8th National Biennial Competition for Green Grassroots Unaided Technological Innovations, Ideas & Outstanding Traditional Knowledge

NATIONAL INNOVATION FOUNDATION (NIF), a grant-in-aid institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India aims to recognize, respect and reward grassroots technological innovators and traditional knowledge experts.

NIF solicits entries of unaided technological innovations and traditional knowledge developed at grassroots by an individual or group comprising farmers, artisans, fishermen and women, slum dwellers, workshop mechanics, students, local communities etc. The innovations can be in agriculture, machines, processes or products for farm/non-farm operations, household utility, transportation, energy conservation or generation, reduction in drudgery, development of plant varieties, development of herbal remedies for human/ animal problems, or any other low cost sustainable green technologies. These should be unaided/unsupervised and an outcome of one’s own creativity, without any technical support from external agencies. Special awards will be given for innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge of/for women. There will be prizes to recognize outstanding innovations by/for people with physical disabilities as well. Creative ideas for innovative technologies, which may not have been developed into prototypes are also welcome. Children in or out of school are also encouraged to send their original ideas for the competition.

Communities developing People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) or People's Knowledge Register (PKR) are encouraged to register/link their knowledge base with the National Register at NIF.


STUDENTS
Young inventors and innovators (upto class 12th) are invited to send their ideas or innovations for a special category of awards for them. These should be unsupervised, an outcome of their own creativity, without any support from their teachers or outsiders. There will be prizes worth Rs 30,000, 25,000 and Rs 20,000 for the best three entries and several consolation prizes of Rs 10,000 each in this category.


HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Individuals or groups may send as many entries as they wish on plain paper providing

a) technical details of the idea/innovation/traditional knowledge practice along with sketches, photos or videos wherever available/necessary b) genesis of idea/innovation or traditional knowledge c) educational qualification of the innovators/ traditional knowledge holders and occupation, d) complete postal address with pin code and contact number(s) and e) any other information that may seem necessary.

Herbal entries may be accompanied by properly dried plant samples to enable correct identification. The last date for the 8th Biennial Competition is March 31, 2013. Entries received after this date will be included in the 9th National Biennial Competition 2013-15.

WHERE TO SEND ENTRIES
National Coordinator (Scouting and Documentation), National Innovation Foundation, Satellite Complex, Bungalow No 1, Premchandnagar Road , Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad 380015 Gujarat.

Email: campaign@nifindia.org
Visit http://nif.org.in/announcement for details, competition brochure and guidelines