September 2024
Newsletter
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The IIT Tirupati Technology Innovation Hub
Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF)
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The Darshak is the newsletter of the IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF), dedicated to advancing Positioning and Precision Technologies (PPTs) such as remote sensing, GIS, GNSS and other non-invasive technologies. These technologies are crucial for analyzing and managing spatial and temporal data, aiding decision-making in sectors like agriculture, natural resource management, and disaster management. The hub also explores new frontiers in indoor positioning, timing and underwater navigation technologies.
This newsletter covers our activities for September 2024. We will issue another newsletter for October 2024, thereafter, we hope to release The Darshak every quarter.
IITTNiF fosters innovation through a comprehensive technology lifecycle approach encompassing Knowledge, Development, Translation, and Commercialization. By aligning with initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, the TIH aims to enhance self-reliance in PPTs and contribute to the national startup ecosystem.
The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) under the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, leverages CPS technologies through 25 TIHs across India, each focused on a specific technology vertical. Incorporated in December 2020, as a Section 8 company under IIT Tirupati, this Hub is fortunate to be located within the impressive IIT Tirupati campus and enjoys full support from IIT Tirupati, including guidance and leadership from the Director of IIT Tirupati and the Hub Governing Body. The leadership team also includes the Project Director, Dr. Roshan K Srivastav, Associate Professor at IIT Tirupati, and the CEO, Major General M. Rajendran (Retd.), who lead a vibrant and energetic team called Team Navavishkar.
The Board of Directors at IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF) includes distinguished individuals such as Prof. K. N. Satyanarayana, the Director of IIT Tirupati; Dr. E. Anil Kumar, the Dean SRC at IIT Tirupati; Dr. Ajit T. Kalghatgi, a Non-Executive Director at Antrix Corporation Limited; Maj. Gen. Dr. R. Siva Kumar (Retd.), the Director Emeritus at Open Geospatial Consortium; Dr. Y. V. N. Krishna Murthy, an Academic Representative from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology; and Dr. Roshan K. Srivastav, Associate Professor at IIT Tirupati in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. These experts collectively drive the foundation’s mission of innovation and growth in the PPT sector.
IITTNiF leverages public-private partnerships to foster innovation and support sustainable growth through advanced technologies under the verticals of Technology Development, Startups and Entrepreneurship, Human Resource and Skill Development, and Collaborations.
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Highlights of this Newsletter
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IITTNiF Honored with National Geospatial Awards for Excellence in Education and Research
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We are thrilled to announce that our Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) has received the prestigious National Geospatial Practitioner Award at the National Geospatial Awards 2024 (Edition 01). This honor was presented during the 'Open Source GIS Day' celebrations held at IIT Bombay on September 15, 2024.
In addition, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Roshan K. Srivastav, Project Director of IITTNiF, who has been awarded the National Geospatial Faculty Fellow Award at the National Geospatial Awards 2024 (Edition 01). This honor was presented during the 'Open Source GIS Day' celebrations held at IIT Bombay on September 15, 2024 and the National Award on GIS Education, presented by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Kashmir. These recognitions in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) underscore the significant impact of our efforts and our dedication to excellence in the geospatial domain. We are proud of these achievements and look forward to continuing our work in shaping the future of geospatial technology.
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From left to right: Major General M. Rajendran, CEO of IITTNiF, Dr. Roshan K Srivastav, Project Director of IITTNiF, Mr. K. Ananth Krishnan, Former CTO of TCS, Prof. K. Satyanarayana, Director of IIT Tirupati,
Prof. Anurag Kumar, Former Director of IISc Bangalore, and Prof. Pennan Chinnasamy from IIT Bombay.
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From left to right: Dr. Roshan K Srivastav, Project Director of IITTNiF, Mr. K. Ananth Krishnan, Former CTO of TCS, and Prof. K. Satyanarayana, Director of IIT Tirupati.
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Exciting Announcement: TIH to Startup and Technology Development Demo Day
We are excited to announce that our Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) hosted a Startup and Technology Development Demo Day in alignment with the Third-Party Evaluation by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on September 25th 2024. This important event marks a key milestone in our journey, where we presented our advancements and key initiatives. Our focus areas for the evaluation included Technology Development, Startups and Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Development, and Collaborations.
The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Prof. Anurag Kumar, Former Director of IISc Bangalore, Mr. K. Ananth Krishnan, Former CTO of TCS, Mr. Amar Kumar, Scientist, DST - FFT, Prof. K. Satyanarayana, Director of IIT Tirupati, Dr. Roshan Srivastav, Project Director of IITTNIF and Major General M. Rajendran, CEO of IITTNIF.
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Third Party Evaluation Meeting at TIH - IIT Tirupati
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Startup and Technology Development Demo Day
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It was an inspiring day filled with innovation, technology, and collaboration! A huge thank you to everyone who made this event a success. We look forward to continuing our journey in driving innovation and fostering technological advancements.
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Technology Development Activities
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Technology Development and Startup Demo Day at IIT Tirupati: Review and Feedback from Industry Experts:
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Feedback from Industry Experts
During the Startup and Technology Development Demo Day event, all ongoing Technology Development projects were showcased, with representatives from various existing projects through dedicated stalls. The panel committee visited the stalls, engaged with the academic and startup community, and provided valuable suggestions and feedback on the projects.
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Technology Development projects showcased:
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SASTRA Deemed University
Dr. James A. Baskaradas, Principal Investigator (RF Front End Technologies Project) and team demonstrated the recent developments in the RF Front end project. The team illustrated the development of multiband array antennas for IRNSS applications and the integration of anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities to the antenna system. The breakthrough research focused on the design of an 9-element dedicated power splitter which is under the developmental stage.
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Dr. P. Yogeshwari, Principal Investigator (5G-GNSS Positioning Project) and team delivered the advancements in the design of 5G MIMO antenna systems developed which are to be integrated to the drone for precise positioning and navigation. This translational research highlights the novel beam forming capabilities to the antenna system which marks the breakthrough technology in the project.
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IIT Tirupati
Dr. Arijith Sharma, Principal Investigator (Atomic Clock Project) and team presented the advancements in the development of portable trapped ion based atomic clock for PNT applications. The project targets in improving the synchronization and accuracy in critical applications such as aerospace and autonomous vehicles. The portable low-cost clock finds to be the breakthrough technology of the project.
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Dr. Ramakrishna Sai Gorthi, Principal Investigator (Small Objects Detection Project) and team displayed their recent advancements in the development of efficient detection and tracking of small objects using aerial images. The project involves processing of images using various selection methods for drone detection and further integrate detector to transformer based tracker for better target appearance making it a novel outcome of the project.
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Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences
Dr. Rajesh, Principal Investigator (Hyperspectral camera project) and team demonstrated the prototype of the inhouse complete hyperspectral camera being developed using the latest CMOS technology. The CMOS design for the sensor is in the developmental stage which marks the Unique Selling point of the product to deliver at low cost. The team also showcased a prototype model of the camera being developed during the demo-day event.
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Startups & Entrepreneurship
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VIKAS Incubation Program
Startups Incubated under VIKAS Incubation Program:
IITTNiF proudly incubated several innovative startups through our VIKAS program, focusing
on sectors such as GIS, Drones, GNSS, and Underwater Technologies. The following startups are:
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Startups showcased:
During the Startup and Technology Development Demo Day event, an impressive lineup of startups, including Garudalytics, GIS Kernel, Geoinfy, Agrocast, Thazhal, Spaceinf, Spatialmate, Dronehub, Cyber Privilege Pvt. Ltd, Sri Vandanapushyami Energy Fuelling (OPC), Nevar Systems Pvt. Ltd, Aakashee, Guardinger Tech, and GMR. Each startup showcased their innovative products, capturing the attention of representatives from the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
This event provided a valuable platform for startups to engage with industry leaders, explore potential collaborations, and gain recognition for their cutting-edge technologies. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and success!
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Startups incubated at TIH-IIT Tirupati showcasing their projects
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Human Resource Development
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Postdoctoral Research: Currently, four Postdoctoral fellows are working at IITTNiF on the following topics:
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- Computer Vision and Optical Tracking Systems
- Multi-constellation GNSS Reflectometry
- Urban Water Security Management
- 40Ca+ based Atomic Clocks
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Highlights:
Patent Filings:
- Dr. Venkata Subbareddy filed a patent for an Integrated System for Indoor Employee Tracking.
- Additionally, Dr. Naga Sai Madhavi’s work on soil-moisture measurement is in the process of patent filing.
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Skill Development Programme
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IITTNiF’s GIS Training Programs: Shaping the Future of Geospatial Expertise
IITTNiF is dedicated to advancing geospatial technology education through a series of dynamic GIS training workshops. These programs equip students and educators with essential skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), preparing them for the demands of an increasingly data-centric world. Here’s an overview of our recent initiatives:
GIS Workshops:
GIS Training for Delhi Public School, Srinagar: Students engaged in hands-on GIS activities, enhancing their understanding of spatial technologies.
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GIS Training at Delhi Public School, Srinagar
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Collaboration with SanchiConnect
To enhance the support provided to startups under Operation Dronagiri, IITTNiF actively collaborated with SanchiConnect, a leading platform for startup management.
Collaboration with Grandmark Associates for Legal Proceedings of Startups
IITTNiF initiated the process of drafting legal agreements and conducting due diligence for the startups incubated at IITTNiF. This process has been initiated for 12 startups under various schemes like SARATHI, DISCOVER, and Smart GIS. Approximately ₹2.63 crore is planned to be disbursed through different modes such as CCD/OCD, equity, debt, and grants.
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Strategic Meeting on "Operation Dronagiri": Advancing Geospatial Innovations in Vizianagaram, AP
A significant meeting was held between the IITNiF team and the District Collector of Vizianagaram, along with heads of line departments, to discuss the "Operation Dronagiri" initiative on September 27, 2024. The meeting emphasized the importance of inter-departmental collaboration and addressed various benefits and challenges associated with the operation. The initiative aims to leverage geospatial innovations for the development of Vizianagaram
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District Collector of Vizianagaram, along with heads of line departments and TIH-IIT Tirupati team, exploring innovative technologies in drone navigation and GNSS systems.
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Technology Development Activities
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Underwater Navigation Seminar – Problem Statements Launched
As part of the Underwater Navigation Seminar held in June 2024 at New Delhi, problem statements were received from the Indian Navy outlining real-time scenarios to enhance research in Underwater Navigation. These problem statements have now been officially launched under the Technology and Product Development (TPD) Project Proposals as of September 29th, 2024. The initiative aims to drive focused research and development in this critical area.
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Human Resource Development
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We are happy to announce that IITTNiF is currently accepting applications from interested and motivated students for the next phase of the Chanakya UG & PG scholarship programs.
GIS Training Sessions
IITTNiF is thrilled to announce an upcoming series of GIS training sessions designed to empower school and college students across the nation with cutting-edge geospatial technology skills. These workshops will equip participants with the tools and knowledge to excel in GIS, preparing them for the future of innovation and technology.
In addition, IITTNiF is expanding its reach by introducing specialized training programs for farmers, aimed at improving agricultural practices through advanced geospatial applications. Stay tuned as we continue to broaden our impact and inspire the next generation of GIS experts!
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We’re excited to introduce a brand-new section in our newsletter, featuring exclusive insights, experiences, and expert advice from IITTNiF Advisors. This initiative will inspire and empower our community as we continue to drive innovation and entrepreneurship forward.
Get ready for the upcoming edition, filled with fresh perspectives and the latest news from across the IITTNiF ecosystem. Stay connected and explore all of our four key verticals by subscribing today!
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Major General M. Rajendran, CEO of IITTNiF
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As we move forward, our commitment to fostering an inclusive, forward-thinking ecosystem remains unwavering. I encourage all members of our community to stay engaged, continue pushing boundaries, and leverage the incredible opportunities we are building together. I am confident that the future of Innovation, Technology Development, Startups and Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Development, and Collaborations at IITTNiF is brighter than ever.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Together, we are shaping a future of sustainable, technology-driven solutions that will positively impact society.
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