Category Archives: Science & Technology

IIT-H project with Japan gets nod

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technology

It is a new beginning for the 5-year old IIT-Hyderabad in the city with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) nod for a joint project with Japan that aims at value addition for the young IIT.

The CCEA, which met on Thursday, approved the ‘collaboration of IIT, Hyderabad, and Japan’, to be executed via an Official Development Assistance loan from the Japanese government and the Union HRD ministry.

The project cost of Rs 1776.50 cr will be met through the ODA loan of Rs 1501.72 cr while the balance of Rs 274.77cr will be borne by grants from the ministry between 2013-14 and 2016-17.

The project is expected to enhance cooperation in the area of science and technology and human resource development. ‘’It is a great initiative and we are all extremely happy,” said Prof Uday B Desai, director of IIT Hyderabad. He further said that the project would add value through collaborative interactions between academics and with the industry of Japan and exchange of students and faculty. “We already have a faculty on exchange programme here. Now, we will have more of exchange of students and faculty apart from more collaboration in developing basic infrastructure, research equipment, joint projects and research,” he said.

The collaboration is an externally-aided Central sector project resulting from the broader Indo-Japan Collaboration and an agreement between the Indian prime minister and Japan for a Japanese loan to fund specific IIT-H projects.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / August 03rd, 2013

Lifetime award for veteran stevedore

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Pattabhi Ramayya (right). / The Hindu
Pattabhi Ramayya (right). / The Hindu

Veteran stevedore from the city G. Pattabhi Ramayya has been honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fifth South East Cargo and Logistics Awards-2013.

The award for excellence in cargo and logistics sector was presented to him in Chennai recently by Exim India Shipping Times in Chennai in recognition of his contribution to the shipping industry for over five decades.

He joined his ancestral business firm A.V. Bhanoji Row Garuda Pattabhi Ramayya & Co, agents for major shipping lines, in 1959.

Mr. Ramayya, who is now the chairman emeritus of the shipping firm, earned distinction in establishing rightful share of cargoes for Indian shipping lines even though the British lines were dominating almost having a monopoly in the city. He is fortunate in having the privilege of working under shipping stalwarts of Indian ship owners mainly of Scindias and Shipping Corporation of India.

He served as a trustee of Visakhapatnam Port and director of Dock Labour Board for nearly a decade representing Indian National Ship Owners’ Association. His firm today extends its services in the city as well as ports at Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, Dhamara, Gopalpur and Paradip.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – August 01st, 2013

Gynaecologist Sitaratnam feted in Vijayawada

Leaders, Science & Technology
Gynaecologist Yarlagadda Sitaratnam being felicitated by members of Vijayawada Obstetric and Gynaecology Society in Vijayawada. / Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu
Gynaecologist Yarlagadda Sitaratnam being felicitated by members of Vijayawada Obstetric and Gynaecology Society in Vijayawada. / Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

Veteran gynaecologist of the city Yarlagadda Sitaratnam was felicitated by the Vijayawada Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (VOGS) here on Sunday. VOGS secretary Ch. Kavitha said that Dr Sitaratnam was the first gynaecologists to start practice here.

She began her practice in 1960 and established Jyothi Nursing Home 44 years ago. Dr Kavitha said that Dr Sitaratnam was born in 1934, did her MBBS in Guntur Medical College and DGO from the Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. She was married to noted Andhra Loyola College physics lecturer Yarlagadda Rajagopala Rao. VOGS was organising an oration named after Dr Sitaratnam.

The oration would be delivered by Head of Obstetric Medicine, Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad, Dr Tarakeswari.

She was going to speak on “Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.” VOGS president K.Gangadhara Rao said the association conducted the State conference of obstetrics and gynaecology in 2006.

It was conducting continuing medical education programmes for doctors.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – August 05th, 2013

Hyderabad’s aviation expert becomes first Assistant Chief of Naval Staff

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

As the Indian Navy rapidly spreads its wings into air as well and makes further forays into the Blue Water, Rear Admiral SrinivasKanugo, hailing from Hyderabad, assumed office as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel) [ACNS(AM)] at the Integrated Headquarters MoD (Navy). He will be the first Flag Officer in this new office.

Speaking to STOI exclusively over phone, Rear Admiral Kanugo recalled his growing up days in Hyderabad and schooling in many places in the state including a local government school and in Nagarjunasagar. Retracing his college days in JNTU College of Engineering in Anantapur, he spoke of his selection to Indian Navy’s University Entry Scheme wherein his final year fee was paid by the Indian Navy. “Way back in 1981, being commissioned into Indian Navy was a dream come true and then I opted for the aviation stream of the Indian Navy (the other two being submarine and ships)”, he said, adding that thereafter, the electronics graduate became an avid aviation enthusiast by being trained in the finer nuances of the subject.

According to Kanugo, the air arm of the Indian Navy is growing at a fast pace and that the Navy is not restricted to just being a Green Water Navy. Green Water Navy means the fleet comprises only battleships while Blue Water Navy includes possession of aircraft as well. The post in which Rear Admiral Srinivas Kanugo has assumed office has been created with a single point responsibility for all matters related to aviation technical management of the burgeoning air arm of the Indian Navy. The ACNS (AM) will be responsible for planning and co-ordination of new induction air equipment and systems, repair and overhaul of all existing aircraft, aero engines and associated equipment and systems as well as provisioning of air stores. The officer was awarded Vishist Sewa Medal (VSM) in 2013 for his outstanding contribution to the Indian Navy.

The air arm of the Indian Navy operates over 200 aircraft with over 20 different types including fighters, fixed wing Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The air arm, which recently marked its Diamond Jubilee, is on the anvil of transformation in capability and size with the induction of potent platforms such as the MiG 29K and Boeing  P 8I and the planned induction of a large number of helicopters. Naval aviation is also seeing attendant needs for growth in infrastructure with addition of new air stations like INS Parundu in Ramnathapuram, INS Baaz in Campbell Bay and multiple air enclaves across the country.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad> Indian Navy / TNN / July 21st, 2013

Zoo to breed wild dogs in captivity

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

DogsHF02aug2013

Visakhapatnam:

The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP), or Vizag Zoo will soon have the country’s exclusive wild dog breeding centre. It will help conserve a special breed of the fast dwindling population of wild dogs known as Dholes besides propagating them for various international animal exchange programmes, according to officials.

In fact, Vizag Zoo or IGZP is India’s only zoo that’s been successful in breeding of wild dogs for the fourth time. It had been selected by the Central Zoo Authority for conservation of endangered wild dogs.

While the IGZP will have a breeding centre for wild dogs the CZA has chosen Vandalur Zoological Park in Chennai, Tamil Nadu as the associate zoo.

According to IGZP curator G Ramalingam, wild dog population has witnessed massive increase within the protected area from just two to 19. Out of these, seven are female wild dogs, five adult males, four male and three female puppies.

Director of Zoological Parks in Andhra Pradesh, P. Mallikarjuna Rao also confirmed that Vizag zoo has witnessed a substantial increase in wild dog population. Dholes, according to him, are in demand in most of the zoos in Asia owing to the animal’s excellent eyesight and hearing capacity.

The dholes have been classified as the endangered wild dog species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature owing to their habitat loss, depletion of its prey base, according to Rao. “If this experiments turn out success the IGZP will be more popular in the country as far as captive breeding of wild dogs and their conservation is concerned”, he added.

According to Vizag zoo veterinary surgeon V Srinivas, wild dog breeding is a delicate scientific task needs to be and several measures are taken to ensure positive results. Captive breeding of wild dogs is carried out in off display units so that they get complete privacy during reproduction. Ends//

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / July 21st, 2013

Ramky in discussions to acquire Australian company

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Acquisition to provide Ramky access to high quality technology in the field of environment

Ramky Cleantech Services Pte Limited of Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of  Hyderabad-based waste management company Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited (REEL), is eyeing to acquire an Australian environmental engineering and petrochemical services provider – Enviropacific Services.

“It will take time,” Ramky group chairman and managing director, Ayodhya Rami Reddy, who is currently in Singapore, told Business Standard confirming that discussions were being held.

Standard Chartered and IL&FS Investment Managers are private equity partners in REEL, a company belonging to the Rs 4,500-crore Ramky group.

According to Ramky Infrastructure executive director M Gautham Reddy, it might take 3-4 months to finalise the deal. Though the value of acquisition is yet to be finalised, it is expected to be less than $40 million.

He said acquisition of the Australian company would not only result in synergy of operations but also provide Ramky access to high quality technology in the field of  environment .

The Ramky group is a multi-disciplinary organisation with focus on the areas of civil, environmental and waste management infrastructure.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Prashanth Reddy Chintala / Hyderabad – July 23rd, 2013

Keste doubles its headcount at India Development Centre

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

keste200Hf31jul2013

Hyderabad:

Keste, the US-based Oracle software solutions and development company, has doubled its headcount at India Development Centre (IDC) here during the last 12 months.

With 120 employees at the IDC located at Hitech City here, the company continues to hire the best talent and has plans to expand its footprint in India to help service the Asia pacific region.

“During the last quarter, we’ve seen significant growth in our business servicing the high-tech, communications, manufacturing and life sciences markets in the region. The region offers huge growth potential for us and we are confident we will be able to maintain our growth,” CEO Howard Moore said in a statement released here Monday.

He said Keste was expanding its operations in India to meet the demands of customers in India and the Asia Pacific.

“This is part of our continuing effort to invest in the India market. A year ago we committed to doubling our headcount in 15 months. I’m very pleased that our growth and investment activity is significantly ahead of schedule,” said Ken Judd, CFO.

Keste provides enterprise solutions in areas, including customer experience, cloud integration and mobility. With hundreds of successful implementations and experience across the full Oracle stack of applications, middleware and hardware, Keste is able to deliver solutions that bring real business value and accelerate enterprise business strategy, added the statement.

IANS

source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Zeebiz.com / Home> Business> Technology / by IANS / Monday – July 26th, 2013

Biological E’s Japanese encephalitis vaccine prequalified by WHO

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Homegrown biopharmaceutical company Biological E (BioE) and European biotech company Valneva SE (Valneva) announced that the  World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded its Japanese Encephalitis vaccine  prequalification for global use in adults.

Biological E and Valneva had established a partnership in 2005 for the development and commercialization of a Japanese encephalitis vaccine for endemic regions, based on Valneva’s JEV technology. The vaccine, which was successfully developed under this partnership, is being marketed in India under the trade-name JEEV and its commercialization in other JE-endemic countries is being planned.

BioE said that it expects its pediatric indication to be prequalified by the end of the year.

“This is the first prequalification of a Japanese Encephalitis vaccine and is a key step in ensuring the vaccine can be distributed to developing countries,” the company release said.

Commenting on the development, Biological E Limited managing director Mahima Datla said, “We are happy that our JE vaccine is the first ever WHO prequalified JE vaccine. It is an extremely important achievement for the vaccines community as our vaccine’s prequalification is well in time to support GAVI’s plans of introducing the JE vaccine in several developing countries.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Business> India Business / by Swati Rathor, TNN / July 23rd, 2013

Google India initiative to help women entrepreneurs connect

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Mumbai : 

Rupa Aurangabadkar, the owner of Hyderabad-based design house Colourquill, was in a quandary. She wanted to show some patrons how to make murals on walls. Though an expert in design, the self-professed interior stylist did not know how to reach a wider audience.

“Making murals is a unique thing. I wanted to create a video of every step, right from the paper work, assembling it, to the actual mural on the wall,” she said.

Scouting for an opportunity to put her work up for the world, she chanced upon Google’s Women Entrepreneurs on the Web programme, a business diversity programme for women entrepreneurs. Rupa is now working on a series of digital videos that will showcase each step of creating a mural and beam it to the whole world.

Google’s efforts to get women entrepreneurs on the Web appears to have caught the fancy of several housewives like Archana Doshi from Bangalore, who has made a business out of a simple blog, sharing the recipes of her mother to a wider audience. Meghana Musunuri, who opened the Fountainhead School in Hyderabad, needed guidance on how to use the Web to broaden her business and her education mission. A similar situation arose for Dr Evita from Fernandez Hospital in Hyderabad. “Getting online and being in touch makes a lot of difference to your work at the hospital. For, one can reach out to several people and put the services that you offer on the web,” she said.

These women are among the 2,000 women entrepreneurs who have signed up for Google’s programme.

A study conducted by Google India last year revealed that a large number of women entrepreneurs did not have an online presence, and were completely unaware of various products and services that could be used to leverage the full potential of the Internet. This led the company to crystallise the idea into a programme to increase the reach of technology with this community.

As Keerthana Mohan, Diversity Manager, Google India, told Business Line, “India has one of the largest numbers of women entrepreneurs across the world, at around 1.3 million, which makes it a perfect place for us to pilot the initiative.”

Aimed at providing a springboard for women entrepreneurs, the initiative was started as a pilot in India last year. Workshops are conducted to drive home the point that e-commerce has the potential to provide Indian businesswomen a flexible platform to overcome traditional male-dominated boundaries, and explore business prospects beyond conventional channels.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Info-Tech / by Amrita Nair-Ghaswala  amritanair.ghaswala@thehindu.co.in / Mumbai – July 16th, 2013

Hyderabad hotel to bet big on online platform for business

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

With the completion of one year in the city, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is betting big on the online platform to corner business this year.

“At present we get around 25% of our business from the online platform but in the coming six months we are targeting about 30% of the business from the online platform. The idea is to attract the youth as they are increasingly using web based services for their day-to-day activities,” Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Hyderabad general manager Nishan Silva said, adding, the hotel will also be launching its food and beverage (F&B) app on the android and ios platforms in the next 15 days.

The hotel that was launched in July 2012 achieved breakeven in January this year, he said.

Stating that the hotel draws almost 45% of its business from the F&B segment and the rest from rooms, Silva said that the hotel will host two month long food festival to boost its revenues from the F&B segment.

“We will have a two month long food festivals that will have Maharaja, Bohri and Sizzling South food festival,” director of sales and marketing Pavan Kakar said.

The hotel that has a current occupancy level of about 55%, is also eyeing a good business in the third quarter of the year when major business conferences are set to kick off in the city.

Silva pointed out that the major challenge of running a hotel business in the city was the rising operational cost due to a steep hike in power tariff and shortage of water.

Source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> Business> India Business / by Swati Rathor, TNN / July 17th, 2013