::: IN FOCUS ::: Govt may soon invite India Inc to set up urban centres in rural areas If the rural development ministry has its way, India Inc may soon collaborate with Panchayats by inking concession agreements for building seven urban centres in rural India. The ministry may soon invite expression of interest (EOI) from private sector companies to apply for the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (Pura) scheme, originally envisioned by former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. It may also allow the companies to decide where exactly they would like to set up these urban centres, a senior official of rural development ministry, who did not wish to be named, told SundayET. Several core sector companies like Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) and Srei, and FMCG companies with strong rural presence such as ITC and Hindustan Unilever may be vying for such projects in public private partnership (PPP) mode with Panchayats, a first of its kind in India, said the official. Though Panchayats would sign the agreements with the concessionaires, both the state and Central governments would back it, making it comfortable for the private sector to pump in money in rural areas. more

Launch of CII Cluster Programme at Courtyard by Marriott :-
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CII organized Cluster Programme on 27 April 2010 at Alishaan Hall I, Courtyard by Marriott, Ramdev Nagar Cross Road, Satellite Road, Ahmedabad. more...

IL&FS Clusters looks at Orissa and AP for developing industrial infrastructure :-
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IL&FS Clusters is in talks with the governments of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh for developing industrial infrastructure in these states. At present, the group is working closely with the Karnataka government in the textiles sector

IL&FS Clusters Development Initiative Ltd plans to explore infrastructure development options in the states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. The company is in talks with the respective governments for developing industrial infrastructure for specific sectors. The company is already working with the Karnataka government to develop infrastructure for the state's textiles sector. more...

Cluster Project on Branding Strategies for SUVAS :-
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This project is sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and Commissioner, Rural Development, Government of Gujarat aims at promotion of Crafts & Textile Clusters and their distinctive styles for higher value realization. Over 9 million artisans are employed in this unorganized sector in India who has been gradually marginalized due to competitive pressure of dynamically shifting market and globalization. more...

SBA's Mills development strategy built on industry cluster theory :-
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In a piece in this column a year ago ("Of Industry Clusters, Venture Capital and the Feds," MHT 4/3/09), I noted that the then recently appointed Small Business Administration chief Karen Mills would focus some of her energy on aligning SBA with other federal agencies so as to create a more unified development strategy built on industry cluster theory. more

EDA Requests Applications under Energy Efficient Building Systems Regional Innovation Cluster:-
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Funding opportunity seeks collaboration between federal agencies and regional partners.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) today has announced its participation in the Energy Efficient Building Systems Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative (Initiative), the first pilot project of the Interagency Regional Innovation Clusters Taskforce (Taskforce). more...

Developing Biotech Clusters :-
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Famed Nobel Prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling once said, "Facts are the air of scientists. Without them you can never fly." more...

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

Interest in environmental work is soaring :-
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When Theresa Howland graduated from university with a bachelor's degree in commerce in 1999, she had no idea she would become a trailblazer for wind power. After working co-op terms during university with Enmax Corp., she wound up leading the Calgary electric utility's Greenmax program -- a major wind-power-generation initiative -- and it sparked a passion for renewable energy. more...

EERC leads the way in environmental technology :-
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The Energy and Environment Research Center has been described as the "Mayo Clinic of energy and environmental research." With more than 340 employees

representing 123 disciplines speaking 12 languages, the EERC is unmatched in innovations and leads the world in the development of environmental technologies. more...

Earth Day 2010: Celebration Must Inspire Action on Clean Energy & Climate Legislation :-
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Forty years ago, millions of Americans came together to demand cleaner air, safer water and a healthier environment. Their actions - and the actions of millions more since then - have led to the passage of our nation's most important environmental and conservation laws. Today, we celebrate those achievements. more...

Safe For Environment? Natural Gas Push A Gamble :-
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Is natural gas the answer to the nation's energy dilemma, or at least a bridge to a more sustainable future? U.S. Rep. John B. Larson thinks so. He is a co-sponsor of a bill before Congress that would increase the use of natural gas in heavy-duty vehicles, via tax credits and incentives. He says more use of natural gas will create hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs, spur investment in the production of clean, domestic energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil. more...

Working to make IT a whole lot greener :-
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The explosion of communication and Internet traffic has made energy hogs of IT networks. Collectively, the information and communications technology industry emits 300 million tons of greenhouse gases annually -- the same amount as 50 million cars. more...

INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Essential role played by ICT in efficiency and competitiveness highlighted :-
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In a business meeting organised the Malta Business Bureau, Herbert Rastbichler managing director and vice-president Enterprise Business for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), yesterday said that ICT enables better business and the perception that investment in ICT is a cost has changed significantly. more...

NBN, Banks demands high ICT skills :-
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Clarius Skills Index finds big demand for ERP, development, telecommunications and integration IT skills around ERP, development, telecommunications and integration are in high demand driven by the NBN and major upgrades of internal systems at financial institutions, according to the latest Clarius Skills Index. more

India ranked 58 in world on e-readiness: govt :-
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India hold the 58th position in the world on e-readiness ranking - an important measure of a digital society, Minister of State for Information Technology Sachin Pilot informed the Rajya Sabha today. more

CORE Projects to provide ICT solk to 947 schools in Maharashtra :-
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The Maharashtra Government has selected CORE Projects and Technologies Ltd (CORE), a leading global player in Education Solutions to provide IT hardware and software to 947 schools in the districts of Pune, Mumbai and Kolhapur. more

Stress on IT adoption in MSMEs :-
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Nasscom and NMCC on Friday underlined the need to adopt information and communication technology (ICT) in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to increase their efficiency and productivity. more

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPRs)

World IP Day: Reassessing IPR :-
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As the world commemorates 'World Intellectual Property (IP) Day' on 26 April, India has an opportunity to reassess where it stands on IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) awareness. An India Blooms report On 1 January 1995, India joined the World Trade Organization. The historic day led to fears in many quarters, especially on three counts: (a) drug prices would rise (b) accessibility to medicines would be hampered (c) homegrown pharmaceutical companies would be wiped out. more

IPR Violators On Once Watch List :-
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Rights holders urged to lodge complaints Bandar Seri Begawan - The commercial Crime Division at the Criminal Investigation Department, RBPF, has sent out a warning to intellectual property violators: "We are watching." more

High-level IPR forum opens in Beijing :-
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Watchdogs and CEOs have met at a nationwide forum in China's capital city to discuss the protection of intellectual property rights. Government officials and business leaders at the forum agree that the world IPR sector should help balance conflicts of interest between the developed world and developing nations.   more...

Court Victory Against "Anti-Counterfeit" Agenda :-
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The Constitutional Court in Kenya has barred the government from implementing the Anti-Counterfeit Act of 2008 as it applies to generic medicines until a verdict is delivered in a case filed by three people living with HIV. more..

CSIR's unique public health initiative :-
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Not silver-haired experts, but 150 students are involved in a project to crack the TB gene. The fruits of the research will be shared widely, without IPR glitches. more..

MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMEs)

Concern over slow growth of MSME sector :-
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The Tamilnadu Small and Medium Industries Mutual Association (TASMIA) has demanded the State Government to identify the districts based on their industrial profile and prepare a policy document for the sectoral growth of industries across the spectrum. more

'Govt purchase from MSMEs to touch Rs 1,60,000 cr in FY11' :-
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Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are in for a windfall, as the government purchase from the sector would touch almost Rs 1,60,000 crore during 2010-11. According to the recommendation of a high-level MSME Task Force constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Centre will reserve 20 per cent for MSME manufactured items for procurement by the government. At present, the government purchase from MSME sector is around Rs 40,000 crore, of the estimated total procurement of Rs 6,00,000-7,00,000 crore annually, which is less than 7 per cent. more...