Frequently Asked Questions
A set of frequently asked question along with its precise answer has been
compiled by our help desk, taking into consideration the requirements
of each of its stakeholders in the technology development and diffusion
chain. If you do not find an answer to your queries here, feel
free to email us at
info@nifindia.org or contact:
L.Chinzah
National Coordinator- Business Development
National Innovation Foundation (NIF)
Bungalow No.1, Satellite Complex, Jodhpur Tekra,
Premchand Nagar Road, Ahmedabad- 380015,
Ph no. : 91-79-26753501, 26732095/456
Fax: 91-79-26731903.
As stakeholder, you can identify yourself with any one
in the category provided in the left bar.
Champion/Mentor
Who is a champion and what qualification is he required to have?
A Champion is any individual or a registered body, who is dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable about the innovation / traditional knowledge practices and willing to take risks, including financial for developing the idea into a successful project. There is no one background, education or experience that makes someone a champion, but rather intangible qualities such as motivation, ingenuity, thoughtfulness and willingness to work hard are what make a champion.
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What role does NIF expect a champion to play in augmenting grassroots innovations?
Besides providing technical and commercial acumen, the mentor should provide moral support to the innovator. The areas in which he can contribute are:
• Technological assessment (technical benchmarking)
• Market feasibility
• Designing and prototyping the product
• Test marketing
• Preparing an applicable business model
• Generating options for Licensing / Technology transfer
• Franchising the technology to SHGs (Self Help Groups)
• Scouting for an entrepreneur
• Other areas - can be an informal advisor to micro enterprise on matters relating to book-keeping, help on legal and regulatory aspects such as registration of companies, registration with sales department etc.
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What does the champion get?
Innovators whose proposals are accepted shall some or all of these depending upon his/her contribution to the incubation process;
• Mentorship of the innovation
• Infrastructure, information and resources available
• Connections and network support
• Public visibility and appreciation
• Share licensee fee and royalty
• Priority as licensee
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Distributor/retailer
Entrepreneur
What can NIF offer to an entrepreneur looking for a business opportunity?
NIF offers several wealth creation opportunities across more than 15 sectors of our economy.
- Agriculture - plant variety
- Agriculture machinery and farm implement
- Agro based food processing machinery
- AC / ventilation machinery & equipment
- Auto components, accessories & garage equipment
- Construction & building equipment
- Consumer durables
- Dairy machinery
- Earth moving and excavator machine
- General purpose machinery & equipment
- Electronic gadgets
- Energy conservation and generation technology
- Environment and Forest Management
- Transport
- Natural Resource management and Traditional knowledge
- Herbal formulation (for animal/crops/human usage)
- Mixed return (social and commercial) technology
- Open source technology
In addition to the technology, NIF extends all necessary support i.e. business planning, strategy, financial, promotion and networking support for creating an enterprise. Subsequent, NIF and GIANs provide handholding support in initial phase of the enterprise when it is most susceptible to market risks.
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Can I search for any suitable commercializable technology from your portfolio of offerings?
There are several channels for searching commercializable technologies available with NIF/GIANs;
visit the link : http://www.nifindia.org/bd/product_list
There is an advance search engine to select technologies based on the criteria;
- Search as per word / phrase
Intellectual property right protection such as patent granted or pending, design registration
- Regional consideration based on the source of innovation
- Based on the 18 categories of technologies (http://www.nifindia.org/bd/product_category)
Technology status i.e. ready to market, idea/concept, prototype development, testing & validation, market testing
Or else write to us at info@nifindia.org, bd@nifindia.org
For off line mode, please use address;
National Coordinator- Business Development
National Innovation Foundation (NIF)
Bungalow No.1, Satellite Complex, Jodhpur Tekra,
Premchand Nagar Road, Ahmedabad- 380015
Ph no. : 91-79-26753501, 26732095/456
Fax: 91-79-26731903
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What are the services (support) offered by NIF to an entrepreneur? What are the fringe benefits in dealing with NIF?
NIF offers a wide ranging services to entrepreneurs who choose to initiate enterprise based on grassroots innovations;
- Business idea and technology
Business planning guidance i.e. demand forecasting, risk assessment, operation plan, financial feasibility, strategic networking
- Capacity building for running business
Dissemination support i.e. opportunity to showcase products in Trade fairs, Melas, Technology fest, other exhibitions
Networking with strategic partners i.e. IITs, Agriculture universities for incubation assistance
- Financial Support for ;
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What is a grassroots innovation? Please give example of wealth creation based on grassroots innovations?
Grassroots innovations by definition are need-based, simple, cost-effective and sustainable. The possibility of these technological solutions addressing local constraints in effective way is reasonably high, simply because solution originates from someone who has first-hand experience of the issue involved. The magnitude of demand also varies depending on how wide spread is the need, how important is the element of regional specificity and so on. This describes the challenges and opportunity both for grassroots innovations.
Successful examples of wealth creation based on grassroots innovation could be read on the link:
http://192.168.0.123/cranti_bd/success_stories
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What is the process of technology transfer at NIF?
The process of technology transfer at NIF could be summarized in following steps;
- Identification of technology by entrepreneur
- Signing of Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
Validation of technology (through live-demonstrations, test-reports, expert reports, field visit by entrepreneur, etc.)
Freezing on the scope of licensing i.e. region, exclusivity, etc. through discussions
Presentation by NIF on the business opportunity and valuation of the technology
- Negotiations
- Closing the deal, signing MoU for technology transfer
Initiate technology transfer process by exchanging design documents, technical data, market data, financial data and visit of innovator to entrepreneur’s site
- Joint product development or planning for setting up enterprise
Joint assessment for the closure of the agreement based on MoU
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How does NIF determine the business potential of a grassroots innovation? What method of valuation of technology is adopted by NIF?
NIF undertakes market research by employing its own staff or outsources the task for determining the demand potential of any technology.
The overall comprehensive process followed for most of the cases are;
- Identification of application domains for the technology
Determine market size for each application domain through secondary sources
Conduct focus group discussions with the help of market/technology experts to assess risk factors and opportunity
Conduct personal interviews with various market entities i.e. distributors, dealers, retailers, users for competing substitute technologies
Based on all of the above inputs forecasting is done to project demand patterns
With target price and cost details, cash flows are derived at to determine the value of the technology for a given scenario (set of assumptions)
- All above culminates into an Investment Opportunity Document (IOD)
This forms the base for any technology transfer decision. The method of valuation of the technology is cash-flow based.
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Does NIF target technology licensing route alone or other business models are also considered for the commercialization of the grassroots innovations?
NIF is open for any business model which suits to the entrepreneur and which ensures judicious and mutually agreed benefit sharing arrangement between all transacting parties.
Following business models are envisaged for commercial diffusion of the grassroots innovations and TK;
1). Technology licensing on the basis of the following grid
With/without value addition/incubation support:
| Geographical | Single purpose | Multipurpose |
Exclusive rights | | | |
Non-exclusive rights | | | |
2) Innovator wants to be an entrepreneur
Generally innovators do not prove to be good entrepreneurs but in some cases, this is the only choice given the attachment of the innovator to his/her creation
3) A hybrid of first and second categories
One may go for territorial licensing and find an entrepreneur for a specific or many regions. The technology can be licensed keeping certain regions reserved for the innovators or non-exclusive licensing can be done retaining the right of the innovator to manufacture the device himself/herself and license to others if possible.
4) Create a large number of micro enterprises
After buying the commercial rights of the technology from the innovators, one can license it to any third party micro entrepreneur at a nominal price.
5) Franchise the technology to a federation of self help groups
The rights can be assigned to federation of SHGs for scale neutral technologies and modest royalty may be collected and shared with the innovator and his/her community, nature and innovation fund
6) Pool best practices, generate new products and give risk capital to a third party enterprise.
The new products can be developed by pooling several best practices, licensed to third parties, which may or may not be supported by MVIF. Benefits may be shared with those whose knowledge /inputs have been pooled as well as other stakeholders who may have added value or supported the value chain.
7) Provide risk capital to a third party entrepreneur for setting up a new venture based on an innovation / TK.
Support from Micro Venture Innovation Fund can be extended to a licensee for manufacturing products based on a technological innovation or traditional knowledge.
8) Joint venture between innovator and entrepreneur. The MVIF may also participate as an equity or investment partner.
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What shall be the possible ways of commercialization if the technology is not in final product form but under development?
If the technology is under development, then entrepreneur takes up higher risk by investing in such technology, hence his/her technology acquisition cost would be lower than what entrepreneur could have acquired after product development. In other words, the entrepreneur can reduce his/her cost if opportunity is sensed in early stages.
The other advantage of early stage handshake would be that the entrepreneur could guide the development process as per his/her perception of market requirements. This would help him/her ensure development of a ‘win’ product. The second advantage would be crashing down the development life cycle due to the continuous push provided by his/her entrepreneurial drive.
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What is the technology incubation cycle at NIF/GIANs? Can I join as one of the incubatee any where along the development cycle?
In the below enclosed technology incubation cycle, there are eight licensing areas flagged where an entrepreneur could chip in to acquire the technology. These are indicated by L1 to L7. As one moves from L1 to L7, the cost of acquisition moves up while risk of acquisition goes down.
The Incubation Process:
The NIF and GIANs carry out following process of incubation
L1 – L7 are the various licensing opportunities during the incubation process.
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Shall I be offered a rental place for incubating my business? What infrastructure support shall be extended to me?
NIF or GIAN do not offer any physical infrastructure at this moment. Therefore, the incubation support is more of knowledge and finance driven than the tangible one. In current scenario, NIF and GIANs are emphasizing on the networking with technological institutions i.e. IITs, Agriculture laboratories, CSIR laboratories (NIF has recently signed ana MoU with CSIR), pharmacy colleges so that incubation could be performed in their laboratories. However, there are plans that each GIAN will have its own commercial application laboratory for product development with minimum infrastructure for testing and development for few sectors to begin with.
Hence, one can be provided access to the facilities of the partnering institutions who have right expertise to incubate technologies.
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Shall I avail financial support for technology commercialization? In what areas can I be supported from NIF?
Yes, one can avail financial support for technology commercialization from NIF.
NIF operates a dedicated fund called MVIF (Micro Venture Innovation Fund) of INR 400 lacs to support technical and commercial incubation of grassroots innovations and TK. This fund was established in October 2003 with the help of Small Industry Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
The financial support could be extended for the followings needs of an incubatee;
- Prototype Development,
- Testing, Validation & Certification
- Market Research/ Test-Marketing
- Commercialization of Technology ( working capital, long-term capital)
- Dissemination/ Demonstration /Market Support (Promotion/Advertisement)
- IP protection
- Hiring professionals for incubation
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What is MVIF? What is the operational framework of NIF?
In his budget speech in 2002, then Finance Minister had announced his decision to establish a Micro Venture Innovation Fund (MVIF). The MVIF (INR 400 lacs) was finally instituted for ten years with the help of SIDBI in October 2003.
Objectives of the MVIF:
Provide a means of finance for innovation and traditional knowledge-based micro-ventures, which are generally not entertained by any other program or schemes of Financial Institutions (FIs). One the other hands, Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) deals only in big ticket investment opportunities of organized sectors.
Provide a means of finance for managing the technology development life cycle which includes Prototype Development, Technical Validations & Benchmarking, Field Trials, Market Research, Certification by Regulatory Authorities, Protection of Intellectual Property, Promotions and Dissemination and Commercialization.
Offer innovative and flexible financing schemes which are tailor-made to the needs of grassroots’ entrepreneurs so as to enable them in minimizing the financial risk associated with their ventures.
The MVIF operates within the guidelines and the framework prepared by NIF under the guidance provided by NIF’s governing council and MVIF Incubation Committee. However the delivery functions like project appraisal, disbursement, monitoring & mentoring and recovery are being taken care by NIF and its regional arms e.g. Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN), GIAN Cells and other associates (collaborators) as per the decision making structure indicated in the flow chart below.
The operating structure of MVIF is three tiered;
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What are the eligibility criteria for a project to be supported from MVIF?
For any innovation or enterprise to be eligible for support from MVIF shall have to be qualified as:
Should be an ‘Accepted’ innovation by NIF, which means it should be an unaided, Green, Grassroots’ technological innovation or a traditional knowledge practice from a person having non-professional background with established ownership of knowledge, and
The technology should have novelty in Form, Function or Feature or all of the above, and
Should have practically workable/demonstrable benefits in either ways i.e. cost effectiveness, efficiency & effectiveness, drudgery reduction vis-� -vis existing solutions/products, or could have special advantage for marginalized sections of our society, and
Should have foreseeable market demand and good commercial potential as per the assessment of NIF.
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What shall be the fee or charge towards services extended to me?
There shall be no immediate service charge for technology commercialization except you may have to meet the cost of support extended in full or part. In many cases, the cost may also be supported by NIF as part of its investment in the enterprise.
In lieu of all the support or part of it, NIF may seek part of future profits with an objective to sustain its own operations. However for an entrepreneur, it would be a timely support at no immediate cost and sharing profits only when enterprise becomes profit-making.
However all decision shall be taken on case to case basis and NIF’s decision will be final.
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What framework for benefits sharing is considered for technology commercialization?
The framework of profit sharing is based on the principles of equity. NIF encourages that both innovator and entrepreneur sit across and discuss the fine-prints for benefit sharing. NIF may be pleased to play the role of a facilitator.
The benefit sharing in principle should be decided on the parameters:
- Size of the market
- Valuation of the IP
- Contribution of the innovator in idea generation
- Stage of the development of a technology
- Value addition required by the entrepreneur in technical and commercial incubation
- Any other
However, NIF is propagating the concept of Prior Inform Consent (PIC), which is the initial document filled by any innovator (IP owner) who is registered with NIF. The document could be read at the link:
http://www.nifindia.org/benefit.htm
NIF or any of its sister organization may share the benefits depending upon their contribution in value chain.
The instrument of benefit sharing could be conventional ones i.e.
- Upfront payment (may be one-time or linked to phases)
- Royalty as a cut on sales or profit
- Time-based return
- Territorial distributorship/dealership
- Equity stake
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Does NIF help in IP protection? How should one approach to seek IP protection?
Yes, NIF has an Intellectual Property Protection cell, which helps all innovators and entrepreneurs in managing IP.
IP Cell could be approached by email on info@nifindia.org or ipr@nifindia.org
Else, one can write to the address:
Intellectual Property Protection Cell
National Innovation Foundation (NIF)
Visit us at www.nifindia.org
Bungalow No.1, Satellite Complex, Jodhpur Tekra,
Premchand Nagar Road, Ahmedabad- 380015
Epabx: 91-079-26753501, Ph: 91-079-2673 2095/456
Fax: 91-079-26731903
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Existing Technology Incubator
Presently in what all sectors technologies are being incubated by
NIF?
Technologies from sectors -
- Agriculture - plant variety
- Agriculture machinery and farm implement
- Agro based food processing machinery
- AC / ventilation machinery & Equipment
- Auto components, accessories & garage equipment
- Construction & building equipment
- Consumer durables
- Dairy machinery
- Earth moving and excavator machine
- General purpose machinery & equipment
- Electronic gadgets
- Energy conservation and generation technology
- Environment management technology
- Transport
- Traditional knowledge
- Herbal formulation (for animal/crops/human usage )
- Mixed return (social and commercial) technology
- Open source technology
- Others
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Does NIF seek association with other domestic and international technology incubators? What possible synergies does it aim to exploit?
Yes, NIF seeks association with both domestic and international technology incubators. Innovation based incubator cannot have expertise in all the sectors, whereas other incubators world over are formed on the basis of domain expertise. So this kind of arrangement will bring NIF the benefits of incubators expertise. Some incubators are present in different geographical locations, hence can help in generating business with their incubatee’s or nearby business community. Also NIF can access the physical infrastructure and networking of the incubators.
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How can an incubator join hands with incubation process of NIF?
This association essentially should be on project basis. Therefore incubators should identify technology from our link – www.nifindia.org/bd
Therefore project should be identified by the incubator or with mutual understanding. There is an advance search engine to select technologies based on the criteria;
- Search as per phrase given by you
- Patent status i.e. patent granted, pending, design registration
- Regional consideration based on the source of innovation
- Based on the 18 categories of technologies (http://www.nifindia.org/bd/product_category )
- Technology status i.e. ready to market, idea/concept, prototype development, testing & validation, market testing
Or else write to us at info@nifindia.org, bd@nifindia.org
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Exporter
Are there any grassroots innovations which have international markets?
Yes, there are several grassroots innovations which have markets internationally.
There is a well reasoned hypothesis why grassroots innovations will have markets outside India. If one looks at the conventional models of mass diffusion of technologies, products and services, they have essentially been “Trickle Down” in their approach. Mostly technologies are matured considering the needs of the buyers who can afford to pay for the huge front-end R&D expenses. This is true particularly in case of private enterprises, where economic bottom-lines are sacrosanct. On the other hand, public sector R&D in a country like India has not been able to deliver quality and quantity as expected due to several structural bottlenecks. In the process, technological needs of large cross-sections of society particularly those in developing nations are mostly not met and, if met, not adequate either in terms of proper functionality or affordability...
Our experience shows that it is very much similar case in many other countries. For example in most companies in developing countries like India, are built around technologies that have had their origins in a Western context, which tends to be significantly different than that of the developing countries. Basic demand and supply factors like population, standard of living, buying power, social and family structures, availability of natural resources and geographical spread of consumers are significantly different in developing countries as compared to the developed countries.
One can find significant difference between the technologies available for the rich consuming class and the technologies available for the vast majority of the masses. In this context, grassroots innovations which are need-based, simple and sustainable, have potential to fulfill insatiated need beyond political boundaries and geographies.
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How can I search grassroots innovations with international demand on your websites?
You may request us to send all technologies having export potential and we shall send you details. Alternatively, you may search our technology offering portfolio from the below link with key word i.e. ‘export’, ‘international’, ‘global markets’ etc.
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What is the process at NIF to initiate international commercialization of a technology?
You may initiate the dialogue for search of a suitable technology from our portfolio. Or, if you have already decided on the technology, you may request the country for which technology right you would be interested in to acquire.
The general course of technology licensing would be;
- Identification of technology by entrepreneur
- Signing of Non-Disclosure Agreement
Validation of performance of technology (through live-demonstrations, test-reports, expert reports, field visit by entrepreneur etc)
Freezing on the scope of licensing i.e. region, exclusivity etc through discussion
- IP protection measures in the country under consideration
Presentation by NIF on the business opportunity and valuation of the technology
- Negotiations
- Closing the deal, signing MoU for technology transfer
Initiation of transfer process by exchanging design documents, technical data, market data, financial data, visit of innovator to entrepreneur’s site
You. You may not be keen to acquire technology rights but may be willing to be a country sourcing agent for a particular technology (has to be a ready-to-market product where manufacturer exists), we will introduce you to the concerned party.
Can I be of any help to NIF in identifying international commercialization opportunities? What shall be my gain in the process?
Of course, as an export expert you have great knowledge about emerging demands from several countries and your inputs would be very useful for us in areas i.e.
- Identifying demand potential in foreign countries
- Estimating demand and market needs
- Approaching right parties who might be willing to take up commercialization
- Networking with right parties
- Closure of the technology transfer/ other rights related to commercialization
We would like to mention here that NIF would be open to share benefits arising out of any positive intervention by an expert like you.
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Government Agency
Innovator
If my innovation is not registered with NIF, can I still get support for commercialization?
No, only those innovations registered with NIF will get support for commercialization.
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Can NIF help me in commercialization of my technology? If yes, how should I approach?
Yes, NIF can help in commercializing your technology. You should send your innovation to –
National Coordinator (Scouting and Documentation),
National Innovation Foundation,
Satellite Complex, Bungalow No 1,
Premchandnagar Road ,Road, Jodhpur Tekra,
Ahmedabad 380015 Gujarat.
Or
email: campaign@nifindia.org
Our team will process your entry and will communicate accordingly.
In case you feel that it needs urgent processing take first mover advantage in the market you can email your entry at – bd@nifindia.org
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What is the criteria for an innovation to be taken up for commercialization byNIF?
Individuals or communities who have achieved distinction in improving quality and productivity without the aid of formal institutions are invited to participate in the Fifth National Biennial Competition for ideas, innovations and traditional knowledge. Ideas for innovative technologies which have not yet become products are also welcome. The resources of NIF are dedicated to supporting innovators and traditional knowledge holders from the unorganized sector only.
Therefore, entries from professionals that is, those having professional degrees or affiliation with formal institutions or have gained long professional experience in public or private sector are ordinarily not accepted. However, if anybody develops a technology in their individual capacity without any institutional help and that has grassroots applications, it may be considered for inclusion in a separate database of grassroots innovations by professionals. NIF may help them only through linkages and providing visibility, but not financially. Essentially short listed entries should be accompanied with a PIC (Prior Informed Consent) for commercialization.
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Can you list my innovation on your website for generating business enquiries?
Yes, you can list your innovations on NIF website after registering with us if it comes under the green, unaided, grassroots category. For further details on shortlistingshort listing criteria visit - http://www.nifindia.org/5th_announcement.htm
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How would NIF ensure appropriate benefit sharing in commercialization?
The concept of PIC (Prior Informed Consent) provides for clear enunciation of the conditions at which innovations or traditional knowledge shared by the innovators can be shared with the third parties or can be commercialized.
The shares of the various stakeholders have been suggested in the proposed ratio of benefit sharing. But you are free to decide what proportions you feel proper. That may have a bearing on the motivation of the various stakeholders. The various stakeholders could be – the innovator/TK holder, the community/village he is from, the innovation promotion fund i.e. MVIF, Researchers or those who add value, Institutional overheads and Conservation of natural resources. For instance, suppose you say that 50 per cent of net benefits should come to you, the innovator, and the remaining 50 per cent may go to those who add value, or the community or innovation fund.
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Will NIF charge me for commercialization related services?
There shall be no immediate service charge for technology commercialization except you may have to meet the cost of support extended in full or part. In many cases, the cost may also be supported by NIF as part of its investment in the enterprise.
In lieu of all the support or part of it, NIF may seek part of future profits with an objective to sustain its own operations. However since NIF is mandated to promote the grassroots innovator, it would be the timely support at no immediate cost and sharing profits only when enterprise becomes profit-making.
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How can NIF help me in protection of my IP?
Inventors and innovators who are not capable enough to protect their creativity on their own are provided IPR support in deserving cases. Whether intellectual property rights have to be protected or not depends entirely upon the wish of the knowledge holders. For further support you can email on – ipr@nifindia.org
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Non Government Organization
Can NGOs participate in the process of technology diffusion? In what areas of commercialization NGOs can play a role?
Yes, the NGO has comparative advantage vis-a-visvis- -vis other entities in the process technology diffusion, due to its association with stakeholders at grassroots level, and its understanding of local requirements to which the innovation is desired to cater. The NGO can facilitate the process by adopting any one of the following role - producer, intermediate supply chain partner or end users.
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How can NGOs identify opportunities of joint association with NIF?
NGO can identify technologies from our database of 51,000 innovation and example of traditional knowledge from 300 district based on their area of interest, regional specificity, to act as producer, supply chain stakeholder (product marketing) or end users of the technologies, adopting technologies for livelihood / income generation projects through entities like Self Help Group/ Thrift and Credit Group/ Common Interest Group. A list of technologies having mixed returns (social and commercial) and open source technologies (social return) are placed at http://www.nifindia.org/bd/flexinode/category/1/17 and http://www.nifindia.org/bd/flexinode/category/1/18 respectively.
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What are the models of social and commercial enterprises in which NGOs can participate?
Some of the models for diffusion which may be adopted are:
Micro enterprise of SHGs/CIG/T&CG having commercial rights.
Enterprise set by federation/network of SHGs or NGO having a number of SHG as its activity center, having commercial rights.
NGOs or their activity center having specific marketing or production right.
Funding agency, acquire technology right and exploit it through executing partners.
What would be the framework for benefit sharing in such arrangements?
Commercial returns and its sharing shall vary from case to case basis depending upon the contribution made by the NGO in terms of financial investments, market and value generation which shall be reflected in the licensing agreement. For the Open Source technologies the NGO is free to source product and diffuse as per their requirement but due recognition needs to be given to the innovator and NIF as its custodian.
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Will NIF provide seed capital for mutually suitable enterprise plans? How shall an NGO approach to NIF for financial assistance?
Yes, seed capital may be provided under Micro Venture Investment Fund (MVIF). The NGO is required to submit a detail business cum diffusion plan to
National Coordinator - Business Development email id: manish@nifindia.org
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Will NIF offer open source technologies for mass diffusion with social objectives?
NIF has already identified a set of technologies for social diffusion and is available at:
http://www.nifindia.org/bd/flexinode/category/1/18 , additional technologies may be included subsequently. The NGO is free to identify different funding source/agency and beneficiaries but due recognition needs to be given to the Innovator and NIF.
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As a NGO funding agency, what can be my role in technology diffusion?
NIF has a database of 51,000 innovations and example of traditional practice from 300 districts of India. Funding agency can identify technologies based on their mandate, sector intervention approach and geographical reach, acquire its techno-commercial right for execution through executing partners.
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Can NIF facilitate the fabrication of products in the open source technologies?
No, NIF does not have product fabrication facilities, concerned agency is free to identify their source with due recognition to the Innovator.
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Does NIF provide IEC material for the Innovations?
Yes, same may be had on request. Further training may be provided to the NGO representative, at cost.
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Does NIF provide forum for promotion of technology?
NGOs may participate in workshop, exhibition and other promotional forum organized by NIF or where NIF is participating, with prior approval.
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Research scholars / Students
What is the developmental paradigm based on grassroots innovations?
Grassroots technological innovations by definition are need-based, simple, cost-effective and sustainable. The possibility of these technological solutions addressing local constraints in an effective way is reasonably high, simply because these solutions originate from someone who has first-hand experience of the issues involved. On the other hand, given the lack of financial and technical resources present with the grassroots innovators, many grassroots innovations are rudimentary and limited in terms of design. The experience of NIF shows that quite often people at the grassroots develop solutions without any or with very limited external assistance. The magnitude of demand also varies depending on how widespread the need is, how important the element of regional specificity is and so on. This describes the challenges and opportunities for grassroots innovations.
In essence, these innovations address the key needs of grassroots consumers, which have not been met or satisfied by the existing Trickle-Down products and services. Hence, there is ample scope for wealth creation by linking grassroots need-based technologies with formal sector technical & commercial knowledge, to make them scalable and commercially attractive. There is a lot to be done on this front.
Therefore, there is a need to build a value chain around these innovations and to provide incubation support, if the benefits from these innovations have to be disseminated to consumers far and wide
NIF is mandated to fill this gap by linking the informal knowledge system (grassroots genius) with formal knowledge system and thereby have a distributed knowledge system in place. Such an attempt would ensure the reach of economically poor-knowledge rich people to the masses and will also prevent the erosion of indigenous knowledge base.
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Can grassroots innovation be a source for wealth creation? Can I have some examples?
Grassroots Innovations have an immense potential for wealth creation as it is the result of unsatisfied human demand. Innovation when developed into product, have the potential to convert this demand in potential market. Further market may be explored through identification of similar geo-political–socio-eco area. Some of innovation with success in wealth generation are available at http://west.gian.org/success_stories
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Can I undertake a project with NIF where research inputs are needed in commercialization of grassroots innovations? What could be possible areas of projects?
Yes, NIF regularly associates interns/volunteers the requirement for which is at http://www.nifindia.org/volunteer_nif.htm. The Interns with their concerned assignment guide can mutually identify assignment to works on area such as;
- Technical documentation of innovations from nearby areas
- Technical benchmarking of technologies
- Prototype development & validation/ Product Development
- Market benchmarking of technologies (Market research)
Exploring licensing opportunities for several of these innovations through venture mall, or entrepreneurship clearing house,
Building technology networks by linking experts from technical institutions around each technology,
- Managing some specific pages or functions at site (www.indiainnovates.com),
Scouting innovations and traditional knowledge from slums, other localities, industrial clusters, through students or otherwise, and
Developing business plan for technologies from all over India but which have potential in your regions.
What kind of educational background should we have to take up internship projects?
NIF regularly offers internship projects, to students having educational background in engineering, Management, Agri-business, Rural development, Social Work and Intellectual Property Rights.
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What is the framework (application, selection criteria, stipend, duration, deliverables, etc.) of undertaking a project withNIF?
The Applicant should have social, technical and management background. Following experience (skill and knowledge sets) is desired;
- Good understanding of business planning
- Exposure in market research/ Concept testing /Test marketing
- Good analytical skills
- Understanding of financial feasibility tools
- Good language and communication skills (report writing, presentation)
- Prior work experience in industry will be an advantage
Stipend may be decided on case to case basis.
Deliverables may be mutually decided with the concerned project guide.
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Venture Capitalist
- What are the NIF’s success stories of technology and commercial incubation?
- What is the existing due-diligence framework NIF follows for short-listing innovations?
- What is Business Development and Micro Venture Fund setup at NIF for?
Scouting and documentation of innovations and traditional knowledge will serve little purpose if these are not disseminated through commercial or non-commercial channels. Not many of these technologies would make it to market successfully without value addition and design inputs. But to do that, benchmarking these with other available alternative is essential. Tying up with private designers as well as other public design and technology institutions/individuals also facilitates the improvements in design. Most innovators are not able to become successful entrepreneurs. Linkages with entrepreneur/industry associations, management institutions and incubators helps in mobilizing mentoring and management support for grassroots innovators and TK holders. NIF has set up a Micro Venture Innovation Fund ( MVIF) with the assistance of SIDBI. It helps in extending risk capital to many ventures which otherwise are too risky for financial institutions to fund in the beginning. For licensing innovations to small and medium enterprises, or bigger companies, NIF tries to explore opportunities on behalf of the innovators. It also organizes clearing houses for business development, and blends several technologies to generate new synthetic market friendly designs. It also tries to ensure that the benefits are shared in an equitable and fair manner with the innovators and TK holders besides other stakeholders in the value chain. In addition, a share may be contributed towards conservation of nature, innovators association, and for the community development. NIF extends given its limited resources, some financial assistance to innovators, TK holders and other players in the supply chain for all activities related to technical and business incubation. It has also helped operationalize the g2G model that is 'Grassroots to Global' model of exploring global markets for grassroots innovations and tk.
Can I search grassroots innovation based enterprises which are seeking early/later stage funding?
NIF will be glad to provide you information about the enterprises seeking early stage or later stage funding from external sources.
visit the link for details� http://www.nifindia.org/bd/product_list
There is an advance search engine to select technologies based on the criteria;
- Search as per phrase given by you
- Patent status i.e. patent granted, pending, design registration
- Regional consideration based on the source of innovation
- Based on the 18 categories of technologies (http://www.nifindia.org/bd/product_category)
- Technology status i.e. ready to market, idea/concept, prototype development, testing & validation, market testing
Or else write to us at info@nifindia.org, bd@nifindia.org
For off line mode, please use address;
National Coordinator- Business Development
National Innovation Foundation (NIF)
Visit us at www.nifindia.org
Bungalow No.1, Satellite Complex, Jodhpur Tekra,
Premchand Nagar Road, Ahmedabad- 380015
Epabx: 91-079-26753501, Ph: 91-079-2673 2095/456
Fax: 91-079-26731903
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What are the NIF’s success stories of technology and commercial incubation?
NIF has been able to transfer technology for 16 technologies. Some examples of wealth creation based on grassroots innovation could be read on the link:
http://nif.org.in/bd/success_stories
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What is the existing due-diligence framework NIF follows for short-listing innovations?
NIF exercises due diligence on all investment proposals it receives from its associates i.e. GIANs, GIAN cell and others.
The general criteria for innovations to be taken up for commercialization would be;
- The enterprise shall be based on an ‘Accepted’ innovation by NIF.
The technology should have foreseeable market demand and good commercial potential as per the assessment of NIF or any third party recognized by NIF.
Entrepreneur/s should be competent; shall have sound track record / previous experience in running business/ technical or commercial expertise.