A young woman Senior Scientific Officer and Innovator at the BioNEST, Panjab University (PU) Chandigarh, one of the 41-odd bio-incubators supported by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) across the country, has invented a modern apparatus which can speed up large scale production of biotechnological materials, used in various industries manufacturing public health products like cosmetics, pharma, food supplements, etc, and lead to substantial savings.
The apparatus called ‘Novice Seri’, invented by 25-year-old Shivanshi Vashist, was formally launched by Panjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar in presence of Dr Anil Wali, one of the members on the board of Bio-NEST-PU and Managing Director, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), an industrial interface organisation at IIT Delhi. Chairpersons of various departments, faculty, researchers and students were also present.
Photos By : Life In Chandigarh
Shivanshi ploughed a large portion of the Rs 50 lakh worth Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG), received by her from BIRAC about six months ago, in inventing ‘Novice Seri’.
Speaking on the occasion, Project Leader of Bio-NEST-PU and Chairperson Microbial Biotechnology Department Dr Rohit Sharma, informed that ‘Novice Seri, which has been fabricated for PU by Karam Singh of Mohali-based GAK Equipments & Technologies, is not a prototype but an industry-ready model for which PU holds the sole patent. Bio-NEST is already in touch with a few companies for technology transfer to commercially manufacture this apparatus, he added.
Dr Rohit shared that Bio-NEST-PU is currently hosting 16 incubatees from three different verticals – bio-pharmaceuticals, bio processed technology and food & agriculture – and these are being adequately funded through different funding opportunities. Eight patents had so far been filed from Bio-NEST, he said.
Describing the salient features and advantages of the new invention over similar existing products available in the market, inventor Shivanshi told LifeInChandigarh.com that ‘Novice Seri’ comprises six independently-running bioreactors/fermenters/vessels operated from a main control panel, the unique and innovative electronic module of which allows control of multiple parameters in multiple bioreactors at any given time. She claimed that similar existing apparatuses available in the market comprised only two bioreactors, that too not running independently of each other.
This new apparatus also uses the same source of air, water, energy, etc in all six bioreactors, leading to one-sixth of normal consumption of all these inputs compared to the existing products, she asserted.
The apparatus can be used in research and development laboratories, and in various industries that require optimisations of multiple processes (all types of biological optimisation and/or production processes) for production of large quantities of biotechnological materials in a single run.
Extending his full support to specific and focussed societal problem-solving and
industry- linked research, Vice Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar said constant innovation is the key to the progress of any society or nation. He informed the gathering that for the benefit of the industry, the mode lab of the prestigious University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) will soon be thrown open to outsiders to avail of its facilities. He also shared plans to open a new and big incubator centre on the university campus.
Dr Anil Wali expressed confidence that since Punjab has traditionally been the land of innovation, Panjab University will realise its full potential and emerge as a leader in research and innovation in Northe India in the coming years, and the state a leader in start-ups. Urging all universities to become more and more entrepreneurial in their approach, and compete with the likes of Harvard, Oxford, Stanford and MIT, he said along with getting their research papers published in reputed journals, researchers and innovators should strive for getting patents.
About BIRAC
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), an industry-academia interface, is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.
About Bio-Nest
Bio-NEST was launched by BIRAC with a view to focus on fostering a biotech innovation ecosystem in the country. Unlike start-ups in the IT sector, enterprising ideas in the biotech sector need incubation support of a different kind, where they need a landing space to test their ideas, run their operations, have access to high end instrumentations and locate in a place where they can connect with other start-ups and mentors. Bio-NEST program provides support to establish bio-incubators either as a standalone entity or as a part of academia. Through Bio-NEST, BIRAC has so far supported 41-odd bio-incubators, creating a cumulative area in excess of 3.91 lakh sq. ft. for budding entrepreneurs.
 Chandigarh, one of the 41-odd bio-incubators supported by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) across the country, has invented a modern apparatus which can speed up large scale production of biotechnological materials, used in various industries manufacturing public health products like cosmetics, pharma, food supplements, etc, and lead to substantial savings.){kind=link}