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BioAsia 2023 to host ‘Innovation Zone’ for startups to foster innovation, investments, and entrepreneurship in the Lifesciences ecosystem

Hyderabad, 17th February 2023: BioAsia 2023, Asia’s largest life-sciences and healthcare conference, rekindles its annual tradition of hosting a start-up showcase, which enables a platform for promising start-ups in the healthcare and life sciences ecosystems. The ‘Innovation Zone’ at the marquee life sciences event, organized by the State government of Telangana, will feature the Startup Stage Pavilion and the Incubator Pavilion that hatches innovation and investment opportunities. With its commitment to driving innovation, the 75+ short-listed start-ups are being given participation fee waivers in addition to a free display booth. The event aims to provide promising startups focused on the pharma, biotech, life sciences, health-tech and med-tech sectors, a global stage to exhibit their innovative ideas.

The Innovation Zone BioAsia 2023 has received an overwhelming response from the startup community, receiving over 400+ applicants from around the world, including some from Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The jury panel comprised of senior members from the Government, Incubators, PE/VC firms, and successful entrepreneurs, has shortlisted 75+ promising start-ups from the wide nomination numbers. These startups will be provided space to showcase their invocation at the exhibition. The scrutinization of the applications was based on peculiarity, affordability, and the idea/product’s ability to fulfil the demand. PE and VC firms, investment banks, and angel investors have been invited to the event and budding startups will be given the possible opportunity to network and explore potential collaborations. The participating start-ups will be provided access to all conferences and insightful sessions along with an opportunity to network with the industry leaders of global life sciences. In due course, five startups will be selected by the jury panel to exhibit at the main BioAsia Valedictory session and will also be given exclusive pitch time for each team. They will also be handed over a cash prize along with credits for Amazon cloud. The Startup stage is being organized in partnership with Tech Mahindra and BIRAC, Government of India.

The profile of the startups that will be participating in BioAsia 2023 is highly diverse ranging from medical technology startups manufacturing innovative point-of-care cancer screening kits to futuristic bionic limbs, and from Biotechnology startups formulating small molecule nanoparticles to focusing on the discovery of novel drug candidates. BioAsia is also organizing focused domain-specific round tables for the participating startups.

Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary, I&C and IT, Government of Telangana commented, “The sheer number of startup deals and funding is a testimony that Hyderabad has ascended to the country’s top 5 start-up hubs. BioAsia has gained global repute through the impact generated by its 19 previous editions. Telangana is the proud home for this year’s “Innovation Zone”, which presents an enormous opportunity for distinctive startups. Hyderabad has already proved its competency as a robust IT hub and we have a lot of technology startups solving issues like simplifying biostatistical analysis, AI-based virtual triaging solutions, and Deep Tech Bioprinters, among more innovative work in the field.”

“In the past twenty years, BioAsia has been built as a platform that has contributed to the growth of not only the Indian but global lifesciences industry. We are confident that startups seeking access to the Indian market, resources, and technology will find a home here. A significant opportunity awaits innovative startups in BioAsia 2023 Innovation Zone,” added Mr. Shakthi Nagappan, Director of Lifesciences, Govt. of Telangana and CEO of BioAsia.

With its 20th edition right around the corner, BioAsia has gained massive prominence across the globe and is expected to attract the participation of more than 3,000 global participants from over 50 countries in the upcoming edition.

Rage and Keventers shake hands for the coolest coffee shake in town; introducing the Hazelnut Cold Coffee

INDIA Feb 17th, 2023: As spring approaches, Rage Coffee and Keventers have a treat in store for all cold coffee lovers. Rage Coffee’s intensely pure caffeine and Keventers’ classily cool shakes are infused in a bottle together to create the Hazelnut Cold Coffee. The new flavor, born from the collaboration of one of the fastest-growing caffeine innovation FMCG companies in India and one of the most iconic milkshake brands in the country, will be available for consumption at more than 200 Keventers outlets in India.

A delectable slurp, the Rage X Keventers affiliation is surely ready to evoke fandom with this blissful blend. Specially crafted for the cold coffee-loving cohort and the Rangers, the flavor is available in the attractive and elegant Keventers glass bottled segments of regular and large. The regular coffee is perfect for on-the-go caffeine gratification, while the large bottle is the perfect grab for a long and tiring day when you want to experience the creamily divine caffeine slide gracefully through your tastebuds. The regular bottle costs INR 189, while the large bottle costs INR 249.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Bharat Sethi, Founder, and CEO of Rage Coffee said, “Rage Coffee is all about flavor experimentation, innovation, and a maverick mindset. This is the millennial outlook that we have imbibed into our ethos. However, we also understand that heritage and history have a role to play in the creation of something special. With that in mind, we have collaborated with Keventers, one of the biggest and oldest milkshake brands in India, to bring a brand-new caffeine experience. We hope to see our fans flocking out in numbers to try the Hazelnut Cold Coffee and enjoy the luscious energy of Rage Coffee and the creamy goodness of Keventers in a bottle.”

“We are thrilled to partner with one of India’s leading coffee brands to create a product infused with love and warmth for our audience. As a brand, we are committed to making innovative products & with our aim to create a remarkable cold coffee experience, we believe that Rage Coffee is the perfect match! We are optimistic that the Hazelnut Cold Coffee will be a beautiful addition to our menu”, says Aman Arora, Co-Founder, and CMO, of Keventers.

Being a caffeine innovation brand, Rage Coffee has always been working towards curation of a product range which supersedes the segment in superiority, and originality and has innovation in them whether it be the caffeine-based snacking range or collaborating with brands to introduce coffee-infused products and work towards Menu engineering; Rage has always been ahead of the conventional curve. Rage Coffee is a true made-in and made-for-India brand where customers can enjoy their coffee with flavors infused in it.

Keventers is India’s iconic dairy brand with a legacy spanning over 100 years, best known for its authentic and delicious milkshakes. Being an iconic milkshake brand, its core brand values lie in celebrating its legacy of making authentic and delicious milkshakes and desserts while bringing the flavors of today to the world.

Major cities in India with Keventers outlets like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Srinagar, Dehradun, Imphal, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Guwahati, Lucknow, Bhopal, and Siliguri, among others, will be home to this dynamically engineered delectable beverage.

Dr Manjiri Prabhu’s 19th work – Legend of The Snow Queen, Launched at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2023

 Readomania, New Delhi

Dr. Manjiri Prabhu is an award-winning international fiction and non-fiction Writer, a Short-Filmmaker and the Curator & Founder/Director of two international festivals – Pune International Literary Festival and International Festival of Spiritual India (for Humanity & Wisdom).

Destination Thriller as the genre has been a unique initiation by Dr Prabhu in the world of Indian mysteries and thrillers. It not just portrays a place as a backdrop but uses it like a live character playing a very significant role in the progress and plot of the novel. In other words, the story and the mystery would not take place if the destination is removed from the plot.

Prabhu’s 19th work and the third in this series has just been released and is titled Legend of the Snow Queen. A psychological suspense destination novel, set against a Christmassy, Bavarian winter-wonderland, Legend of the Snow Queen blurs the boundaries of truth and imagination and is a haunting love story. It is the third work in the unique ‘Re Parkar series’. Re Parkar is a Private Investigator from Paris, France with the unique ability to foresee a disaster. His parapsychological prowess enables him to unravel the intricate conspiracies and dark secrets behind crimes of all sorts.

Prabhu’s first two novels in this unique ‘Re Parkar series’ were based in (The Trail of Four) in Salzburg, Austria, and (Voice of the Runes) in Lund, Sweden respectively. They received immense positive responses from readers the world over.

Hon. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, a Member of Parliament and erudite Author graced the occasion and launched this novel. Incidentally, he graciously stated earlier that the world has found a match for Dan Brown in Dr Manjiri Prabhu. Dr. Alka Pande, Historian and noted Art & Festival Curator was in conversation with both of them during the festival.

Mahindra Last Mile Mobility and SLA Mobility sign Distribution Agreement of electric 3-wheelers in Sri Lanka

Bangalore, February 17, 2023: The Last Mile Mobility (LMM) division of Mahindra and Mahindra Limited, has signed a Distribution Agreement with SLA Mobility (SLAML) for electric 3-wheelers in Sri Lanka. The agreement was signed on January 18, 2023, and will involve distribution, and service support. LMM will export the highly lauded electric Treo range and the Zor Grand. These vehicles, based on the Sri Lankan government’s approval, will be imported into Sri Lanka. LMM is also exploring localization or CKD operations in Sri Lanka. SLA Mobility is a part of the Sino-Lanka Group and is focused on introducing EVs to Sri Lanka.

Suman Mishra, CEO of Last Mile Mobility, said, “India’s No.1 electric 3-wheeler company, Mahindra, is pleased to carry the message of sustainability as well as EV propagation to our neighbors. Sri Lanka’s ecosystem will vastly gain from the introduction of Mahindra EVs and together with SLA Mobility, we aim to enhance the lives of our customers.”

Bob Kundanmal, Chairman of SLA Mobility, said “We are proud to be partnered with Mahindra and look forward to untap the manufacturing potential of Sri Lanka. We believe that development in the electric mobility industry is essential for Sri Lanka’s transportation ecosystem.”

LMM currently exports its products to Nepal and the UK. There are also ongoing talks with a few other countries for exports, which will be announced in due course.

Thyroid and You : 5 foods that can help you with thyroid management

By Ms. Edwina Raj, Head – Clinical Nutrition Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located on the front of our neck below the adam’s apple. This gland produces hormones that help in regulating our metabolism, growth, and developmental activities. When there is an imbalance in the thyroid hormones, it leads to several problems, such as altered metabolism, susceptibility to weight gain, bone & hair loss, greater risk of developing heart disease, hormonal imbalance, celiac disease, and diabetes. This is usually referred to as hypothyroidism, where our thyroid is not producing enough hormones, leading to rapid weight gain.

Hypothyroidism can affect any age group, which includes infants and children. If you have an underactive thyroid, then you may feel the following symptoms –

• Fatigue
• Cold
• Constipated
• Puffy face and dry skin
• Increased cholesterol levels,
• Stiffness or pain in joints
• Depression or impaired memory

While patients suffering from hypothyroidism often find it difficult to lose weight, with the right diet changes but this is not a final verdict on your weight and health rather you can still work on your diet and lifestyle to shed those extra inches.

Focus on mindful eating by controlling your portion size and balancing the key nutrients through different range of food groups with an effort to include nutrients necessary for your thyroid health through natural sources which are safe in your daily diet such as foods containing iodine, selenium, zinc, calcium, and protein.

Here are five foods that can benefit you from these key nutrients essential for your thyroid function:

Seeds and Nuts

Brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium and zinc that help in better functioning of the thyroid. Additionally, chia and pumpkin seeds are rich sources of zinc and make a great snacking option. Binge eating which is common among such patients can be controlled through oilseeds and nuts which is also a viable option and helps in your weight loss.

Beans and Legumes

These rich sources of protein can improve your metabolism, provide a sense of satiety (feeling of fullness) and prevent you from gaining weight.

Eggs

Thyroid patients looking to lose weight can consume egg yolks and the whites as it will enrich their bodies with zinc, selenium, and protein, which are essential for weight loss and benefits with stronger bone.

Vegetables

Consuming vegetables such as tomatoes and bell peppers can support thyroid patients in weight loss as they are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.

Water and non-caffeinated beverages

Increasing your water intake can help you with bloating, eliminates toxins from the body, keep your hormones in check and boost your weight loss process.

A caution note:

The road to recovery from hypothyroidism is normal. As long as a patient follows the medication regime, there should not be any complications. However, leaving it untreated can drastically affect your body, such as elevated cholesterol levels, subsequent heart disease, infertility, and osteoporosis. Several studies have also proved how thyroid can lead to the onset of other autoimmune diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and anemia. Therefore, early diagnosis and proper management of the condition can help you avoid further complications.

Additionally, it is advisable that along with a healthy diet, patients undertake physical activities like yoga that stimulate and support their endocrine system and boost the supply of oxygen in their body, which will help their thyroid tremendously. Lastly, avoiding alcoholism and smoking can help patients improve their thyroid performance.

All the foods mentioned above need to be reviewed by your clinical dietitian and endocrinologist before going overboard.

It is advisable to make a note of foods that interfere in the absorption of your thyroid medication and hence to be avoided immediately in the morning and spaced later during the day such as coffee, soya, papaya, grapefruit, and supplements that contains fiber and calcium too. Read the food labels of packed foods and include iodized salt, sprouted millets, and avoid using non-iodized pink salt to maintain your thyroid health. Nutritional supplements that contain chromium picolinate used for weight loss impair the absorption of thyroid medicine. Limit foods that are high in goitrogens (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, pearl millet, cassava, peanut oil, etc.) but not recommended to avoid completely as they have other antioxidant or cancer-fighting properties and are source of essential nutrients.

Wipro earthian Awards 2022 Felicitate Excellence in Sustainability Education

BANGALORE, India – February 16, 2023: Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading technology services and consulting company, organized the 12th edition of the Wipro earthian awards for the year 2022. The annual awards recognize excellence in sustainability in education in schools and colleges in India. The awards ceremony was held on the 11th of February 2023 at the Wipro Limited, Sarjapur Road campus.

Wipro earthian is one of India’s largest sustainability education programs for schools and colleges. The 2022 edition of the Wipro earthian school program received over 1,200 project entries, out of which 20 winning and 20 shortlisted entries were selected by an independent jury. The teams from schools demonstrated their understanding of biodiversity, waste, and water through a combination of activity-based learning programs and written essays.

The Wipro Climate Challenge for college students was launched in 2022, and had more than 2,000 entries, out of which five teams were selected for the winning start-up ideas.

Rishad Premji, Executive Chairman, Wipro Limited, Anurag Behar, CEO, Azim Premji Foundation and Narayan P.S., Global Head of Sustainability and Social Initiatives, Wipro Limited, felicitated the winning teams with certificates and cash prizes. They will also get an opportunity to engage with Wipro’s sustainability partners through collaborative programs that will enable a deeper understanding of issues critical to sustainability.

Narayan P.S., Global Head of Sustainability and Social Initiatives, Wipro Limited said, “Wipro earthian is our flagship program in sustainability education, working with both schools and higher education institutes. Over the years, it has evolved in scale, scope, and geographic coverage. We are particularly gratified at the participation by schools from some of the most remote corners of the country. The challenges of ecological sustainability will, unfortunately, affect future generations the most; we see Wipro earthian as a platform for our children and the young to become agents of change by developing systemic thinking skills combined with sensitivity to the environment and society. We are pleased that the 12th edition of the event brought together students, teachers, thinkers and practitioners. We stay committed to the ideals and goals of Wipro earthian in the years ahead.”

The event featured a keynote talk by Nirupa Rao, a botanical illustrator based in Bengaluru. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Sejal Mehta, the author of the book ‘Superpowers on the Shore,’ Bano Haralu, a pioneering television journalist and conservationist from Nagaland and Arjun Kamdar, a wildlife scientist working on the link between economics, anthropology, and conservation. Noted quizmaster, Lloyd Saldana also hosted the 2022 National Finals of the Wipro earthian Sustainability Quiz. The day ended with a performance by the Bengaluru-based band Swarathma.

The list of winning teams at Wipro earthian awards 2022 can be accessed here.

Since 2011, Wipro earthian has engaged with more than 55,000 institutes, 130,000 students, and 13,000 teachers. This year, we have had our largest participation so far, with more than 1,300 submissions across schools and colleges. The support from Wipro’s education partners such as the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), C.P.R Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), Wild Ecologues, state governments, organizations, and educators in our Sustainability Educator Program, has helped expand the reach of the program.