Science & Technology – Karnataka First

Priyank Kharge highlights growing Indo-Swiss Biotech Collaboration

IT/BT and Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted the growing Indo-Swiss Biotech Collaboration as Anabio Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a pioneering force in femtech innovation has acquired the Microbe Investigations Switzerland (MIS), a Zurich-based leader in microbial research and diagnostics.

The event was attended by Priyank Kharge, who lauded the acquisition as a reflection of Karnataka’s burgeoning biotech ecosystem.

Other key leaders from both India and Switzerland including Mr. Jonas Brunschwig, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex, Mithun Shah, CEO of Anabio Technologies, Prof Dr Hendrik Tevaearai, Chairman of the Board, MIS were also present at the event.

The minister, in his address, said “This acquisition is a testament to Karnataka’s thriving biotech ecosystem.

With initiatives like Elevate, Unnati, and world-class infrastructure such as the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), Karnataka is proud to provide a conducive environment for innovation.

“We are committed to supporting companies like Anabio Technologies, who are taking India’s biotech prowess to the global stage,” He emphasized the critical role of collaboration between India and Switzerland in advancing biotech research and addressing global challenges,” Kharge said.

The event also marked the launch of a refreshed MIS brand identity, including a new logo and website.

The acquisition is a significant milestone in strengthening the Indo-Swiss partnership in biotechnology, fostering greater collaboration between India and Switzerland in microbial diagnostics, microbiome research, and sustainable innovation.

It will allow Anabio Technologies to enhance its capabilities in areas such as entomology, microbiome research, and environmental sustainability.

With a renewed brand identity, MIS is now poised to scale its operations globally while continuing to drive innovation in microbial diagnostics.
This landmark acquisition signals a new era of collaboration between India and Switzerland, positioning both countries as key players in the global biotech landscape.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

PM launches Centre of Excellence in Ayurveda for Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders at IISc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday digitally launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Ayurveda for Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru.

The launch of the CoE under the Union Ministry of Ayush coincides with the 9th National Ayurveda Day observed on Tuesday (October 29).

This year’s theme “Ayurveda Innovations for Global Health” emphasises the importance of integrating Ayurveda with modern science to address critical health issues like diabetes.

Led by principal investigator Navakanta Bhat (professor at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at IISc) and co-principal investigator Sona Rajakumari (assistant professor, Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics at IISc), the CoE is one of the six new ones in Ayurveda launched across India on National Ayurveda Day.

Apart from IISc, these centres – established under the “Ayurswasthya Yojna” programme, will be led by premier institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, and Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai. Backed by a grant of ₹52.47 crore, the centres will spearhead cutting-edge research, education, and healthcare innovation in the field of Ayurveda, according to an official statement.

Additional investigators of this CoE from collaborating institutes in Bengaluru include Sulochana Bhat, who heads the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI); S. Srikanta, director of Samatvam: Science and Research for Human Welfare Trust and K.S. Nagabhushana, Prayoga Institute of Education Research.

Longitudinal study

As a part of this CoE, a randomised active comparator controlled clinical trial will be conducted, with a longitudinal study over two years, to assess the efficacy of two new Ayurvedic formulations (Mustadi Ghana Vati and Varadi Ghana Vati) in prediabetes and type II diabetes. A total of 444 patients, including 120 from CARI, will be enrolled for the clinical trials, stated an official release.

In conjunction with the clinical trials, systematic in vitro (cell lines and animal models) and in vivo (blood samples of participants) studies will be pursued to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of protein glycation and oxidation (through mass spectroscopy), the role of different adipose tissues (brown, white, beige), and response to therapy.

“This study builds on our prior work on albumin glycation and oxidation,” said Dr Bhat. “By generating scientific evidence for the efficacy of Ayurvedic approaches, the Centre will pave the way for its integration into mainstream healthcare,” she said.

Dr Rajakumari said this would perhaps be the first such comprehensive study on the interplay between Ayurvedic therapy and reprograming of adipose tissue function.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Bengaluru emerges as top market for GCCs, holds highest share in IT/ITeS

2024 marked a rebound in demand, attributed to global companies aiming to reduce costs while accessing India’s wide talent pool.

Bengaluru has emerged as the top market for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) occupying flexible office spaces, accounting for 41 per cent of GCC-focused flex seats across India’s major markets, according to Knight Frank India’s latest report.

Titled ‘GCC — Driving India’s Real Estate Growth Story’, the report shows that GCC flex space occupancy across eight cities rose from 17,380 seats in 2023 to 22,881 seats by September 2024, with Bengaluru’s large share underscoring its position as a tech and corporate hub.

The report also highlights a significant regional contrast in GCC flex space distribution — while Bengaluru holds 41 per cent of GCC occupancy in flex spaces, Kolkata claims just 1 per cent. This distribution suggests distinct regional preferences, with Bengaluru leading the way as the preferred market for flex space among GCCs.

Across India’s top six cities, GCCs occupy nearly 202.6 million sqft of Grade A office space, with Bengaluru and Hyderabad collectively accounting for three-fourths of this space. From 2018 through the second quarter of 2024, the IT/ITeS sector has consistently dominated the GCC landscape, followed by Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) and consulting sectors. Specifically, Mumbai leads with the highest share of GCCs within the BFSI sector, while Bengaluru holds top position in the IT/ITeS sector.

The report points at several recommendations, including innovative financing strategies, exploring new micro markets, supportive government policies and flexible office space for enhancing GCC operations and growth in India.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: INDIA’S FIRST / MANUFACTURING: India’s first indigenous bullet train set to roll by 2026. BEML has been contracted to design, manufacture, and commission by 2026

BEML has been contracted to design, manufacture, and commission India’s first indigenous bullet trains, each with eight cars. The trains will offer modern amenities as part of India’s high-speed rail initiative and are set to roll out by late 2026.

India is advancing its high-speed rail ambitions by developing indigenously built bullet trains. The first bullet train is expected to be manufactured in Bengaluru, featuring a design speed of 280 kilometers per hour (kmph) and an operational speed of 250 kmph. This train is slated for rollout by December 2026.

State-owned BEML has secured a contract worth Rs 866.87 crore to design, manufacture, and commission India’s first indigenously built bullet trains. BEML announced it will supply two high-speed trainsets, each comprising eight coaches, under an order placed by Indian Railways’ Integral Coach Factory (ICF).

BEML stated that each coach would cost Rs 27.86 crore, with the total contract value also covering design costs, one-time development expenses, non-recurring charges, and the costs of jigs, fixtures, tooling, and testing facilities.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

While Indian Railways initially considered Japanese technology for bullet trains on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route, discussions remain inconclusive.

As a result, India may now deploy locally developed trains for this corridor. Notably, BEML’s cost per coach is significantly lower than the Rs 46 crore quoted by Japan for similar bullet train coaches.

BEML highlighted that the infrastructure from this project will be leveraged for future high-speed rail projects across India.

The project, a major milestone in India’s high-speed rail initiative, will deliver trainsets with a 280 km/h test speed.

In comparison, the Japanese Shinkansen E5 series, initially considered for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad line, can achieve speeds of 320 km/h.

The trains will be produced at BEML’s Bengaluru facility and are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.

They will feature fully air-conditioned Chair Car configurations with modern amenities, including reclining and rotatable seats, accommodations for passengers with restricted mobility, and onboard infotainment systems.

source/content: indiatoday.in (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: Bengaluru-based Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospave (FWDA) announces successful maiden flight of indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft

Bengaluru-headquartered Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) on Tuesday announced the successful maiden flight of indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B.

Classified as a Medium Altitude (15,000 feet) Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the FWD 200B is equipped with optical payloads for surveillance and missile-like weapons for air strikes and bombing, the FWDA Founder and CEO Suhas Tejaskanda told reporters here.

“The aircraft’s aerodynamics design, airframe, propulsion systems, controls systems, electronics are all made in India at FWDA’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility of 12,000 sq.ft built on 1.5 acre land, located at Electronic City, Bengaluru,” he said.

FWD 200B features a wingspan of five metres and a length of 3.5 metres. It has a maximum take-off weight of 102 kg and a payload capacity of 30 kg, the company said.

It can fly at a cruise speed of 152 kms per hour, with a maximum speed of 250 km per hour. Its runway requirement is just 300 metres allowing it to operate from shorter airstrips, Tejaskanda said.

“With an endurance of seven hours and a range of 800 km, the FWD 200B ensures extended mission capabilities, providing substantial coverage without the need for frequent refueling or landing,” he said.

PTI GMS RS RS

source/content: thebengalurulive.con (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL: Epione Bengaluru branch celebrates one year in Bengaluru, treating over 1,200 patients

This milestone underscores the centre’s commitment to innovative and compassionate pain management solutions.

Epione, a pain relief centre, successfully completed one year in Bengaluru, providing care and relief to over 1,200 patients. This milestone underscores the centre’s commitment to innovative and compassionate pain management solutions.

With over 20 years of experience, Epione has treated more than 50,000 patients across its centres in South India and is recognised for introducing plasma therapy (PRP) for pain relief in the country.

The Bengaluru branch has been pivotal in offering specialised therapies that help patients manage chronic pain and enhance their quality of life through advanced, non-invasive treatments.

Founder and Managing Director and Chief of Pain Medicine Dr Sudheer Dara said, “Our mission has always been to enhance the lives of people suffering from chronic pain. Our first year in Bengaluru has exceeded our expectations in terms of patient response and clinical success.

We are committed to expanding our services to reach more people in need.” Moreover, to meet the growing demand for services, Epione plans to open two additional branches in Bengaluru next year. Clinical Head Dr Vidya Bandaru, highlighted the centre’s progress over the past year and the commitment to expanding patient-centric care.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: RECORDS OF PESTS : Bengaluru-based ICAR-NBAIR discovers 63 new insect species

ICAR-NBAIR said in a statement it was granted five patents in the last financial year, further establishing its leadership in innovative pest management solutions.

The ICAR – National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (ICAR-NBAIR) has said it has discovered 63 new insect species in 2023-2024, significantly enhancing scientific understanding of agriculturally-important insects.

ICAR-NBAIR said in a statement it was granted five patents in the last financial year, further establishing its leadership in innovative pest management solutions, including — Herbal-based repellent for termites on woody trees, Protocol for alcohol-free plywood-laced melon fly attractant, and ‘Dorsa Lure’, a plant volatile composition to increase the trap efficiency in mango fruit flies.

Additional biological control agents were released across various areas, greatly reducing the impact of pests, the institute said.

“ICAR-NBAIR achieved groundbreaking progress in gene silencing technology by developing dsRNA constructs, which resulted in up to 85-89 per cent mortality in cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The institution also completed genome assemblies for four insect species, focusing on critical traits such as insecticide resistance and abiotic stress tolerance,” it stated.

ICAR-NBAIR also commercialised 47 technologies, including microbial pesticides, pheromones, and insecticidal formulations. during the year.

“These technologies generated Rs 32.5 million in revenue, and the Bureau signed over 112 licensing agreements to promote their widespread use across industries,” the statement said.

ICAR-NBAIR also developed and commercialised biological control agents to manage pests such as the fall armyworm and white grubs. These include novel insecticidal formulations and microbial pesticides, now available in the market, it was stated.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: PUBLIC HEALTH: Swachh Bharat Mission: Urban Primary health centre (UPHC), ShivajiNagar in Kalaburagi bags Kayakalp Award 6 times

As the nation celebrates the fortnight-long Swachhata Hi Seva 2024, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 74th birthday on September 17, many success stories of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) are coming to the fore.

SBM, also known as Clean India Mission, started off on October 2, 2014, and in the past ten years, it has brought transformational changes in the lives of people and society.

Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) of Shivaji Nagar in Kalaburagi district is one such medical facility which has bagged the Kayakalp Award for the sixth consecutive term.

This year also, it has been selected for the top honours and is looking forward to an award under the Swachh Bharat Mission’s ‘Best Urban Health Centre’ category.

It is the only centre selected in Kalyan for the Kayakalp award, in recognition of its high-quality service in promoting hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

The hospital staff and health professionals are confident of getting the Kayakalp award this time too.

Speaking to IANS, Dr. Sandhya Rani Pauranik of Urban Primary Health Centre in Kalaburgi district explained the concept of the Kayakalp Award and also took pride in getting the honours, every year since 2017.

“We got awarded for the sixth consecutive time since 2017 in the Gulbarga division. The Kayakalp Award is a recognition which envisages hospitals to stay clean and tidy all the time,” she said.

‘No patient should carry disease outside’ remains one of the major focuses of Kayakalp’s mission, she explained.

She further said that the award recipient gets a sum of Rs 2 lakh yearly and the hospital premises are also inspected by a team of doctors on a yearly basis.

Mehmood Sen, who works as health inspector at the UPHC said that the facilities are better and easily reachable, to people.

“A clean and tidy atmosphere at the hospital is an added benefit for patients,” he said.

Nafisa Begum, who got transferred to Kalaburagi UPHC after 11 years of work at some village centre, said that this is a much better facility compared to one where she worked earlier.

“Cleanliness and sanitation are a big priority. Patients also feel better in hygienic conditions. I want to convey to Modi government that we will match steps with the government in pursuing this dream,” she told IANS.

The Kayakalp Award is an award given to public health facilities in India that demonstrate high levels of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control. The award is given by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The award is given to two best district hospitals in each state, best two community health centres or sub district hospitals and one primary health centre in every district

The parameters which decide a hospital’s qualification for the award include hospital or facility upkeep, waste management, infection control and more.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INDIA / KARNATAKA: COMMUNICATION SATELLITES: NewSpace India (NSIL) and Malaysian firm (MEASAT)tie up to enhance satellite capacity for DTH, broadcasting services

Space sector reforms in India, announced by the Government of India in 2020, enable NSIL to own and operate its fleet of communication satellites and provide services to users from both the government and private sectors.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has entered an agreement with MEASAT Global Berhad (MEASAT), Malaysia’s premier satellite solutions provider, to provide satellite capacity for DTH and broadcasting sectors in India. The partnership was formalised during the recently concluded Bengaluru Space Expo 2024.

Under the new agreement, MEASAT will offer its MEASAT-3b and MEASAT-3d satellite capacity to the DTH operators and broadcasters, under provisions of the Indian Space Policy 2023, NSIL said on Friday.

NSIL, a Government of India company under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of ISRO, operates a fleet of 11 communication satellites that provide satellite capacity to various service providers in broadcasting, DTH, digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), very small aperture terminals (VSAT), in-flight and maritime communication (IFMC) and other domains.

A Arunachalam, director (Technical and Strategy), NSIL, said the agency was committed to meet the demands of users in the Indian market and would continue business activities with international satellite solutions providers.

“The success of our CONNECTme satellite broadband service in helping to close the connectivity gap in rural Malaysia could be replicated in India through this partnership. We are also keen to tap on NSIL’s satellite launch service capabilities and other services to support MEASAT’s initiatives in the region,” Ganendra Selvaraj, Chief Commercial Officer, MEASAT, said.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA : HEALTH &MEDICINE: Dr Royson D’Souza secures gold medal in national colorectal surgery fellowship exam

Dr Royson D’Souza has been awarded a gold medal after securing first place in the national-level fellowship exam conducted by the Association of Colon and Rectal Surgeons of India (ACRSI). The award was presented during this year’s ACRSI annual conference held in Chennai.

Dr Royson D’Souza completed his fellowship in Colorectal Surgery from Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Colorectal surgery, a super speciality dealing with disorders of the large intestine and rectum, covers a range of conditions including colorectal cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases, pelvic floor disorders, and proctology ailments such as haemorrhoids, fistulas, and fissures.

Currently, there are no super speciality courses in colorectal surgery in India, with fellowships available at only a few institutions.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)