Category: Science & Technology

KARNATAKA: ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: Bengaluru-based EV start-up, River, raises $40 Million in oversubscribed Series B round

The deal was led by Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. Existing investors Al Futtaim Group, Lowercarbon Capital, Toyota Ventures and Maniv Mobility also participated in the round.

River, a Bengaluru-based start-up building multi-utility electric scooters, has announced a $40 million (335 INR Crores) Series B led by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. The round also saw participation from existing investors Al-Futtaim Automotive, Lowercarbon Capital, Toyota Ventures and Maniv Mobility.

This round takes the cumulative fund raised by the company to $68 Million (565 INR Crores) since its inception in March 2021. With this funding, the company plans to scale the distribution and service network across the country and invest further in R&D for future lineup of products.

“We are impressed by the progress that River has achieved in such a short span of time, especially with the strong focus on design and technology. We are excited about the conviction that Aravind and Vipin have for River and how Yamaha can support the company to achieve this”,said Hajime “Jim” Aota, Chief General Manager of New Business Development Centre, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

River started selling its first product Indie, the SUV of scooters in October 2023. Indie was fully designed and developed at the River R&D facility in Bengaluru and manufactured in the River Factory at Hoskote in the outskirts of Bengaluru. The first River store opened in Bangalore in January 2024.

“It’s been a pleasure to watch River grow since our first investment in 2023. Indie made a strong debut in the Indian market and stands out from anything that is out there. We also see strong potential for Indie in many international markets. We are excited about the next phase of growth for River both inside and outside India”, said Paul Willis, CEO of Al-Futtaim Automotive.

River is the first Indian investment of all its investors – Tel Aviv based Maniv Mobility, San Francisco based Trucks VC, Lowercarbon Capital, Toyota Ventures and Dubai based conglomerate Al-Futtaim Automotive.

“The investment is a significant boost for our plan to build a Billion-dollar global utility-lifestyle brand by 2030. We have built a great base in R&D and manufacturing over the last two years and now, it’s time to grow,” said Aravind Mani, Co-founder and CEO of River.

“The collaboration with Yamaha will help us leverage the design and technology capability that we have built at River,”said Vipin George, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at River. “I learned to ride on a Yamaha motorcycle and have been amazed by the highest levels of performance that they stand for. And now, Yamaha investing in River is quite a surreal feeling. I’m excited about what the partnership can achieve,” he added.

River started selling its units in October 2023 and close to 200 vehicles have been sold till January 2024. The company which plans to expand its presence to 10 cities including in the next six months and 100 cities in the next two years, has seen a valuation increase of 15-20x in the last 2.5 years.

According to a release from the company the start-up plans to launch one more product by 2026.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA – INDIA’s FIRST: Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd ( MRPL), becomes India’s First AS 9100: D Certified Refinery

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has been certified with AS9100:D standard prepared by International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) to assure customer satisfaction in aviation, space and defence organisations, under the scope of “production, storage, testing and distribution of aviation turbine fuel”.

MRPL is India’s first refinery to get this new aerospace standard. The aerospace industry demands the utmost precision, reliability, and safety in its supply chain. As a certified organization, MRPL is now well-positioned to serve as a trusted partner to aerospace companies within India and globally.

The standard ensures the interaction and configuration of various processes, from sourcing raw materials to the final product certification.

The certification process involves a stage audit of the entire life cycle of ATF, involving production criticalities like the addition of qualified additives and catalysts, standardisation of production processes, transfer through a dedicated pipeline network, ensuring fuel devoid of foreign object detection (FOD) in storage tanks, followed by certification and distribution to customers.

MRPL’s newly acquired certification is expected to give it leverage to expand its presence in the aerospace sector.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: REGIONAL: KARNATAKA: Asia Pacific conclave on Engineering Healthcare held in Mysuru, Jan 29-31

A three-day Asia Pacific conclave on Engineering Healthcare was held in Mysuru to discuss the next generation biomaterial having potential applications for cancer therapeutics, precision drug delivery, and bone replacement.

The conference organised by American Chemical Society (ACS) from January 29 to 31 brought together leading researchers from across the globe in the interdisciplinary field of bioengineering.

“The next generation biomaterials such as artificial cells, bones, and biomimetic materials, which have potential applications for cancer therapeutics, precision drug delivery, and bone replacement were showcased at the conclave held in Mysuru,” said a statement here from the organizers.

During the conclave, topics on polymer science, tissue engineering, 3D printing, drug delivery, electronic sensors, organic materials, and immunotherapy were also discussed.

The objective of the conclave, which is the first of its kind in the country, is to bring together the emerging and distinguished group of researchers under the same roof for the exchange of scientific expertise and foster potential collaborations to development of new biomedical products for the benefit of society, the statement said.

Sébastien Lecommandoux from France, who participated in the conclave, delved into the field of biomimetics and presented synthetic strategies for designing materials made from natural resources that can contribute towards advances in nanomedicine, biomaterials and artificial cells for biomedical applications such as detecting and healing diseases.

Bikramjit Basu from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, shared details of India’s National Medical Devices Policy, 2023, and said there was a huge multi-billion-dollar market potential for biomaterials in India. He and his team have developed new biomaterials for bone replacement and dental implants, said the statement.

Siddarth Jhunjhunwala and Kaushik Chatterjee from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, too emphasized that bioengineering had enormous potential for improvement of health care.

The conclave not only highlighted some of the emerging technologies that were likely to find wide clinical use, but also enabled doctoral students and early career researchers to discuss their work with global experts in person, the statement added.

Rajesh Parishwad from ACS said the Society was bringing global programs to India and the region. “Our aim is to promote broader engagement in the area of health care engineering,” he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL : KARNATAKA: Bengaluru Kendriya Vidyala Student R. Bhavana presents Science Project at PM’s Pariksha pe Charcha

R. Bhavana represented the KVS Bengaluru region at the programme in Delhi.

R. Bhavana, a class 9 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, DRDO, Bengaluru, presented her science project at the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme held on January 29 in Bharath Mandapam, Pragathi Maidan, New Delhi. As part of the programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with students appearing for board exams this year.

R. Bhavana represented the KVS Bengaluru region at the programme in Delhi. Her project on a health monitoring system has earned recognition for its innovative approach, according to Kendriya Vidyalaya, DRDO, Bengaluru.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited0

KARNATAKA: AI in MEDICINE: Siemens Healthineers opens Precision Medicine Lab at IISc

Siemens Healthineers and IISc inaugurated the Siemens Healthineers-Computational Data Sciences (CDS) Collaborative Laboratory for AI in Precision Medicine at IISc campus in the city.

The laboratory would develop open-source AI-based tools to precisely automate the segmentation of pathological findings in neuroimaging data, with a focus on accurately diagnosing neurological diseases and analysing their clinical impact at a population level, said Peter Schardt, Chief Technology Officer, Siemens Healthineers while inaugurating the lab.

The focus of this collaborative laboratory would be to work closely with neurologists, radiologists and Siemens Healthineers and integrate the developed computational models into their regular clinical workflows, the company said.

Mr. Schardt said, “The collaboration with IISc solidifies our commitment to advancing precision medicine through AI using state-of-the-art, data-driven deep-learning techniques. Leveraging IISc’s academic excellence and our strong core in medical imaging, smart solutions developed through this collaboration will help us ultimately save lives through precise diagnoses and evidence-based treatments”.

Govindan Rangarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Science, said, “This lab marks a crucial step forward in unlocking the potential of AI for precision medicine.”

India was one of the four global innovation hubs for Siemens Healthineers, and the company was committed to being catalysts in interdisciplinary research, stated Dileep Mangsuli, Executive Director, Siemens Healthineers.

“Along with IISc, we aim to reshape the landscape of neuroscientific progress through the capabilities of artificial intelligence, translating laboratory insights into intelligent solutions. We want to empower the broader clinical research community and be changemakers in the fight against world’s most life-threatening diseases,” Mr. Mangsuli added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: CITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT-MAJOR MILESTONE: Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Clocks 100 Crore Foot Falls ever since its inception

Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Achieves Major Milestone with 100 Crore Footfalls.

Bengaluru’s Namma Metro clocked more than 100 crore foot falls from 2012 when it was first launched, said Bengaluru Metro Transport Corporation (BMRCL) in an announcement. This is said to be a major milestone for the key public transport system of the IT Capital.

The first metro line in Bengaluru was launched in the year 2012 and was between Baiyappanahalli and MG Road. The 6.7 kilometers metro on the Purple Line was widely used by the public, with an average daily ridership of 33,152 passengers during the first year.

BMRCL later extended metro lines to most parts of the city in phases. In 2016-17, the Majestic metro station was opened on the Purple line, and it turned out to be one of the busiest metro stations in the city, connecting areas like Mysuru Road, Jayanagar and Baiyappanahalli. The average daily ridership then crossed 1 lakh passengers.

Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has 65 stations with an operational network of 74 kilometres.

In December 2023 alone, Bengaluru’s Namma Metro recorded two crore footfalls. This is said to be the highest monthly ridership for Namma Metro, ever since it was launched, and it also saw a spike in average daily ridership.

Making Purple Line fully operational in October last year by connecting Whitefield to Bengaluru South and Bengaluru Central was a game changer for BMRCL.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally dedicated the full operations of Bengaluru metro’s Purple Line to the people of the IT capital by inaugurating two pending stretches, Baiyappanahalli – KR Puram and Kengeri – Challaghatta, on October 20. The Purple Line operations started on October 9 without much fanfare or an inaugural event.

During the launch of Purple Line, BMRCL expected the increase in ridership would be at least between 70,000 and 1 lakh people, but it has only risen to roughly 60,000 passengers per day.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ACHIEVERS HONOURED: 5 Eminent Personalities of Udupi & Dakshina Kannada District Awarded at the ‘New Year Awards 2024’

Academy of General Education, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, MEMG, Manipal Media Network Ltd and Dr TMA Pai Foundation, Manipal conducted ‘New Year Awards 2024’ to honour eminent personalities of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district for their immense contributions to society, art and culture.

The awards were conferred to five achievers who have contributed in their own ways in culture, literature and have even created awareness in this unprecedented situation.

The welcome address was made by Dr H S Ballal – pro chancellor and president, Academy of General Education, MAHE and the felicitation address was given by Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh – vice chancellor, MAHE.

The winners of this year were Dr M Narendra, an esteemed senior professional and retired chairman and managing director of Indian Overseas Bank; Dr Jaimala Ramachandra, cine artiste and producer; Dr H Manjunatha Hande, professor, HOD and unit head in the department of medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal; Dr Yadkathody Sanjeeva Rai, former dean of Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, and a distinguished cosmetic surgeon at Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru and B K Deva Rao, agriculturist.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr H S Ballal – pro chancellor, MAHE said, “Being the hosts of this wonderful celebration of the contributions and outstanding accomplishments of the five recipients is an honour for us. I congratulate each one of them from the bottom of my heart for their spirit. The educational system in place now looks for fresh perspectives and investigations. The liberal arts and humanities ought to be given more importance. We are thrilled to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments in their respective fields which has added significant impact towards the betterment of the society.”

Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, vice chancellor, MAHE, sharing his excitement said, “We are exuberant to felicitate the outstanding achievements of the New Year awardees, and this is undoubtedly a terrific occasion for us. We value their unparalleled contributions to literature, agriculture, medicine, culture, and mankind. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to establish an example for others to follow and instil virtues in the community. The most effective way to address societal issues or raise awareness is through these literary and artistic disciplines. Honouring the achievers serves a dual purpose: it not only shows appreciation and recognition for their hard work, but it also serves as a springboard for young people to aim higher.”

Humbled by the award, Dr M Narendra conveyed, “With deep appreciation I extend my sincere gratitude to the community for choosing me. This serves as not just a personal achievement but a celebration of the vital role of banking in shaping our economic landscape. From early on, I have been committed to contribute to the welfare of society through the financial sector by fostering economic growth, and financial inclusion. In a world where economic well-being is integral to the fabric of society, this award reinforces my determination to contribute to building a more inclusive and thriving society through responsible and impactful financial practices. Thank you for acknowledging my efforts and encouraging me to make a lasting positive difference.”

Expressing his happiness after receiving the award, Dr Yadkathody Sanjeeva Rai, said, “I am grateful for this award for recognizing the path I have chosen in medicine and surgery. Receiving this award not only celebrates my individual achievements but underscores the collective effort of all those who have been integral to my professional journey especially during the establishment of Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara, Nepal. It highlights the significance of collaboration in the global healthcare landscape, and I am inspired to continue fostering partnerships that transcend borders for the betterment of medical education and healthcare. Thank you for this incredible moment.”

Conveying her joy, Dr Jaimala Ramachandra said, “In this moment of reflection and gratitude, I am truly touched by the recognition given to me by the New Year Awards committee. This recognition holds a special place in my heart, acknowledging not just my contributions to the film industry but also my commitment to public service, literature and social wellbeing. Movies are a powerful storytelling form which can showcase the reality of society in an open forum. I see this award that reaffirms the belief in the transformative impact of cinema to connect, inspire and bring about positive change. I am deeply thankful for the encouragement to persist in my endeavours.”

Honoured by the recognition, Dr H Manjunatha Hande,“I extend my heartfelt appreciation for recognizing my journey dedicated to medical education and research. It serves as a powerful acknowledgement of the importance of medicine in shaping a healthier and brighter future for our communities.”

Overcome with joy, B K Deva Rao, agriculturist said, “With sincere gratitude, I am humbled with the recognition given to me through the award. This acknowledgement reflects the tireless efforts of every farmer into cultivating our lands. I thank the community for considering me and celebrating the vital role of agriculture in our community.”

The event was aptly concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Dr Raviraj N S, director, planning & monitoring, acknowledging the enthusiastic participation and support of the entire community.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: AVIATION : MANUFACTURING – MAKE IN INDIA: PM Narendra Modi inaugurates in Bengaluru Largest Aerospace Engineering Facility of Boeing outside the United States

The state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) is built with an investment of ₹1,600 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru along with the Boeing Sukanya Program, on January 19.

The state-of-the-art BIETC is built with an investment of ₹1,600 crore. It is located in a 43-acre campus, and is the American aerospace major’s largest such investment outside the U.S.

Boeing said that the BIETC will become a cornerstone for partnering with India on next generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry.

The Prime Minister also launched the Boeing Sukanya Program that aims to support the entry of more girl children from across India into the country’s growing aviation sector.

The program will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

For young girls, the program will create STEM labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers. It will also provide scholarships to women who are training to be pilots. Investments will support flight training curriculum, obtaining certifications, funding for simulator trainings, and career development programs.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: TELECOMMUNICATIONS & AERIAL TECHNOLOGY / SATELLITES: Pixxel Unveils New Facility to Manufacture & Integrate Satellites, making it the First Spacecraft Manufacturing Facility in Bengaluru

This state-of-the-art facility spans over 30,000 square feet and is designed to streamline the satellite manufacturing process from conceptualisation to launch readiness.

In Short

  • The facility boasts the capacity to manage over twenty satellites concurrently
  • It will have a turnaround time of six months per satellite
  • The facility includes advanced camera integration labs

Pixxel, a space data company known for its cutting-edge hyperspectral earth-imaging technology, has inaugurated its first Spacecraft Manufacturing Facility, MegaPixxel, in Bengaluru.

This state-of-the-art facility spans over 30,000 square feet and is designed to streamline the satellite manufacturing process from conceptualisation to launch readiness.

The MegaPixxel facility will ensure spacecraft assembly, integration and testing (AIT), allowing Pixxel’s satellites to be crafted, integrated, and tested against the rigors of launch conditions before being dispatched to their respective launch sites.

“As we approach our fifth anniversary, the opening of this new facility is a significant achievement for Pixxel. It enhances our capability to act as the planet’s health monitor, increasing our satellite production capacity and enabling us to supply vital data to our clients more rapidly. This data is crucial for informed decision-making across various sectors, including agriculture, energy, forestry, and environmental monitoring,” Awais Ahmed, CEO of Pixxel, said in a statement.

The MegaPixxel facility boasts the capacity to manage over twenty satellites concurrently , with a turnaround time of six months per satellite. This impressive throughput could see up to forty large satellites produced annually.

The facility is uniquely equipped with two modern clean rooms rated at ISO Class 7 and ISO Class 8 to prevent contamination that could compromise satellite functionality during assembly and integration.

In addition to the clean rooms, the facility includes advanced camera integration labs, electronics R&D, electrical assembly areas, a mechanical workshop, a mission control room, and office space capable of accommodating over 200 employees.

MegaPixxel is fitted with smart heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to optimise energy efficiency and minimize the carbon footprint.

Pixxel is the second private company to open its facility after Skyroot Aerospace, which unveiled its newly developed HQ in Hyderabad last year. 

source/content: indiatoday.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGLY / VACCINES : IISc Develops Heat-Tolerant Covid-19 Vaccine

A team of scientists has completed pre-clinical trials and is now gearing up for human testing .

India could soon have a new vaccine for the mutating COVID-19 virus to keep the virus at bay. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have been working on developing a heat-tolerant vaccine that can offer protection against different strains of SARS-CoV-2 which includes both current and future variants. The team has completed pre-clinical trials and is gearing up for the human testing of the vaccine candidate. 

According to scientists the evolving nature of the virus and different mutations, they are not sure if the current vaccines can be helpful. Raghavan Varadarajan, Professor at the Molecular Biophysics Unit (MBU) has been leading this research project in collaboration with Mynvax, a startup since the beginning of the pandemic. 

After analysing various proteins found in the virus, researchers selected two parts of SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein – the S2 subunit and the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) – for the new vaccine. The S2 subunit is highly conserved – it mutates much less than the S1 subunit, which is the target of most current vaccines. Scientists have also known that the RBD can provoke a strong immune response in the host. The team created a hybrid protein called RS2 by combining these two components, read a statement released by IISc.  

The researchers used mammalian cell lines to study the expression of the hybrid protein. “The protein showed very high levels of expression, and initially I thought that the experiment was not working properly,” said Nidhi Mittal, PhD student at MBU and first author of the study. Further research by Mittal showed that this protein potentially be produced in large quantities.    

The team then tested the effects of the protein in both mice and hamster models. They found that the hybrid protein triggered a strong immune response and provided better protection when compared to vaccines containing the whole spike protein.  

Varadarajan told TNIE that RS2 has better coverage compared to other vaccines. This could be India’s first homegrown vaccine for the JB.1 variant and others as Covaxin developed for the mutation has become inactive. “Post clinical trials the vaccine can be administered to everyone, starting with healthy human bodies. So far in our animal testing we have not seen any side effects but will have to wait for results on humans,” added Varadarajan.

The RS2 antigen can also be stored at room temperature for a month without the need for cold storage, unlike many vaccines in the market which require mandatory cold storage. This would make the distribution and storage of these vaccine candidates much more economical.  

Varadarajan said the vaccine candidate can be tailored to incorporate the RBD region of any new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that might emerge. Its high levels of expression and stability at room temperature can greatly reduce production and distribution costs, making it well-suited for combating COVID-19. “If need be, the vaccine can also be updated as and when the mutation develops over the years,” he added. 

source/content: newindianexpess.com (headline edited0