AGNIi revolutionizing Technology Commercialization in India

Author: Ananya Chakraborty

Last October, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India launched the National Technology Commercialization Program, Christened AGNIi, (Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations), this program aspires to aid, assist and transform ingenious solutions, products and technologies into commercially viable products.

A number of cutting-edge technologies are today being developed by national science research laboratories, academic institutions, individual innovators and startups in India. However, many of them are failing to go the full length and enter the market. It is this last mile connectivity that AGNIi plans to bridge.

Two recent examples to exemplify AGNIi’s approach

• Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology is a premier CSIR laboratory that has a focussed research mandate on bioresources, for catalysing bioeconomy in a sustainable manner. Situated in the pristine environ in the lap of Dhauladhar Ranges, this institute boasts of over 50 scientists who work tirelessly in developing novel value-added tea products such as Catechins, Polyphenols etc. The team was well informed of the tea wine and Ready to Serve tea drinks that they have developed and hence decided to put these scientists in touch with Tranquilitea, a family business working for generations in the tea industry. Tranquilitea got a license to utilize the know-how for these two technologies, and the institute thus received commercial benefits for its tremendous focus of industry-quality research.

• While a supply-driven approach was followed in this case, a demand-driven approach was followed in the other. Tata Motors launched an Automobility Collaboration Network – TACNet to engage with the start-up community and technology companies in the mobility ecosystem. It is a launch point for connecting aspiring start-ups with Tata Motors to solve existing and anticipated challenges in people and cargo mobility. AGNIi connected them with some of the top startups in the country who are developing cutting-edge mobility solutions. Tata Motors did a thorough evaluation of these startups, met their teams and decided to support four of them. These four startups are as diverse as a big data analytics company providing driving analysis, data on engine health metrics etc., a start-up optimizing generation, conversion and storage of energy, a cost-effective and high-performance Telematics Control Hardware platform, as well as an agri-tech logistics company.

Apart from these two models, AGNIi is also providing discrete technology scouting facilities to corporate and Government bodies, connecting foundations with socially impactful technologies, and engaging with all stakeholders in new and innovative ways.

AGNIi intends to revolutionize the way technology licensing and collaboration works in India. With national science research laboratories, startups, corporates, SMEs and Government departments on board, we are at the forefront of the movement to leverage India’s tremendous technological talent and convert the nation to an Innovation Hub.