Latest news with #TNSCST
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
836 IPR applications filed in Tamil Nadu in the past year
Seven Patent Information Centres (PIC) attached to educational institutions in the State were recognised by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) on Tuesday for their role in intellectual property filings, steps taken to raise IPR awareness and technology transfers performed. The IPR cells in Periyar University, Salem; Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal; Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai; Nehru Group of Institutions, Coimbatore; K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode; and Madurai Kamaraj University were honoured by the Council at the annual review of the IPR cells. Giving details, Dr. S. Vincent, Member-Secretary, TNSCST, said that between the last review and this, a total of 863 IPR applications were filed in the State which was an indicator that technology development process in the State was progressing well, and the ecosystem supported conversion of knowledge to process and product. Pointing at a specific case, Dr. Vincent said that one filing pertained to a semi-conductor integrated circuit (IC) layout design which was filed by Dr. E. Dhiravidachelvi, an IPR cell coordinator from Mohamed Sathak Engineering College, Kilakarai. It was a sub-module of a larger architecture of a chip being developed to detect retinal diseases like cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy with funding from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technolgy. The State had done well in the sphere of technology transfer as well, with the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) transferring at least five products (vaccines, kits and sprays) for commercial production, he added. Five applications have also been filed at different IPR cells for Geographical Indication (GI) registration. They are the Vandavasi Korai Paai (mat woven with split culm of a grass) filed at the IPR cell in Mother Teresa Women's University, Kollimalai palappazham (jackfruit) and Kollimalai coffee at the K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Pollachi Thennai Naar (coconut coir) at the Nehru Group of Institutions and the Mugavai Kuliyadichan Sivappu Arisi (reddish brown rice variety) at the Mohamed Sathak Engineering College, Kilakarai. Dr. A. Raja, Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs, Patent Office, Chennai, said that there has been a significant improvement in the filing of IPR applications since last year.
New Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
GI tag sought for Madurai appalam, Thothal halwa
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) has filed two applications seeking Geographical Indication (GI) tags for two popular local delicacies – the Madurai appalam and the Kilakarai Thothal halwa – in a bid to help local manufacturers maintain the quality and expand their markets. The GI application for Thothal halwa has been jointly filed by TNSCST and the Kilakarai Chellakani Thothal Association and for the Madurai appalam, by the TNSCST and the Appalam Vadagam Morvathal Manufacturers and Sellers Association, before the Geographical Indications Registry last week. Madurai appalam is prized for its delicate crunch, unique flavour and traditional crafting methods that use urad dal, rice flour and spices. 'The quality and fame of this snack are enhanced by Madurai's climate and the sourcing of urad dal from Virudhunagar. It is prepared using age-old recipes and methods that have been handed down through generations, ensuring a true and distinctive taste,' said the application. 'Over 50,000 people in Madurai are engaged in making appalams, and the GI tag will help boost their business,' said S Vincent, member secretary, TNSCST. With around 500 manufacturing units in Madurai, the appalam industry generates about `8 crore in weekly revenue, he added. The snack is consumed across India and exported to Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Gulf countries.
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
GI tag sought for Ramanathapuram's Mugavai Kuliyadichan red rice
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), an autonomous organisation under the state higher education department, has filed an application with the Geographical Indications Registry, seeking geographical indication (GI) tag for Mugavai Kuliyadichan Sivappu Arisi (Mugavai Kuliyadichan Red Rice). The GI tag is expected to promote the rice variety, boost its market value, and preserve its unique identity. The application, filed jointly by TNSCST and Sethu Seemai Farming Fed Farmer Producer Company Ltd, cites that Mugavai Kuliyadichan Sivappu Arisi is a unique variety of rice native to Tamil Nadu. It is characterised by its small, round grains and has a distinct taste and aroma. This rice variety is highly regarded for its nutritional value, rich in dietary fiber and essential minerals. Mugavai Kuliyadichan red rice is a heritage variety of traditional red rice cultivated in Ramanathapuram. It is indigenous red parboiled rice and is widely grown in saline-prone and well-drained soils, praised for drought and pest resistance. Scientific trials and historical records concur that its unique micronutrient profile, antioxidant richness, and agronomic resilience cannot be replicated elsewhere. S Vincent, TNSCST member secretary, said local farmers retained Kuliyadaichan seeds due to their drought resistance. It stands out for its distinct flavour, quality, and nutritional benefits, linked to Ramanathapuram's unique geographical and cultural environment.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
How IPR applications by Mother Teresa varsity faculty are helping Kodaikanal tribespeople
Deep inside Palani Hills in Kodaikanal taluk live a group of tribespeople who could have a livelihood boost due to a bunch of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) applications filed by a faculty member of Mother Teresa Women's University. A. Usha Raja Nanthini, Professor and Head, Biotechnology Department, has filed 150 separate applications under industrial design for jewellery made with naturally-occurring seeds. The project, funded by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), aims to train the tribespeople in jewellery-making and help them market their products through a website. Five tribal women have come together to establish a company, Tulir, and registered it as a micro, small and medium enterprise. The website is being designed and will sell honey, nutmeg, lichens, benzoin resin (sambrani), and myrobalan (kadukkai), besides jewellery. Ms. Usha said, 'They live in 15-20 hamlets spread over Palani Hills and their population according to the 2011 Census was around 6,000. The children rarely go to school and they live a simple life collecting non-timber forest produce.' While being on a project to analyse different species of eucalyptus for anti-fungal properties, Ms. Usha and her team came across this habitation. Seeds of eucalyptus, adenanthera, coix and corymbia found in the area were colourful and tough, and they came in various sizes and shapes. 'An idea sparked: if we designed jewellery and taught them how to make them, they could sell the products for a living.' A few prototypes of the jewellery designs were submitted to the TNSCST in August 2023 and the Council approved the project in January 2024. Then began the tough task of bringing the villagers together. 'They were shy and would not entertain outsiders. So, we went through the tribal headman who helped us getting a few people,' Ms. Usha elaborated. The training for the villagers began in January, and she filed the IPR applications through the IPR cell set up by the Council at the university in March. 'The idea of setting up these cells is to protect our intellectual property and use them for the benefit of the people,' said S. Vincent, Member Secretary, TNSCST. The council has already set up 40 such cells. Fifty villagers from Pethuparai Bharathi Annanagar and Pallangi-Kombai hamlets have been trained in jewellery-making, Ms. Usha said. As an aside, members of a women's self help group from Vadakounji and Vadajaraparai were trained in apiculture (beekeeping), in collaboration with sisters from Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI). The people living in these hamlets largely belonged to the Pazhiyar and Puliyar tribes and have been eking out a living, collecting lichens, soap nuts, gooseberry, honey and other non-timber forest produce and selling them to intermediaries for a pittance, Ms. Usha said. 'The place is so remote that the nearest bus stop is 29 kilometres away. Very few have studied till high school,' she added.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Pollachi's coir industry eyes global recognition with GI tag application
The Coimbatore District Coir and Allied Products Manufacturers Association, known by its acronym COCOMANS, in collaboration with the Patent Information Centre under the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), is actively pursuing the recognition of a geographical indication (GI) tag for the Pollachi Coconut Coir. Coimbatore-based Nehru Group of Institutions has also played a role in facilitating the application process and ensuring the protection of the product. The 'Manchester of South India', known for its rich tradition in coir manufacturing, boasts over 500 registered manufacturers engaged in coir and related products. The coir sector in Pollachi functions primarily as a cottage industry, with many units involved in different stages of coir production, ranging from the processing of husks to the development of finished products. According to details shared by S. Vincent, Member Secretary of TNSCST: 'In Pollachi, the production of coir takes place in blocks, including Pollachi South, Pollachi North, Anamalai, and Kinathukadavu. Among these regions, Pollachi is particularly recognised for its extensive processing of coconut husks and manufacturing of coir products.' The primary raw material for coir production is the coconut husk. The Pollachi region supplies husks that are rich in fiber content, which is essential for producing high-quality coir products. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, coir offers a rustic aesthetic and is an environmentally sustainable choice. Mature coconuts are chosen, as their husks offer superior fiber strength and durability. These husks are specifically selected for their ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions and provide long-lasting products. According to historical details shared in the filing, the British colonial period saw the establishment of the first mechanised coir-processing plants in the early 1800s, primarily in the coastal towns like Cuddalore, Tirunelveli, and Madurai. The British trade networks enabled Tamil Nadu to export coir products, especially ropes and mats, to various parts of the world, further cementing the region's position as a key producer in the global coir market. The establishment of the Coir Board of India in 1953 was a significant milestone for the coir industry, marking the formal recognition and promotion of coir production in Tamil Nadu. By the 1960s and 1970s, Tamil Nadu's coir industry had become one of the largest producers of coir products in India. The growth of towns like Coimbatore, which earned the title of 'Coir Capital of Tamil Nadu', played a central role in this expansion. By the mid 20th century, Pollachi had emerged as a major centre for coir fibre, yarn, mats, and coir-based products.
