A special team at IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), set-up to come up with an immediate and viable solution on oxygen production, has launched Mission Bharat O2, an open manufacturing challenge for bedside oxygen concentrators and oxygen plants for MSMEs. The aim is to build an efficient mechanism to support brilliant, innovative minds of India to bring more than 20,000 Oxygen Generation Units in next 6-8 weeks.
MSMEs are invited to this to develop indigenous bedside Oxygen Concentrators and Oxygen Plants for COVID-19 Emergency Response at https://www.bharato2.in/
Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Professor In-charge, Innovation & Incubation, IIT Kanpur and Srikant Sastri, Director, FIRST-IITK and Chairman, I3G Advisory Network, and RahulPatel, Head of Strategic Initiatives, SIIC IIT Kanpur, who all are members of the manufacturing challenge task force had last year developed the Noccarc V310 (the world-class invasive ICU ventilator). This time, the trio is determined to help fill one of the gaps in India’s healthcare system, yet again. They are supported by a 10-member team from SIIC who are managing different parts of the project.
The Mission Bharat O2challenge is not limited to a single manufacturer for delivering the product. SIIC plans to decentralise the manufacturing process by engaging quality SMEs across states. SIIC aims to work with a set of manufacturers in different regions of India with a target production capacity of 100 units per day with the possibility of scaling up.
Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur,has urged eligible manufacturers to apply for the challenge. He says, “IIT Kanpur carries a legacy of serving the nation in times of urgent need. When the first wave of COVID-19 hit India SIIC incubated companies stepped up to deliver world-class healthcare products. The products, developed locally, are a testament of India’s capability to innovate at par with global standards. As we reel under the impact of the second wave in India, IIT Kanpur and SIIC have decided to support more indigenous innovators, this time to address the oxygen crisis in the country. I urge all eligible manufacturers to participate in Mission Bharat O2”.
Commenting on a business’ ability to adapt and evolve in such times, Srikant Sastri shares, “Entrepreneurs usually get carried away by a big idea without acknowledging whether the problem it solves is as big. With Mission Bharat O2, SIIC IIT Kanpur has taken a step towards solving a major crisis the country is grappling with today. We believe that the team will make a mark through its combined entrepreneurial experience and vision to serve the nation.”
