(a) whether the National Innovation Foundation set up recently has become operational;
(b) if so, the number of grass root innovations supported by the Foundation so far;
(c) the corpus of various funds of the Foundation;
(d) whether industrial houses are allowed to associate themselves through contributions to the corpus fund; and
(e) if so, the details in this regard indicating financial assistance provided by them to the Foundation?
THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT,MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT
( Dr . MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 384 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 17.12.2002 REGARDING `NATIONAL INNOVATION FOUNDATION`
(a) Yes Sir.
(b) NIF provides support to grassroots innovations in many ways namely, through awards, protecting their intellectual property rights, facilitating their participation in exhibitions, supporting product development based on innovations and making them aware about grassroots innovations taking place in the country. 89 awards were given away last year to innovators. 13 patent applications have been filed in India and 5 in USA. 24 innovators have been provided funds for product development based on their innovations. 4000 CDs capturing grassroots innovation in the multimedia format have been distributed to innovators for creating awareness about activities taking place in India.
(c) The total corpus of the Foundation is Rs. 20 crore.
(d) Yes, Sir.
(e) No financial assistance has been provided by them.