ASEAN technology databank developed by National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) India to help entrepreneurs

As a part of ASEAN (Association of Southeastern Asian Nations)-India Innovation Platform, NRDC will establish a technology data bank for ASEAN region.

NRDC has been entrusted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) India, to manage the podium for a period of four years. 

The proposed data bank will connect to existing data banks of available technologies in the ASEAN region.

“We will undertake maintenance and normalisation of collected data including sourcing of ideas online from India and ASEAN countries,” says Dr. H.Purushotham, chairman and managing director of NRDC.

“We have been given the responsibility of bringing whatever technologies are available in India and ASEAN on one platform and make it available for commercialisation for Indian as well as ASEAN entrepreneurs,” he added.

Apart from developing the data bank, NRDC has undertaken other tasks like “Identification of  potential technology” in ASEAN members, which will be done by selecting and validating technologies through expert committees; organising annual meet in India of ASEAN members for need assessment on the data generated through participation in different platforms; arrange follow up meetings to update and review; and organising training curriculum on technology and Intellectual property management.

The innovation platform is a major element of ASEAN-India Science & Technology Collaboration formally started in 1996, the second component is the ASEAN- India collaborative Research and Development program.

Under the 10 projects which would be supported for 3 years. The third component is the ASEAN-India innovation platform with 3 components-social innovation, research innovation and product innovation.

“DST will implement three major components under this project. First, there will be ASEAN-India Research and Training fellowship for researchers for six months. The entire expenditure will be met out of the fund allocated,” says Mr. R.K. Sharma, scientist, International Multilateral Research Cooperation (IMRC), Division of DST.