Session- 4: Climate Change

(Addressing Climate Change’s Impact on the Indian Healthcare System)

The second day of InnoHEALTH 2024 featured a pivotal panel discussion titled “Climate Change: Dealing with the Coming Unknowns for the Indian Healthcare System.” The session brought together thought leaders and experts from diverse fields to discuss how climate change is reshaping public health challenges and opportunities.

Panelists and Key Discussions

Dr. Sarah Hyder Iqbal (Moderator)

Dr. Iqbal set the tone for the session by emphasizing the critical intersection of climate change and healthcare. She highlighted the immediate and long-term impacts of climate-driven phenomena, such as rising temperatures, air pollution, and erratic weather patterns, on an already burdened healthcare system. She underscored the urgency for actionable strategies to mitigate these challenges.

Dr. Ankur Mutreja

Director of Strategy, Partnerships, and Communication at Path South Asia, Dr. Mutreja shared insights into the gaps in data and knowledge connecting climate change to health outcomes. He pointed out the alarming rise in vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya due to changing climatic conditions. Dr. Mutreja also addressed the severe nutritional deficits exacerbated by climate change, noting the declining quality of agricultural produce.

Key points from Dr. Mutreja:

• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases are intensifying due to climate-related factors.
• Nutrition has been profoundly impacted, with lower-quality food exacerbating malnutrition and stunted growth.
• Mental health remains an underexplored area in the climate-health dialogue, despite its critical importance.

He called for better integration of high-quality data into policy-making and a focus on cross-sectoral collaborations to address these issues.

Dr. Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal

An Associate Professor of Computational Biology at IIIT Delhi, Dr. Dhanjal brought a data-driven perspective to the discussion. She spoke about her institution’s Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science for Health and Climate Change, which equips professionals to analyze health and climate data intersections.

Key highlights from Dr. Dhanjal:

• A lack of comprehensive and actionable data hinders efforts to quantify the impact of climate change on health.
• Data-driven programs and partnerships with organizations like Art Park are critical for developing predictive models.
• By training professionals to understand climate-health intersections, institutions can drive impactful, evidence-based policy.

Dr. Tanal emphasized the importance of integrating environmental and health sciences to foster innovative solutions.

Professor Dr. Tanu Jindal

As an Environmental Science expert and leader of five institutions at Amity University, Professor Jindal discussed the foundational environmental issues driving climate change. She highlighted the links between environmental health and safety and their downstream effects on human health.

Insights from Professor Jindal:

• Greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution are primary drivers of climate change, necessitating a focus on mitigation.
• The increase in heat stress and waterborne diseases highlights the urgency for proactive strategies.
• Cognitive and behavioral impacts of air pollution are under-researched but profoundly significant.

Professor Jindal stressed the importance of sustainability and raised awareness about integrating environmental risk assessments into health policies.

Themes Explored

Climate Change’s Direct and Indirect Impacts

The panel collectively emphasized that climate change’s effects are multifaceted:

• Immediate impacts: Increased vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, and heat stress.
• Long-term effects: Worsened air and water quality, disrupted ecosystems, and compounded mental health issues.

Preparedness and Adaptation

Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the panel underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations. Strengthening partnerships between governmental, academic, and private sectors can improve the healthcare system’s resilience.

Role of Technology and Data

The discussion also highlighted the role of predictive models, AI, and data analytics in forecasting climate-related health risks. Initiatives like Art Park’s disease prediction model, which has been successfully implemented in Karnataka, showcased how integrating diverse data sources can improve public health outcomes.

Policy and Public Awareness

The speakers called for stronger regulatory frameworks and greater public awareness. Professor Jindal emphasized the role of sustainability in mitigating climate change, from reducing emissions to promoting eco-friendly practices.

The session concluded with a consensus that addressing climate change’s impact on health requires immediate and sustained efforts across sectors. The panelists reiterated the need for robust data systems, interdisciplinary collaborations, and innovative policies to tackle these challenges effectively.

https://youtu.be/88qOAkVVG8E

Session- 5: Bridging the gap

(Innovative Approaches to Healthcare Access and Prevention)

The InnoHEALTH 2024 conference featured an enlightening panel discussion titled “Bridging the Gap: Innovation Approaches to Healthcare Access and Prevention.” The session brought together distinguished speakers to address challenges in making healthcare equitable and accessible. They explored how technology, data-driven approaches, and community-focused strategies can help overcome barriers in underserved and rural areas.

Panelists and Their Insights

Dr. Ravi Gaur

A leader in diagnostic healthcare, Dr. Gaur opened the session with a tribute to the late visionary Admiral R. Singh, whose innovative mindset inspired the InnoHEALTH platform. As the founder of DrG Path Labs and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board at Unipath Specialty Laboratories, Dr. Gaur shared his experience in making diagnostics accessible to underserved areas. He stressed the importance of disruptive innovation in reaching the “last man outpost,” addressing the critical need for affordable, quality healthcare.

Key Highlights:

• The gaps in access to basic healthcare diagnostics in rural and underserved areas.
• Leveraging global practices and innovations to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

Dr. Amit Raj

An accomplished cardiologist and Managing Director of Plexus Medicare, Dr. Raj shared his journey of leveraging technology to provide remote cardiac care. He described his initial pilot project in Bihar, where IoT devices and AI helped monitor patients in remote villages near the Nepal border. The results, including real-time diagnoses and telemedicine consultations, showcased the potential of technology to save lives and bridge healthcare gaps.

Key Highlights:

• The integration of IoT and AI for remote cardiac care.
• His vision for creating “digital domes” in healthcare, which combine digital and physical care to serve underserved communities.
• Collaborations with startups to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem for preventive and acute care.

Prof. Saurabh Gupta

An Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at NIT Rourkela, Prof. Gupta highlighted his research in optical imaging and telemedicine systems for rural areas. His focus on addressing the lack of medical devices and innovations in India was evident as he discussed his work on personalized diagnostics and technologies for healthcare needs in rural regions.

Key Highlights:

• Developing telemedicine solutions for underserved areas like rural Chhattisgarh.
• Working on personalized treatments for conditions like sickle cell disease, emphasizing the need for tailored dosing.

Ms. Noor Fatma

The CTO of Easiofy Solutions, Ms. Fatma transitioned from working on cutting-edge computer vision technologies to healthcare after personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. She spoke about the role of AI in diagnosing medical images and her efforts to deploy these solutions in rural and underserved areas, addressing the critical shortage of radiologists.

Key Highlights:

• The application of AI in medical imaging to assist healthcare workers in regions with limited access to radiologists.
• The need to integrate AI seamlessly into clinical workflows, especially in resource-limited settings.

Themes Explored

Technology as a Catalyst

All panelists highlighted the transformative role of technology in making healthcare more accessible:

• AI and IoT-based solutions for real-time diagnostics and monitoring.
• Optical imaging and telemedicine systems tailored for rural healthcare needs.

Personalized and Preventive Healthcare

The discussion also focused on the need for personalized treatments and preventive care. From AI-driven diagnostics to initiatives like Ayushman Bharat’s wellness centers, the session underscored the importance of addressing root causes before they escalate into larger health crises.

Challenges and Opportunities

The speakers acknowledged significant hurdles, such as:

• High implementation costs of advanced technologies.
• Legacy systems in rural areas that limit the adoption of modern solutions.
• The need for government and private sector collaboration to build robust ecosystems.

The Path Forward

The panelists concluded with a shared vision for an inclusive healthcare system where technology bridges the gap between urban and rural, rich and poor. By combining innovative solutions with community engagement and government support, the goal of equitable healthcare can be achieved.

InnoHEALTH 2024 continues to inspire innovation and collaboration, paving the way for a healthier future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vKxvB4mSAc

Session- 6: Rebuilding trust, restoring health

(Co-Creating a Sustainable, Patient-Centric Healthcare Ecosystem)

InnoHEALTH 2024 marked another milestone in addressing the pressing issues of healthcare in India. One of the pivotal sessions, titled “Rebuilding Trust and Restoring Health,” brought together experts from diverse fields to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare ecosystem. The session, moderated by Dr. Hara Prasad Mishra, focused on restoring trust, improving patient outcomes, and integrating technology to create a more sustainable and patient-centric system.

Highlights from the Esteemed Panel

Dr. Hara Prasad Mishra (Moderator)

Dr. Mishra, a physician and computational medicine researcher, opened the session by outlining the challenges faced by the Indian healthcare system, from medical negligence to strained patient-doctor relationships. He set the stage for a comprehensive discussion, emphasizing the need for a system that prioritizes trust, sustainability, and patient-centric care.

Key issues highlighted:

• Recent incidents of medical errors and hospital violence.
• The importance of open communication and cultural sensitivity in building trust.
• The role of distributed leadership, involving everyone from security staff to specialists, in fostering a trustworthy environment.

Prof. Dr. Sanjiv Kumar

Dr. Kumar, Chairperson of the Three Domain Leadership Foundation, spoke about “Distributed Leadership in Healthcare.” He emphasized that trust-building is a collective effort, requiring involvement from all levels of healthcare providers.

Key insights:

• Prevention as Priority: The growing disease burden in India necessitates a shift from reactive to preventive healthcare.
• Improved Outcomes with Trust: Building trust improves health outcomes by 2.6 times, organizational reputation by threefold, and significantly increases patient loyalty.
• Empathy and Communication: Open, clear, and respectful communication with patients is essential.

Dr. Kumar also stressed that hospital practices should be patient-friendly, not just provider-centric, and highlighted the importance of grievance mechanisms and feedback systems.

Dr. Rishab Jain

An interventional radiologist, Dr. Jain shed light on the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in “Enhancing Diagnostic Precision and Patient Engagement.”

Key contributions:

• Technological Advances: Highlighted minimally invasive, high-tech procedures in interventional radiology, such as the use of biodegradable stents.
• Patient Education: Advocated for annotated reports and pre-procedure counseling to educate patients about their conditions.
• Role of AI: Discussed how AI can triage patients, reduce unnecessary tests, and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Dr. Jain emphasized the need for radiologists to engage directly with patients to build trust and demystify medical procedures.

Dr. Adil Khan Yusuf Zai

Founder of India’s first patient-centered healthcare super app, Dr. Khan focused on the critical role of “Transparency and Trust Beyond Hospital Walls.”

Key points:

• Patients often feel abandoned after hospital discharge; a care continuum is essential.
• Highlighted language barriers and health literacy gaps as significant contributors to distrust.
• Proposed multilingual patient education systems and outcome-driven care models to bridge these gaps.

Dr. Khan’s work demonstrates how digital innovation can enhance trust and improve patient outcomes while addressing systemic inefficiencies.

Ms. Ankita Agarwal

Vice President of Marengo Asia Strategy Office, Ms. Agarwal brought an operational and strategic perspective to the discussion. She explained how Marengo Hospitals focuses on building trust through “Accountability, Accessibility, and Transparency.”

Key initiatives:

• Standardized billing and financial counseling to avoid inflated costs.
• Deployment of innovative technologies, such as sensors to monitor patients and preempt emergencies, reducing code blue events.
• Hybrid rehabilitation programs that combine in-hospital and at-home care.

Ms. Agarwal emphasized that trust-building requires hospitals to prioritize patient care and outcomes while maintaining transparency and ethical practices.

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya

An advocate for primary healthcare, Dr. Lahariya reflected on the philosophical and practical aspects of building trust at the grassroots level. He highlighted the importance of “Person-Centric Healthcare Systems” and shared his experiences of fostering trust through word-of-mouth and community engagement.

Key messages:

• Trust in primary care systems can reduce the burden on tertiary care facilities.
• Empathy, cultural understanding, and active listening are foundational to patient satisfaction.

Key Themes of the Discussion

1. The Importance of Trust in Healthcare

The panel underscored that trust is fundamental to effective healthcare delivery. It enhances patient compliance, improves outcomes, and bolsters the reputation of healthcare institutions.

2. The Role of Technology

From AI-driven diagnostics to telemedicine, technology is a critical enabler of trust and efficiency. However, its implementation must prioritize inclusivity and patient engagement.

3. The Need for Transparency and Accountability

Panelists stressed the importance of clear communication, fair billing practices, and comprehensive care models that extend beyond hospital walls.

4. Distributed Leadership

Healthcare is a team effort, and every member of the system, from security guards to specialists, plays a role in fostering a trustworthy environment.

The session concluded with a shared vision for a healthcare system that is patient-centered, transparent, and sustainable. By fostering collaboration among providers, patients, and policymakers, and leveraging technology responsibly, India can create a healthcare ecosystem that meets the needs of its diverse population.

InnoHEALTH 2024 served as a powerful platform for meaningful dialogue, setting the stage for innovative solutions to some of India’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

https://youtu.be/689B9_rFV4U

Session- 7: Nurses as transformative leaders

(Co-Creating a Sustainable, Patient-Centric Healthcare Ecosystem)

In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, nurses are no longer just the backbone of care but transformative leaders driving sustainable innovation. Their pivotal role in enhancing patient outcomes, adopting advanced technologies, and promoting sustainability has never been more evident. A recent nursing session highlighted how these professionals are reshaping healthcare, with insights from leading experts and initiatives from the Indian government.

Keynote Insights: Driving Innovation Through Leadership

Dr. Deepika Cecil Khaka, Nursing Advisor to the Government of India, emphasized the crucial role of innovation in nursing during her keynote address. She quoted Steve Jobs, saying, “Innovation is the ability to see the change as an opportunity, not a threat,” underscoring the need for a proactive mindset in the profession.

Key government initiatives include:

• Skill Development under NHM: Training programs targeting midwifery, emergency response, and maternal health care.
• Community Health Officers (CHOs): With over 1.5 lakh CHOs across India, 95% of whom are nurses, these programs equip nurses with the skills to function in underserved areas.
• Advanced Nursing Roles: Introduction of nurse practitioner programs in critical care and midwifery to address the shortage of specialized healthcare providers.
• Digital Health Integration: The government’s emphasis on telemedicine and digital health records ensures better patient care, especially in remote areas.
• Global Standards: Efforts to align Indian nursing education with international standards to meet the global demand for skilled professionals.

Insights from Panelists: Driving Innovation in Nursing

During the panel discussion, distinguished nursing leaders and educators shared their perspectives on the evolving role of nursing in healthcare innovation. Each panelist brought unique insights from their respective domains of expertise.

Dr. Raminder Kalra

Dr. Kalra emphasized the integral role of nurses in the patient care ecosystem, citing their continuous presence with patients as a unique opportunity to identify unmet needs and innovate solutions. She shared examples where simple, on-the-spot ideas led to transformative changes in patient management, such as creative methods to calm restless patients or ensure safety in emergencies.

Dr. Kalra also highlighted the need for better coordination among healthcare teams, particularly in hospitals where nurses often manage crises independently. She encouraged fostering a culture where bedside nurses can voice challenges, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and contribute to designing technological solutions for improved care delivery.

Professor Lavanya Nandan

Focusing on the role of nursing education in preparing future innovators, Professor Lavanananda acknowledged the fast-paced technological advancements reshaping healthcare, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). She discussed the challenge of integrating digital tools into nursing curricula, such as advanced patient monitoring systems and AI-enabled dashboards.

She called for the inclusion of hands-on digital health training in nursing programs to ensure that students graduate as tech-savvy professionals ready to work in modern hospitals. She also urged institutions to blend traditional nursing skills with emerging technologies, maintaining the core of compassionate care.

Captain Dr. Indira Rani

Captain Dr. Indira Rani provided a perspective from nursing leadership and hospital administration. She stressed the responsibility of nurse leaders to adapt their teams to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Highlighting the role of transformational leadership, she described how empowering nurses with autonomy and recognizing their strengths can drive innovation.

Dr. Indira Rani shared examples from her hospital, where real-time data from digital dashboards is used to monitor patient care and staff performance. She discussed efforts to create a supportive environment where nurses feel encouraged to suggest improvements and leverage technology for better outcomes. She also touched on the importance of competency-based assessments and training programs to ensure nurses are equipped to handle modern healthcare challenges.

Dr. Urmila Bharadwaj

Dr. Bharadwaj, a veteran in community health nursing, addressed the role of nurses in community outreach and the importance of translating research into actionable outcomes. She discussed the frequent disconnect between surveys conducted by nursing students and their practical application in community health programs.

She emphasized the need for structured follow-ups to implement findings and improve community health indicators. Dr. Bharadwaj also highlighted the importance of innovation in addressing grassroots challenges, such as improving immunization coverage and antenatal care in underserved regions.

Nursing Innovators Award : Recognizing Innovations in Nursing

The session celebrated exemplary contributions in nursing innovation. Mr. Vijay R., Nursing student, was awarded the Young Achiever Award for his creation of a Disposable Infection-Free Hemostatic Tourniquet. This innovation enhances infection control and patient safety during hemodialysis, representing a significant leap in aligning practices with healthcare standards.

Book Launch: A Milestone in Nursing Education

The conference witnessed the launch of the book “Nursing Management for MSc Nursing Students” by Dr. Urmila Devi Bharadwaj, with co-authors Swachanda Bhattacharya and Jamal Fatima Hashmi. Graced by panelists Dr. Raminder Kalra, Professor Lavanya Nandan, and Captain Dr. Indira Rani, the event celebrated this valuable contribution to nursing academics.

The Way Forward

Nurses are leading change by combining innovation with the timeless principles of care. The emphasis remains on:

• Maintaining a human touch alongside technological adoption.
• Encouraging research and evidence-based practices.
• Enhancing global partnerships to elevate nursing education and practices.

The session concluded with a call for collective efforts in transforming healthcare. By fostering innovation, prioritizing compassion, and embracing technology, nurses are ensuring a sustainable, patient-centric future.

This event underscored that nursing is not merely a profession but a calling—an inspiring testament to the resilience, ingenuity, and commitment of nurses worldwide.

https://youtu.be/SoHmR8SJEoA

Session- 8: Innovator pitches and Award

(Jury)

The Young Innovators Award Session at InnoHEALTH 2024 was a vibrant celebration of creativity and problem-solving, showcasing pioneering ideas to address some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare and environmental sustainability. With a stellar jury panel and an audience of multidisciplinary experts, the session highlighted innovative solutions designed to transform lives.

Revolutionizing Maternal and Newborn Health: JANITRI

Arun Agrawal, founder of JANITRI, presented cutting-edge devices and software for pregnancy and newborn monitoring. These solutions empower healthcare professionals to reduce stillbirths and enhance continuous vitals monitoring, complication detection, and timely decision-making.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Monitoring: Devices track critical parameters throughout the 1,000-day journey from pregnancy to early childhood.
• Global Impact: Deployed in 600+ hospitals across India and abroad, JANITRI’s solutions have saved over 8,000 lives.
• Vision and Mission: Striving for a world where no mother or baby dies during childbirth, JANITRI focuses on sustainability, affordability, and user-friendliness.

Affordable and Sustainable Air Purification: HomeShield

Tanjot Singh and Lovya Bhadhwar from Lilawati Vidya Mandir alongwith their mentor Mr. Rajendra Dutt Parashar represented by Shield Enterprise, HomeShield offers a revolutionary low-cost air purifier designed to combat indoor air pollution.
Innovation Highlights:

• Technology: Employs water sprinkler technology to eliminate PM2.5, PM10, and other pollutants, with additional features like activated charcoal beds and UV-C light for odor and microbial control.
• Real-World Testing: Proven to reduce pollution levels by 90% in real-room conditions.
• Affordability and Accessibility:It targets households and hospitals seeking cost-effective solutions.

IoT-Based Electrolyte Monitoring System

Rishabh Ranjan Jha and team members Vishnu Dixit and Aman kumar Sharma from NIT Raipur introduced a novel IoT-based system to optimize the electrolyte infusion process in hospitals.

System Highlights:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Displays infusion progress and remaining time on a digital screen, ensuring timely interventions.
• Automation: Reduces manual monitoring errors and enhances accuracy.
• Future Goals: Plans include integrating serum sodium and potassium level monitoring for enhanced nephrology care.

BiSpekDAb™: A Breakthrough in Biopharmaceuticals

Sandeep, a Ph.D. scholar, ICMR-SRF , unveiled BiSpekDAb™, a bispecific antibody targeting TNF-α and IL-23 cytokines simultaneously, addressing gaps in anti-inflammatory treatments.

Therapeutic Highlights:

• Dual Binding: Combines two domain antibodies linked to a half-life extension partner, offering enhanced stability and efficacy.
• Promising Results: Demonstrated significant therapeutic benefits in severe asthma and neurological stroke models.
• Broad Spectrum Potential: Positioned as a versatile anti-inflammatory antibody for complex conditions.

Collaboration and Recognition

The session celebrated these groundbreaking innovations, fostering collaboration among healthcare stakeholders, researchers, and entrepreneurs. The distinguished jury, including Brig. Dr. Rakesh Datta , Commander Gaurav Sharma (Retd.) & Prof. (Dr.) Saurabh Gupta provided insightful feedback to refine these transformative ideas further.

E-Poster Competition: Spotlight on Innovation

As part of the InnoHealth Conference, an e-poster competition was held, judged by Dr. Arpit Tyagi and Dr. Mohammed Sultan Alam. They declared Dr. Ankit Kumar Sahu as the winner for his exceptional contribution. Dr. Ankit presented his research on enhancing emergency department triage in India, addressing challenges such as decision fatigue and high patient volume. He proposed an AI-based model to support and improve triage decisions, developed using a dataset of 1,200 patients. The AI algorithm demonstrated superior performance compared to other models, with heart rate emerging as the most significant predictor of triage category. Dr. Ankit highlighted the importance of feature analysis in the model and discussed its limitations, including the small sample size and the need for more robust objective parameters like mortality.

Looking Ahead: A Call to Action

As the curtains fell on this inspiring event, the message was clear: healthcare innovation is not just about technology but also about community, compassion, and a shared commitment to a healthier world. Attendees left empowered to take their ideas forward, with many already envisioning their next steps to bring their concepts to market.

The conference’s success is a testament to the power of collaboration. With continued support from stakeholders, platforms like the InnoHEALTH Conference will remain pivotal in driving advancements that transform healthcare for the better.

As the healthcare landscape evolves, one thing is certain—the future is bright, and the seeds of innovation planted today will yield extraordinary outcomes for generations to come.

https://youtu.be/OHwS9NwgIEk

Composed by:

InnoHEALTH Magazine Digital Team

The post Advancing healthcare through Innovation & Sustainability appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

The meeting commenced with Dr. V.K.Singh, Managing Director of InnovatioCuris and InnovatioCuris Foundation of Healthcare & Excellence, introducing the IC InnovatorCLUB and the motive behind having “Young Innovators” as the theme for the edition of the meeting. He pronounced the pace of the waves at which the young generation is striding and their level of all round understanding of aspects which took years to research. He was particularly exuberant for this edition of the meeting which consisted of presentations and panel discussion charting guests from different generations with various facets of innovation. 

Dr. Singh introduced the presenters and panelists of the meeting starting with Dr. Mohit Gambhir, Innovation Director @ Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, Govt. of India, Mr. Harmanjot Singh, who at a tender age of 14-year-old has created three award-winning Mobile Apps. One of his app for women’s safety called Raksha has won him Prime Minister Bal Puraskar for the year 2021, Mr. Abhik Saha another young innovator who at the age of 15 years was awarded the Gandhian Young Innovation Award (GYTI) 2018 by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) and, Dinesh C Sharma, is an award-winning journalist, author and media trainer with over 35 years’ experience of reporting on science and technology, health and environment for national and international media outlets and has recently composed a book on the top 100 innovations from India.

Dr. Singh further mentioned about the InnoHEALTH magazine which is circulated to a huge global healthcare community consisting of 95000 subscribers. The interview of Harmanjot Singh, who is a 14 year old Bal Puraskar awardee and a panelist in this edition of IC InnovatorCLUB meeting, will be published in the upcoming edition of the magazine scheduled to be released in March 2022. He also urged that more interviews, experiences and journeys of the younger generation be published to promote visibility and garner the young minds of the nation. He highlighted the focus of the Prime Minister of India on innovations, unicorns and the supporting tools for these like conducting hackathons, eg; IDEAthon, SAMADHAN, Smart India Hackathon with Dr. Mohit Gambhir through the Ministry of Education who was the organizer.He optimistically mentioned that, though India was at 46th and 40th position on the innovation index in 2000 and 2021, still India is a home for 81 unicorns with a total valuation of 279 billion USD. Out of these, 43 unicorns are valued at 89 billion happening only in the last year. USA stood at the top in the number of unicorns whereas India stood in the 4th place, behind China and UK. He stated that the pandemic has forced the country into frugal and real innovation. Taking the COVID-19 vaccine as an example, he applauded the way the vaccine shots were exported contrary to our importing of the same previously.

With further elucidation he mentioned about the challenges faced by the young innovators that leads to 90% of the start-ups to fail within five years of inception and face the consequence of closure. It is not just about getting a billion unique data, but thoughts have to be on the challenges that arise by this.

Dr. Mohit Gambhir spoke ardently about the importance and the need for innovating. He emphasized that the innovation coming from the younger generation these days has upscaled it to the next level for the future. He also spoke about incubators supporting the younger generation, alongwith the hackathons to ignite the flame of innovations. He shared some numbers and thoughts on the initiatives of the Ministry of Education in conducting smart India hackathons, and also the evolution of the competition from 40,000 participants in the first year to 3.5 lakh participants in the fourth year, and expecting a million participants for the upcoming hackathons. He mentioned that the fifth edition is introducing a junior student track starting for grades 6-12, who would be part of the Open Innovation Model. Dr. Gambhir also talked about the tough, however fruitful  journey of the first Indian pandemic lockdown time, where he, the Ministry of Education and InnovatioCuris, under the guidance of Dr. V K Singh moved pole to pillar to transpire the IDEAthon (a COVID-19 themed hackathon).

It was an initiative where 10000 participants came together with innovative ideas to confront and cessation of the virus. The ideas were bestowed with accolades and many teams which impressed the jury were incubated by the Ministry of Education post the hackathon.

Dr. Gambhir then spoke about the TOYCATHON (an innovative toy making themed hackathon) and explained the procedure for its participation. The number of school student participants involved, greatly indicating the younger generation’s strength in the innovation space. He mentioned about the licensing and hand-holding that is still culminating between the participant school students and the toy making companies. These initiatives will have a higher impact in broadening the horizon of the school students as such actions would help the students during the time school students and when they have reached the college their ideas which are already funded thereby will strengthen the innovation ecosystem right from school.

Dr. Gambhir then spoke about the administrative work being done in the past 2-3 years, setting up innovation councils in higher education institutions across the country to bridge the gap in the design thinking, critical thinking and cognitive skills. He stated that this model would be used to launch school innovation councils and the ministry is ready to announce 10000 school innovation councils. He spoke about the teacher training in more than 25000 schools in India on design thinking, innovation, idea, the partnerships, technology, commerce, HR, sales, financing, boot camps, arranging business plan, like kind of people and activity. These teachers, if not completely trained, are at least aware of the basic concepts so that the student may not be discouraged in posing queries in the same. Dr. Gambhir spoke about mapping innovation and its role in the flourishing of enterprise ownership which brings to the way of channelising the brain tuning and resources to bring in more indigenous products made in the country.

Dr. Gambhir concluded his talk by speaking about the current actions, numbers in the IP space compared with the super powers like India and China. He mentioned about the challenges faced in IP due to poor documentation and the actions being taken from the rudimentary level to over turn these challenges.

The club meeting progressed with a panel discussion moderated by Sachin Gaur. The panel participants were Harmanjot Singh, Abhik Saha and Dinesh C Sharma.

Harmanjot Singh started his presentation where he introduced his accolades and work he is pursuing in his apps in healthcare and cyber bullying and women’s safety app and its success, shining his work before the Government of India. He mentioned that his work consists of three main ingredients:  creativity, knowledge, and perseverance, quoting Thomas Edison’s 1% inspiration and 99% perseverance. When asked about his change in life after developing these apps, he elucidated about his work life balance and its importance to motivate both segments.

After this, Abhik Saha, the second panelist started with his introduction and the way he progressed with his dream through the monotony of childhood and how he broke his shackles in setting up his own company, Origgon, a search engine. He shared his pull back from the investors terming it as a crazy idea going against a search engine giant. He then shared his long story short about his development of his idea from challenging times to his company closure due to unavailability of investors and funds. He still called it development due to the experience and excitement he received recharging him to scale to better opportunities. He mentioned that he is currently working with telecom companies, startups, etc; where they power search engine recommendations and other AI related technology backend, understanding big data. Abhik concludes that he would have ideally started his company at 15 contrary to 27 and expressed that he knew more about the jargon of the business world.

When asked about the future of online gaming in India, Abhik responded that it’s not just about gaming it’s about a completely different world that you can opt into, from your daily busy life, or whatever it does not matter in the game you can choose what character they want to be as well as the role they want to play. Also meet other people and do something together making that part of gaming so interesting, or makes the full potential of the internet in a completely different environment or scenario, also bringing those angles from the gaming to other environments like education and technology and learning.

Next, the award winning journalist, Dinesh C.Sharma took over and talked about his journey of journalism in 1984 about scientific institutions paving the way for science journalism. He mentioned his book on the Arctic where he was at the ground zero of climate change, spending time as an icebreaker. He mentioned that he broadly wrote on environment and medicine. When asked about his opinion on communication, he talked about the way communication has evolved and the change in the internet speed, the evolution of the technology infrastructure. He states that his reason to write the book. “Indian innovation: not jugaad” is first, many innovations have touched the lives of people and needed documentation, and secondly whenever there’s a discussion about Indian innovation, the word “Jugaad” comes into picture most of the time creating a wrong impression and hence wanted to shrug off the thoughts on Indian innovation.

He states that frugal innovation is not jugaad, but a quick transient act for correction and he wanted that impression to change through this book. He gives an example of the egg market in India and how uniform pricing helped egg availability all over India. He spoke about the future trends in India stating that when innovated, it finds use cases all along and not just for the length of the time it was made. He mentioned that his favorite innovation from his book is the ticketing system and the very thought of computerizing and making it, accessible to people you could book any ticket anywhere, anytime and those are that kind of revolutionary then that changed the number of people who travel by Indian railways in a year is humongous and the other innovation being the digitisation of land records. His healthcare specific favorite innovation was the set of ideas which led to making medicines and vaccines affordable to India. Dinesh mentioned that the younger generation needs mentoring from the experienced lot and that every innovation is based on a context and processed may be cultural specific, technology can only be a support and the problem solving needs innovations.

Dr. Gambhir concurred with Dinesh about the problem solving innovations and also carefully highlights the peer pressure scenarios that may arise due to this.

Dr. V.K.Singh concluded the meeting by sharing his experience on generational awareness and the perspective of life changing drastically as time passes and technology strides over power the way of living. His advice to the younger generation is to analyze failure rather than success.

Compiled by: “Clarion Smith Kodamanchili”

The post Young Innovators appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

We have progressed and brought innovations in fast track. India is home to 81 Unicorn with a total valuation of USD 279 billion of these 43 with USD 89 billion emerged last year. USA is top in number of Unicorn while India is fourth after China and UK. Media is reporting how we are added to every month’s list of Unicorn and soon we will surpass 100 Unicorns.

Let us innovate to improve quality, reduce cost and import. It would generate more employment and create a better economy.

In Jan 2022 there are 46 companies in the world having decacorn status out of which India has four: Flipkart, BYJU’s, Paytm and Swiggy. Let us not count on rosy pictures but to be successful analyse our failures too. IBM institute study finds that 90% of Indian startups fail within the first five years of inception. Innovation has become a buzzword lately but what we need to ensure the reduction in failure rate of innovations. Let us innovate to improve quality, reduce cost and import. It would generate more employment and create a better economy. As quoted in my book: Alexander Blass, CEO of Innovation Institute of America, Inc. and winner of Top Innovator of the Year award said “It is no secret that many of the world’s top innovators come from India. Within the past few decades, India has embarked upon an incredible transformation from an agrarian-based society to a knowledge-based economy. Along with the population growth came survival instincts and the need to be different, better and unique. One can see innovation everywhere in India, whether in large game changing innovations that garner lots of publicity, or in less obvious yet important incremental fashions”

We are celebrating 75 years of independence but simplified govt policies in the last few years and recent challenges have encouraged our younger generation of 11 to 12 years of age to innovate who have been awarded by the President/Prime minister every year. We also publicise their good work through our innovators’ club meetings and magazine to let the ecosystem know and motivate others. The Prime Minister always talks of “Naya Bharat”, it is our duty as citizens to make our country of 1.3 billion population the best in the world. It should not be a country known for snake charmers and beggars but rather a country of innovators showing way to others.

Credit: Photo by Unsplash

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