Author: Rabindra

Bio Innovation Corridor established between Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre and La Trobe University, Australia

Bangalore 20 September 2024. Australia’s La Trobe University and the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) based in the Indian state of Karnataka will establish a Bio Innovation Corridor paving the way for the sharing of skills, infrastructure and capabilities, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today.

La Trobe University is ranked in the top one per cent of the world’s universities. It has a proud and successful history in India, partnering with tertiary institutions and organisations on projects that benefit both countries and helping develop India’s brightest minds through joint education opportunities.

The Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre is jointly established by the Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka, and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and is aimed at nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship within the biotechnology sector.

The Bio Innovation Corridor will enable entrepreneurs, startup companies, researchers and investors from Karnataka and the Australian state of Victoria to enter and leverage the infrastructure, capabilities and network of the organisations to collaborate and evaluate their Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Commercialization Readiness Level (CRL), and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL).

It will enable portfolio companies of BBC and researchers of La Trobe to pilot novel biotechnologies with applications across human health, medical, food and agritech for scale-up, regulatory approvals and customer testing in the two states.

Dr. Mohamed Adil A.A, Managing Director of Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, said BBC encourages interdisciplinary advancement in research and innovation towards entrepreneurship by generating work, wealth and welfare and enabling the community by creating employers than employees.

He said: “The Bio Innovation Corridor between Karnataka and Victoria is a strategic partnership that will foster market access, mentorship, collaboration, and investment in the life sciences sector. By connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from both regions, they aim to accelerate innovation leading to global unicorns.”

La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said: “We are very pleased to announce the creation of this Bio Innovation Corridor between Karnataka and Victoria, and to offer the skills, infrastructure and capabilities of La Trobe University to startups, entrepreneurs and researchers associated with the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre.

“La Trobe University has a vision to develop an ecosystem of research and innovation through co-location opportunities, including at our University City of the Future at our Melbourne campus in Bundoora and our four Victorian regional campuses.

“This demonstrates our keenness to open opportunities for Karnataka-based entrepreneurs and startups to establish their R&D, innovation, product development and commercialisation facilities in conjunction with La Trobe through a range of innovative business partnership models for access to the Australian market.”

Professor Farrell said La Trobe had recently launched a purpose-built Bio Innovation Hub that will help startup companies develop new technologies in med tech and drug delivery.

The MOU was signed by Prof Farrell and Dr. Mohamed Adil during the Victoria Connect event being organised in Bangalore on 19 September 2024 and as part of showcasing the opportunities between Victoria and Karnataka in the higher education and value-adding technology sectors.

Over 150 students donated blood during the Blood Donation Camp organized by IMS Noida

Noida: In a heartwarming display of compassion and community service, Institute of Management Studies (IMS) – Noida, in collaboration with the Rotary Blood Bank, successfully organised a Blood Donation Camp on September 20, 2024, at its campus. The initiative, held under the esteemed guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Vikas Dhawan, Director General of IMS Noida, and Prof. (Dr.) Neelam Saxena, Director of IMS Law collage, aimed to address the growing need for blood supplies and contribute to saving lives.

The event saw overwhelming participation from students, faculty members, and staff who came forward to donate blood and contribute to this noble cause. A dedicated medical team from Rotary Blood Bank ensured a smooth and safe donation process, including health screenings for all donors. The donors’ willingness to give back to society was a true tribute to the values of empathy, responsibility, and social welfare upheld by IMS Noida.

Prof. (Dr.) Vikas Dhawan, Director General of IMS Noida, expressed his gratitude towards the participants, saying, “At IMS Noida, we believe in giving back to the community, and this blood donation camp is a reflection of our emphasis to social responsibility. Every drop of blood donated today has the potential to save a life, and we are incredibly proud of our students and staff for their selfless contributions. It’s heartening to see the IMS family come together for such a noble cause.”

The camp, held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the IMS Seminar Hall, successfully collected 125 units of blood by participating over 150 students, which will be used to support patients in need of life-saving transfusions. IMS Noida remains committed to such initiatives, continually striving to contribute towards the betterment of society.

This noble effort by IMS Law collage, Noida and Rotary Blood Bank highlights the importance of community collaboration and puts into forefront, the institute’s dedication to a 360° development of an individual — going beyond academics to instill in students a sense of compassion and societal responsibility.

My Clean City by HCLFoundation celebrates World Cleanup Day, promotes lasting behaviour change

GREATER NOIDA, India, Sept 20, 2024 — HCLFoundation, the CSR arm of HCLTech in India, celebrated World Cleanup Day, through its flagship programme My Clean City, with great vigor at Greater Noida Sports Complex today. In December 2023, the United Nations unanimously ratified the resolution to declare 20th September as World Cleanup Day on its official Calendar in a bid to promote lasting behaviour change with respect to waste management.

My Clean City by HCLFoundation has been working extensively on end-to-end waste management across Noida and Greater Noida. Launched in 2018, the programme is committed to improving solid and liquid waste management system and processes. Focus areas include capacity building of relevant stakeholders, intensive behaviour change campaigns, awareness drives and deploying technological solutions.

One of the programme’ s significant impacts can be seen in improvement of Noida’s ranking in Swachh Survekshan. From ranking 324 in 2019 to becoming the cleanest city in Uttar Pradesh and 11th across India now, Noida has come a long way. In Swachh Surveksan 2023, Noida also received Water+ certification and 5-star rating in Garbage Free City category.

Building upon this success, My Clean City has now expanded to Greater Noida city with the objective of replicating the achievements and extending the benefits to a larger population. The program has so far reached out to more than 600,000 individuals spread across 77 urban villages and 100 residential welfare associations / association of apartments in the two cities.

The World Cleanup Day event at the Zonal Sports Complex in Greater Noida witnessed active participation of 1500 citizens including school, college students and HCLTech volunteers. The event commenced with a high energy packed Zumba session to build excitement and camaraderie amongst the participants, which was followed by a skit presentation by members of the Clean City Volunteer club on the importance of waste management. The highlight of the event was a plogging drive through which participants collected a mammoth 826 Kg of solid waste from around the venue. The collected waste will be transported to a designated spot assigned by the Authority. Sanitation workers across My Clean City’s project sites were felicitated for their continued contribution in keeping the cities clean. The event culminated with an enthralling band performance.

Quote from Shri Indu Prakash Singh, General Manager, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority: “Our ongoing partnership with HCLFoundation is aimed at making the city clean and sustainable. Community driven cleanliness drives such as this have resulted in positive behavior change towards waste reduction and management. Today I am thrilled to see the participation of our city’s residents, especially children and youth, in this mega-drive and endorsing sustainability.”

Quote from Mr. Alok Varma, Project Director – Samuday & My Clean City, HCLFoundation: “I am thrilled to witness My Clean City by HCLFoundation achieve another milestone through the World Clean Up Day celebrations. Our efforts in executing this mega clean up drive by engaging the community members have been met with great enthusiasm. As responsible citizens, we must take small steps every day to create impact and build a sustainable future together. We at HCLFoundation, along with our committed partners, will continue on our mission of clean, green and waste free cities. “

Notably, prior to the main event, a series of small-scale events were also carried out across Noida and Greater Noida to generate awareness and build momentum for World Cleanup Day. 817 students across 8 schools in Noida and Greater Noida were sensitized on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene through rallies and plogging drives. 520 citizens across the cities were also engaged via segregation games, textile waste management workshops and plogging drives.

Signify committed to support 33,000 + lives of flood-affected families in West Tripura district with LED lights

Tripura, India, September 20,2024: In response to the devastating floods that struck West Tripura district, Signify, the world leader in lighting, has supported flood-affected households with emergency LED lighting. The project is being executed in partnership with the District Administration of West Tripura district and Agartala Municipal Corporation led by Sri Dipak Majumder, Hon’ble Mayor and Dr. Vishal Kumar, IAS, District Magistrate (DM) and Collector, as part of the company’s ‘Har Gaon Roshan’ CSR program. Associated with Foundation for Integrated Support and Solution (FISS), the project focuses on ensuring safe and illuminated spaces during power outages and contributing to the recovery and resilience of affected communities.

Commenting on this collaboration, Nikhil Gupta, Head of Marketing, Strategy, Govt. Affairs & CSR – Signify, Greater India said, “In line with our #BrighterLivesBetterWorld vision, at Signify, we believe in the transformative power of light, especially in times of need. By delivering sustainable lighting solutions to flood-affected families in West Tripura district, we aim to restore a sense of normalcy while ensuring safety and security during power outages. This initiative reflects our dedication to leveraging technology for social impact, and we are honored to collaborate with the District Administration in supporting the recovery of these resilient communities.”

Talking about the association, Sri Dipak Majumder, Hon’ble Mayor said, “We are glad that Signify came forward with their generous support in providing emergency LED lighting to the flood-affected households in West Tripura district. This initiative is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities during power outages. Together, we are committed to aiding the recovery and resilience of the affected families, ensuring they have safe and illuminated spaces during these challenging times.”

In the wake of devastating floods that impacted electrical infrastructure and plunged communities backwards, emergency lighting emerges as a lifeline, enabling children to study, families to function safely, and risks from hazards to be minimized. Signify is committed to illuminating these communities by collaborating with local partners and the District Administration under Mayor’s and DM’s vision to develop a distribution plan that ensures efficient and equitable delivery of LED emergency bulbs to those most impacted.

The project aims to create a positive impact on the quality of life to approximately 6600 flood affected families within the villages of West Tripura district by illuminating the homes. Impact of darkness has extended beyond safety and security concerns during the floods, through this project we aim to improve the safety and security of 33000+ families by providing essential services and supporting the restoration of normal life.

Providing a variety of emergency LED lighting, Signify hopes to create a long lasting and sustainable solution that will provide immediate relief to families. This project is set to leverage technology and innovation for the flood affected communities by providing essential services such as lighting solution to brighten path to a better future. The project is scheduled to commence in September and to conclude in November.

Motorola Launches razr 50: A Game-Changer in Foldable Smartphones

Mumbai, 20th September 2024: Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology and innovation, recently launched the motorola razr 50 disrupting the foldable smartphone segment at a special festive limited period. The motorola razr 50 boasts the segment’s largest and most intelligent external display, measuring an impressive 3.6” external display protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The pOLED screen offers a 90Hz dynamic refresh rate with 1700 nits for HDR content. It’s the first flip phone in its segment to feature an external display powered by Google Gemini AI with Google Photos accessible directly on the external display. The device has a 50MP main camera with OIS and Instant All Pixel Focus and a 13MP ultrawide lens with macro features, both enhanced by moto AI.

The razr 50 comes with the segment’s largest and most advanced external display. The 3.6″ large pOLED external display is protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus with a 90Hz dynamic refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1700 nits. It boasts a high resolution of 1056×1066 pixels with 10-bit depth, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and SGS eye protection. The display’s HDR10 certification further enhances color accuracy and brightness. The size of the external display is 2.4X larger than its previous generation and Always-On Display (AOD) adds a layer of personalization. With the razr 50, users can access Google’s Gemini app directly from the external display.

To further improve the external display experience, Motorola has added access to Google Photos. This allows users to view, delete, favorite, or share photos or videos stored locally or in the cloud without flip opening their phone. For editing, users can open the new razr and use the latest AI-powered editing tools in Google Photos including AI Magic Editor, AI Magic Eraser, AI Photo Unblur, and more.

The motorola razr 50 is equipped with advanced Moto AI features like AI Magic Canvas, allowing users to create images from text prompts, and AI Generative Theming, which syncs user’s style to their phone’s wallpaper. The AI Photo Enhancement engine ensures the highest quality images by optimizing dynamic range and fine-tuning details, even in low-light conditions. The AI Adaptive Stabilization and Intelligent Auto Focus Tracking keep videos and photos steady and focused. Smart Color Segmentation individually tunes elements like the sky, skin, and grass for richer colors. For assistance, Moto AI offers features like Adobe Doc Scan for easy document scanning and sharing, RAM Boost 3.0 for optimized performance, battery Optimization, and Screenshots with Auto Blur to protect user privacy by automatically blurring sensitive content.

The incredible camera system on the motorola razr 50 is powered by moto ai. The 50MP high-res camera can shoot with 32x more focusing pixels using Instant All-Pixel Focus to get faster, more accurate performance. The camera’s Quad Pixel technology captures 12.6MP photos while Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) eliminates shakes for crystal-clear images. The secondary camera on the external display is a 13MP Ultrawide + Macro Vision sensor with a 120º ultra-wide-angle lens. It can fit nearly 4x more in the frame compared to a standard lens and Macro Vision can take the users 4x closer to their subject than a standard lens. For selfies, the 32MP front camera can even use Flex View to find the best angle for hands-free selfies and video calls. Google Photos AI helps remove distractions with Magic Eraser, improve blurry images with Photo Unblur, and transform the shots with Magic Editor’s generative AI.

The motorola razr 50 has a premium vegan leather finish available in PantoneTM curated colors. The device’s innovative gapless and contoured edge design provides enhanced dust protection. The newly designed hinge integrates a floating hinge plate to minimize creasing on the main display and is certified for 400,000** folds. Additionally, the device offers IPX8-rated underwater protection, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, while the external display is safeguarded by Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus.

The motorola razr 50 has a 6.9″ pOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz for smooth scrolling, 3000 nits of peak brightness for vibrant visuals,120% DCI-P3 color accuracy and HDR10+ support. The larger fold radius ensures a smooth, uninterrupted touchscreen experience. The device comes in Koala Grey, Beach Sand, or Spritz Orange colors with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.

The motorola razr 50 has the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor, making it India’s first flip phone to feature this advanced processor. It features the ultra-efficient 4nm platform and comes integrated with MediaTek APU655 for enhanced AI capabilities. In terms of the battery performance, the motorola razr 50 is powered by a robust 4200mAh battery that lasts all day on a single charge. With 30W TurboPower™ charging, just a few minutes of charging can give users enough power to get through the day. The device also offers 15W wireless charging with reverse charging to even share power with other devices. Additionally, the phone offers a faster 5G experience with support for 16 5G bands and WiFi 7, along with a physical SIM slot and eSIM support.

Apart from this, the motorola razr 50 also features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos® giving 20% louder sound and 25% stronger bass. Dolby Atmos® features Spatial Audio, an enhanced experience where sound can flow around them in a virtual space. Additionally, the motorola razr 50 offers assured 3 OS updates and 4 years of security patches with Moto Premium Care benefits.

The motorola razr 50 ultra comes with the largest and most intelligent external display. A 4.0″ external display which also comes with the fastest refresh rate and the highest resolution in its class. It comes protected with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus, with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. The razr 50 ultra is equipped with the best razr camera system with 50MP AI Powered camera. Additionally, the smartphone also features an exceptional 50MP telephoto camera for incredible portraits and with 2x optical and 30X AI Super zoom capability plus machine learning algorithm for high quality photos. When flipped open, the motorola razr 50 ultra reveals a 6.9″ pOLED display which is also the largest and virtually creaseless internal display on a flip phone. With HDR10+ certification and 120% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, users can watch shows and movies in true-to-life color meeting the industry’s latest standards for accuracy. High Brightness Mode automatically adjusts brightness to 1500 nits, which can also reach up to 3000 nits with HDR. The refresh rate can adjust from 1Hz to 165Hz effectively reducing stutter and ghosting in compatible games. It features latest Snapdragon® 8s Gen 3 mobile platform with up to 12GB of the latest generation LPDDR5X memory, the fastest available, and the latest 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. Along with blazing-fast 5G speeds today, and provisions for WiFi 7 networks of tomorrow. The motorola razr 50 ultra can go a full day and night on a single charge of the 4000mAh battery. Owing to the 45W TurboPower™ consumers can get power for a day in about 12 minutes3. It also comes with the freedom of 15W wireless charging and users can also share power with other devices using reverse charging.

Physics Wallah (PW) secures USD 210 Million in Series B funding round at a valuation of USD 2.8 Billion

India, September 20’ 2024 – Physics Wallah Private Limited (PW), India’s leading education company, has closed its Series B funding round, raising USD 210 million. This investment brings the company’s post-money valuation to an impressive USD 2.8 billion, 2.5x jump over its last valuation of USD 1.1 billion. The funding round was led by Hornbill Capital, with significant participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, alongside the continued support of its existing investors, GSV and WestBridge.

 Physics Wallah’s funding round serves as a beacon of optimism amidst challenging times for the EdTech sector, showcasing the unwavering confidence of both existing and new investors in Physics Wallah’s growth and its mission to democratize education across India. The remarkable interest from both new and existing investors underscores the strong belief in PW’s ability to deliver quality education to Bharat’s next generation.

 Alakh Pandey, Founder and CEO of Physics Wallah, expressed his gratitude, stating, “This investment is not just a validation of our efforts to democratize education and make quality education accessible to every student in India, but also a testament to the impact we have created over the years. Prateek and I are excited to partner with Hornbill Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners in this journey, and we deeply appreciate the continued trust from WestBridge and GSV.”

 Prateek Maheshwari, Co-founder of Physics Wallah, added, “Our focus has always been on creating value for our students and ensuring their success. This new round of funding will enable us to expand our reach, enhance our technological capabilities, and continue delivering unparalleled learning experiences. This comes on the back of strong sustainable y-o-y growth – in fact FY25 is going to be the year of largest absolute EBIDTA profitability for the PW Group. There are no good or bad markets but only good or bad stories – and ours is a great impact story!”

 Physics Wallah produces 9,500 hours of educational content every week with a student base across 18,808 pin codes, accounting for almost 98% of pin codes in India. This funding will bolster its already significant cash reserves to support its future growth plans. PW’s expansion from school education to skilling is integral to the strategic vision, designed to support students at every stage of their journey and solidify its role as a trusted, comprehensive partner in education and career advancement.

 The funds raised will be strategically utilized to scale operations, with a key focus on consolidation in the education market. Physics Wallah plans to pursue inorganic expansion, enter the K-12 formal education segment, enhance its content and publication offerings, and explore mergers with community-driven education platforms across categories. As PW moves forward, it remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering students and helping them achieve their academic aspirations through these strategic initiatives.

Assotech and SANPRIYA Group Launch Team Konark Suryas, Transforming Odisha’s Sports Scene in Legends League Cricket T20

India – September 20, 2024 – In a landmark development for Odisha, Assotech Group, a leader in real estate innovation, and SANPRIYA Group, a visionary in diversified lifestyle sectors, have united to make a significant impact on the state’s sports ecosystem. Together, they proudly announce the launch of Team Konark Suryas Odisha in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) T-20, underscoring their commitment to fostering local talent and elevating the sporting culture in Odisha.

The new T-20 franchise, Team Konark Suryas, named in honor of the iconic Konark Sun Temple, represents a fusion of Assotech’s expertise in real estate and SANPRIYA’s passion for lifestyle enhancement. This initiative is set to transform the state into a prominent hub for high-profile cricket events. The team, captained by Indian cricket star Irfan Pathan, includes a roster of international talents such as Ross Taylor, Kevin O’Brien, and Dilshan Munaweera, promising thrilling matches and a boost to Odisha’s sports infrastructure.

The official launch event in Bhubaneswar was graced by Sanjay Behera, Secretary of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), who emphasized the importance of this development for the region. “The debut of Team Konark Suryas Odisha signifies a new chapter for Odisha, enhancing our sports facilities and providing exciting opportunities for our youth,” Behera stated.

Sanjeev Srivastva, Chairman & Founder of SANPRIYA Group, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration “We are excited to bring Team Konark Suryas Odisha to life and are committed to developing a Multi Sports Centre of Excellence in Bhubaneswar. This initiative reflects our dedication to nurturing young talent and contributing to the state’s overall growth.”

Enakshi Priyam, Chief Operating Officer of Assotech Group, highlighted the synergy between Assotech and SANPRIYA’s objectives “Our partnership in launching Team Konark Suryas Odisha is a testament to our shared vision of enhancing community engagement through sports. This effort aligns with Assotech’s mission to drive innovation and support vibrant local development.”

SANPRIYA Group, under the leadership of Mr. Sanjeev Srivastva, integrates lifestyle and real estate advancements, making significant contributions to the broader sports and infrastructure landscape. The collaboration with Assotech Group is a prime example of how combining expertise across sectors can lead to groundbreaking developments.