From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 6: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwathnarayan, who is also the Minister of IT, BT and Science & Technology, on Thursday launched eight products aimed at mitigating COVID-19 through an online platform.

These products have been developed by various start-ups at Bangalore Bio-Innovation Centre (BBC), an initiative of Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T.

Congratulating the start-ups, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “These technologies and products adds to the list of earlier products launched and developed by the start-ups at BBC. This shows that Karnataka has emerged as a leading state in developing solutions to fight the COVID 19 pandemic, which is a result of the robust Innovation ecosystem present here.”

Dr E V Ramana Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, and Chairman, BBC said, “We are very proud to launch these technologies and products at the right time to fight the pandemic while more technologies and products are in the pipeline.”

Prof K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to Prime Minister, said the development of products at Bio-incubators such as BBC is an indication in the direction of Atma Nirbhar Bharat- a clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“BBC’s partnership with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore should help these start-ups in scaling up their products, market analysis and access to scale up capital,” he said.

“The start-ups have developed these products in a short time. This demonstrates that the Incubation, facilitation, funding and ecosystem building efforts by BBC is bearing fruits,” Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of BBC said.

He also said BBC has launched a support platform for Innovators developing products for fighting against COVID 19, and that some more products for diagnosis and various therapies are being developed at the centre.

Meena Nagaraj, Director, Directorate of Electronics, IT/BT and Managing Director, Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), said, “I assure these start-ups of all possible support in facilitating marketing and distribution.”

Most start-ups, who launched their products today have been funded through Elevate 100 programme and are mentored and Incubated at BBC, she informed.

The occasion also saw the signing of MoU between IIM, Bangalore and BBC.

Prof K Kumar, Dean, IIM said the expertise and capabilities of IIM in market analysis and scale up of businesses help in access to venture capital including hand holding the start-ups after they have done proof of concept studies at BBC.

“This would also help the start-ups to navigate through market forces and build them as big businesses,’’ he said.

The 8 products are:

• Padma Vitals +: Developed by Innovator start-up Dr. Madan Gopal of Cardiac Design labs, Padma Vitals + is a centralized monitoring system for ECG, respiration, Spo2 and body temperature, which can measure the vitals continuously and the analysis sent through telemetry, with an alerting system embedded in it.
  
  The device is much needed for contactless monitoring of patients during COVID 19 Pandemic. The product has been validated at Narayana Hrudayalaya.
• Malli’s Cordytea: Developed by Dr. Moushmi Mondal from Mallipatra Neutraceuticals, this product is an Immunity booster tea prepared from medicinal mushroom - Cordyceps.
  
  The mushroom variety grown under laboratory conditions is developed by the Innovator. Cordicepin, an active ingredient is known to have anti-viral properties too. In the COVID 19 times, it will be helpful in boosting the immunity levels. The product has been patented and is approved by FSSAI.
• CD4+ Shield: Developed by Dr. Vijay Lanka and his team from Stabicon, this product is a chewable tablet containing curcumin and Vitamin B12. Both the ingredients fight inflammation and infection.
  
  The product ensures activation of innate immunity by activating CD4+, CD8+ and IFN 1 to virus specific effect and has immunomodulatory properties. It also reduces cytokine storm in response to viral infection. The product is approved by FSSAI.
• Beam Roti: Developed by Dr. Srinivas from Aspartika, the product is an immunity booster chapati having mixture of herbs recommended by AYUSH ministry.
  
  The ingredients have been prepared using supercritical fluid extraction technology to ensure optimum concentration of herbal extract reaches the body. The chapatis are easy to store with good shelf life and Patent application has been filed. The product is approved by FSSAI.
• Immune booster daily drops: Developed by Dr. Srinivas from Aspartika, the product is an immunity booster drop having mixture of herbs recommended by AYUSH ministry.
  
  The ingredients have been prepared using supercritical fluid extraction technology to ensure optimum concentration of herbal extract reaches the body by mixing just one drop of the product in a glass of hot water. The product is approved by FSSAI.
  
• VegPhal Fruit and Vegetable Sanitizer: Developed by Deepak Bhajantri from Krimmi Biotech, this fruit and vegetable sanitizer is prepared using edible ingredients effective against microbes and removal of pesticides. It is chorine and alcohol free.
  
  
• Water Sanitizer Kitchen Tap: The product is developed by Ravi Kumar from Biofi and is a miniaturized version of UV purifier that can be attached to a water tap and kill 99% of microbes including viruses such as phages.
  
  
• Anti-Micobial HVAC module: The product is developed by Ravi Kumar from Biofi and is a module that can be fitted to HVAC system to ensure circulating air is sanitized.
  
  This is especially useful during COVID 19 times as many enclosed spaces in which AC circulated air may be contaminated. Based on UV-silver titanium dioxide technology, the product is patented and has been validated.