Below is a summary of the many ways in which Venture Center is contributing to the efforts to fight COVID 19:
Nerve Center of “Task Force on Repurposing Drugs for COVID-19” (TFORD- COVID 19)
The Principal Scientific Advisor to the GoI, Dr K VijayRaghavan, has constituted a S&T Core Group on COVID19. Under the aegis of the S&T Core Group on COVID19, a Task Force has been constituted focused on Repurposing of Drugs for COVID19. As of 18 April, compiled information has been released for 19 molecules!
Know more: https://nclinnovations.org/covid19/
Pune Face Shield Action Group
The Pune Face Shield is a simple and low-cost design of a Face Shield designed and fabricated by enthusiastic entrepreneurs and staff at Venture Center. It is based on a design originally put online by Makers Asylum, Mumbai. However, the Pune Face Shield design uses MDF and can be machined (other than laser cutting). This makes the process simpler, cheaper and scalable. Delivered over 20,000 face shields to healthcare workers and police force across the country.
Know more: www.venturecenter.co.in/faceshield/
Pune Non-Contact Thermometer Action Group
The non-contact Thermometer is designed and developed by BMek, a startup at Venture Center and Protoshop at Venture Center. The thermometer is designed and developed using readily available modules to provide safe and quick temperature measurement of the forehead for primary screening during current COVID19 emergency. The design is made available open source wherein the complete knowhow with mass manufacturing ready hardware and software design is available to manufacturers for free. Now it is in process of being scaled up in partnership with NCL (National Chemical Laboratory) with BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd. Pune). One unit is being used at NCL Innovation Park gates, One unit at NCL Medical center and five units were handed over to Pune Police.
Know more: http://protoshop.in/covid19
Special Funding Call for COVID 19 startups
Under the aegis of DST-NSTEDB and NITI Aayog, Venture Center announced a special funding call for proposals from startups and entrepreneurs with technology relevant to COVID- 19 and that can be deployed within the next few months. This financial support will help expedite validation, testing and its commercial deployment through the following programs.
a. NIDHI PRAYAS (grant funding up to Rs 10 Lakh)
b. NIDHI COVID-19 Seed Support System (Equity investment)
c. Recommendation to TDB (Soft Loan)
The following companies have been shortlisted for funding support:
(a) Seagull Biosolutions
(b) Module Innovations
(c) BMek
Know more about these startups here
Venture Center is a satellite partner for National funding call-CAWACH
The Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH) is an initiative NSTEDB, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Under this initiative, a nation-wide call has been announced requesting proposals from startups working on developing solutions for COVID-19 for funding assistance up to Rs 2 crore per start-up. As a partner to this program and a satellite center, Venture Center will be responsible for shortlisting proposals and managing and tracking progress for the shortlisted startups affiliated to Venture Center.
Know more: https://isba.in/cawach/
COVID19 Resource Center for Regulations and Test Standards – An RIFC initiative of Venture Center
COVID19 Resource Center for Regulations and Test Standards for products needed urgently for the national response to the COVID19 crisis. This is an initiative of Regulatory Information and Facilitation Center at Venture Center (supported by BIRAC under the BIRAC Regional Bioinnovation Center)
Know more: rifc.venturecenter.co.in/covid19/
TechEx – Technology Transfer Hub
TechEx.in is a Technology Transfer Hub operated by Venture Center, Pune, India and supported by the National Biopharma Mission (Govt of India). It aims to help technology developers and technology commercialization entities find each other, forge partnerships and advance the technology closer to the market in a win-win partnership. TechEx.in (Tech Transfer Hub) in Pune shall be happy to facilitate (on a pro bono basis) Technology Transfer between Technology Providers and Seekers for Technologies that can be deployed rapidly by manufacturers to assist in the National Campaign against COVID19.
Know more: http://www.techex.in/covid19/
DIY and Open Source Projects
The Venture Center’s Protoshop team has announced and made available the following open source projects relevant for COVID19 response.
● IR Thermometer
● Face Shields
● Alcohol based hand-rubs
● Open source Ventilators
● Reusable cotton masks
● Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Face Mask
Know more: http://www.protoshop.in/covid19/
