activities.

• An annual conference for women entrepreneurs that aims to recognize, reward, educate, mentor and enable.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWCC) has signed up as Process Partners for the awards definition and selection process.

TATA Group, one of India’s largest and most respected business conglomerates has signed on as partner for the initiative.

Applications are open for TSS Awards 2011 Click Here for more information 

Have you ever zoomed down a steep mountain road on your bicycle, with both your feet in the air ?  It’s thrilling and terrifying at the same time. You react to circumstances as quickly as you can, but still wonder if your last decision will throw you off the mountain, or cause you to run headlong into some obstacle or, better still, will allow you to gain even more speed and momentum ! It can be a truly exhilarating, hair-raising ride. But like a roller coaster, every peak is followed by a valley. These peaks and valleys represent the joys and frustrations of entrepreneurship. And, if you have had that cycle ride, like most Parsis have had, you are already an Entrepreneur !

Continue reading “So you wanna be an Entrepreneur ?” →

Would you like a new heart ?

Or maybe a new kidney or liver ?

Watch this video for some amazing advances which could be commercially available in a few years – buy your lungs off the shelf – maybe !