The Department of Science and Technology (DST) today announced the launch of the India Innovation Initiative (i3) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and  electronic and bio-analytical measurement company Agilent Technologies.

Under the programme, DST will launch a nation-wide competition of technology-based ideas.

Innovators above 18 years of age can participate and submit their project proposals till 30 May 2009.

The projects will be appraised by an expert panel of scientists and industrialists.

"The DST receives plenty of ideas to develop through its national innovation fund (NIF). A select few can be worked out and developed into commercially viable innovations that can address pertinent problems like climate change, water scarcity or other such concerns," Anuj Sinha, the head of science communication division at DST, said.

"Original, applicable and commercially viable innovations will be chosen to enter the i3 national fair to be held in August this year," Sinha said.

The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad has also agreed to act as mentor and incubate the top 10 shortlisted technology related innovations. Funding and commercialisation support will be offered to the innovator from the i3 partners, he said.

''While Agilent technologies will take care of the risk reduction process assessing and sifting ideas, CII will promote innovation in the industrial enterprises," said T Ramasami, secretary of DST.

While the programme aims at taking science to the common man, the real challenge is to ensure that the innovations are commercially viable, says YS Rajan, principal advisor of CII.

Besides, under the government's innovation support policy, the department of scientific and industrial research (DSIR) encouraged development and commercialisation of inventions and innovations: a new impetus with a package of measures including granting of permission to researchers to have an equity stake in scientific enterprises / spin offs while in professional employment with their research and academic organisations (universities, academic and research institutions).

As a part of a `New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)' in public-private partnership mode, started in 2000-01, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) will have the responsibility of conceptualising, evolving and implementing the programme.

The initiative aims at creating an eco-system that is conducive for growth through innovation by sensitising, encouraging and promoting innovators and facilitating commercialisation of innovations. In other words, it aims at giving innovators a chance to commercialise their ideas.

Explaining the need for such an initiative, science and technology secretary T Ramasami said, ''The aim is to take the most potential innovations to the market through incubation, mentoring and commercialisation support.''

Apart from financial contribution towards implementing the initiative, the department would be involved in appraising the technology, providing knowledge system and mentorship and also in lending credibility to the entire initiative, he added.

According to Agilent Technologies president and country general manager Venkatesh Valluri, ''i3 is a perfect platform for the future innovators of India to showcase and accelerate their skills and capabilities. Practical technology talent is critical to the growth of India as a base for cutting edge research and design and innovation across industries.''

The CII, besides providing resources, will also ensure a wide reach for the programme through its connections with industry, government, laboratories, educational institutions, non-government organisations, and innovation promotion organisations, said CII's Principal Advisor Y S Rajan.