The theory behind the coconut plucking machine proposed by the Kerala government has found new propagators in New Delhi. The department of science and technology (DST) has now urged the scientific community of this country to find ways of ‘connecting grassroots innovation with innovations that make products globally competitive’ so that they compliment one another and do not become competitors.

‘India as Innovation Hub’, a seminar organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) in New Delhi this week saw the DST secretary T. Ramasami talk of India’s diversity in the innovation ecosystem in devising simple, low-cost grassroots solutions. Also, why product innovation must co-exist with process innovation.

However, the government machinery alone is not enough to boost innovation of the kind being exhorted here.

Venture capitals need to take all this where it must reach.

As the Executive vice chair of the National Innovation Foundation Anil Gupta points out, the National Innovation Fund was created to build a national register of innovations, mobilise intellectual property protection, set up incubators for converting them into viable business opportunities and help in taking them to the nook and corners of the country. The innovation database includes information on plant variety, utilities and general machinery, farm implements, energy devices, agricultural and traditional knowledge practices, livestock management, herbal remedies, biodiversity examples, innovation concepts and ideas.

Experts at the seminar also called for creation of innovation clusters, more innovation leaders at all levels of the society, conversion of urgent needs like water, sanitation, accessible health care, education and poverty into national innovative projects and formation of an India Action Council for innovation.

The innovation buzz really seems to be getting the pride of place it deserves and how!