Latest news with #andInnovation
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
70 ITIs in Maharashtra to teach Solar Technician and EV Mechanic courses: Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha
The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has approved the introduction of two new courses–Solar Technician (Electric) and EV Mechanic (Electric Vehicle)–in 70 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Maharashtra, Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced on Wednesday. The ministry's Directorate-General of Training has also approved a plan to establish a Government Advanced ITI at Chembur, Mumbai, for the empowerment and uplift of Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist communities, the minister said in a statement. This institution will offer courses like Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technician, Electrician, Wireman, IoT Technician (Smart City), and Electric Mechanic starting from the academic year 2025-26. Lodha said the modern curriculum updates in line with changing times would enhance employment opportunities and revolutionise ITI education in the state. The 70 selected government-run ITIs will teach the two new courses now, Lodha said, adding that further approvals would be given to institutions that request them. Lodha said the state government was focusing on environmentally sustainable initiatives. He added that given the growing demand for solar energy-related technologies, skilled technicians were increasingly needed in the field. Senior scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar and MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi provided valuable guidance and recommendations for updating ITI curricula, according to the government statement. Lodha emphasised that the goal of the skill development department is to provide students with education that is aligned with industry demands and to generate a highly skilled workforce. According to the statement, the Government is trying to upgrade 36 district-level ITIs across the state in collaboration with private industries. These collaborations aim to enhance training quality and infrastructure, create more employment opportunities annually, and align new skill-based courses with the National Education Policy. The focus remains on launching in-demand, industry-relevant courses, and expanding opportunities for employment through skill exhibitions and career guidance camps, according to the statement.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CM SHRI Schools to admit students to Classes 6-8 via merit test, says DoE
The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) will begin accepting applications from July 30 for admissions to classes 6, 7 and 8 in 33 of its newly branded CM SHRI Schools for the 2025-26 academic session. These seats will be filled through a merit-based test, scheduled to be held on August 30. New Delhi, India - Jan. 22, 2018: A general view of Govt. Co Ed. Senior Secondary School at Laxmi Bai Nagar in New Delhi, India, on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) To Go with Mariyam's Story for Class of 2018 (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) These schools, selected from the existing pool of Delhi government institutions, have been notified as a 'specified category' under the Right to Education Act, 2009, making them eligible to conduct a separate admission process. According to DoE officials, the entrance test will carry 100 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each, to be completed in 150 minutes. The CM SHRI (Schools of Honesty, Responsibility and Innovation) initiative was announced in the 2025-26 Delhi budget with an initial allocation of ₹100 crore to upgrade 60 government schools. The list was later expanded to include 75 schools, with education minister Ashish Sood confirming the number in May. Chief minister Rekha Gupta, in June, said these schools would feature state-of-the-art infrastructure and focus on experiential learning models. 'These schools are designed to nurture talent with modern infrastructure and teaching methods aligned with the National Education Policy,' a DoE official said. The test will be open to Delhi residents currently enrolled in classes 6, 7 or 8 in any recognised school. At least 50% of the seats have been reserved for students from government and aided schools, including those run by the DoE, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. Students from SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), and CWSN categories will receive a 5% concession in qualifying marks. The OMR-based exam will be bilingual and test students on Hindi, English, general awareness, mental ability and numerical aptitude. There will be no negative marking. The syllabus and sample OMR sheets have been uploaded to the DoE website for reference. The application window will remain open till August 15. Admit cards will be issued on August 23, and results are expected on September 10. Admissions must be completed by September 15, the notification said. Of the 1,060 schools currently run by the Delhi government, the 75 selected for CM SHRI status were shortlisted based on readiness for infrastructure and technology upgrades. Applications for the merit test can be submitted online through the DoE website.
Saba Yemen
22-07-2025
- Health
- Saba Yemen
General Authority for Science, Research, Technology localizes artificial knee produce, delivers it to Prosthetics Center: Report
Sana'a - Saba: The General Authority for Science, Research, Technology, and Innovation recently designed and manufactured a more advanced prototype of an artificial knee using reverse engineering based on a German model. Dr. Abdulaziz al-Houri, the Authority's Vice Chairman, explained to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that the Authority delivered the prototype to the Prosthetics Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Health, for testing and feedback. These feedback will be incorporated and the current product modified accordingly. He added, "After integrating the feedback and modifying the product, the mass production of the artificial knee will begin, in accordance with the Center's request and based on a specific mechanism developed by both parties. This mechanism will contribute to providing the product at the lowest cost compared to its current price of approximately $700, thus achieving the Authority's goal of serving the community." Al-Houri considered the implementation of the project to develop and localize prosthetic limbs using advanced technology a qualitative step toward achieving self-sufficiency in this vital humanitarian field. He emphasized that localizing and manufacturing the artificial knee locally will have a positive impact on other prosthetic products. Al-Houri pointed out that the Authority will not stop at localizing this product, but will move to the field of manufacturing plates used in the treatment of upper and lower prosthetic limbs, which are also very expensive and are imported annually at exorbitant prices. He continued, "When the Authority is able to localize this complex technology, it will be able to manufacture any other product in a simple and easy manner." Regarding the positive impact of localizing the prosthetic limb industry, the Vice Chairman of the Science and Innovation Authority stated that localizing and producing the artificial knee locally will have a positive impact on the national economy by reducing its costly and large import bill. Al-Houri also addressed the Authority's efforts in this regard and its commitment to bridging the gap between reality and need on the one hand, and research and education on the other. He said, "In order to bridge the existing gap, we were keen to localize the prosthetic knee, relying on the latest models of prosthetic tools used as replacement limbs. We did not start from scratch, but rather jumped to adopting the latest model of the prosthetic knee, the German model, which was taken, copied, and produced locally. It is considered a more advanced, modern, more widely used, and more expensive model. This is a very advanced step that will pave the way for us to move forward in the next stages in the field of prosthetic limb manufacturing technology." Regarding the initial beginnings of the project idea, Dr. al-Houri said, "We received memos from the Wounded Foundation, the Limb Center, and the Disabled Fund stating that they face significant difficulties in providing prosthetic limb products and are spending very large sums to provide them. They also stated that there are many suppliers in the local markets competing to provide them, but their competition has not contributed to reducing costs; rather, it has increased them, making prosthetic limb products expensive and making them very difficult for the poor, destitute, and those with limited income." Al-Houri continued, "Therefore, the Authority conducted a recent study to keep pace with advanced technology in the field of prosthetic limb design and manufacturing, thus bridging the gap between reality and need on the one hand, and research on the other." He pointed out that the draft study prepared by the Authority included identifying the types of prosthetic limbs that could be manufactured locally and incorporating advanced technologies to serve thousands of people with disabilities in the country. Al-Houri noted that the project study conducted by the Authority focused on assessing the current situation, identifying technical gaps, and how to leverage reverse engineering tools in the design and manufacture of prosthetic limbs. The application work then began, including cloning the German prosthetic knee and producing it locally. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure set to catalyse systemic digital transformation
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is laying the groundwork to establish itself as a regional leader in digital trust architecture with the launch of Malaysia Blockchain Infrastructure (MBI). This national initiative establishes the foundation for a future where public services are tamper-proof, halal products are traceable from farm to fork and businesses operate with full transparency and cost efficiency on secure digital platforms. Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Chang Lih Kang said the MBI initiative signals Malaysia's commitment to anchoring its future economy on interoperability, data integrity and innovation, thereby creating a trusted, technology-driven ecosystem across the public and private sectors. He emphasised that MBI is not merely a technological milestone but a catalyst for systemic digital transformation. 'Today's event is not just the launch of a new technology, but the dawn of a new era in the nation's digital economic development,' Chang said at the official launch of MBI during the opening of Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025 here today. 'Let us move forward, not as isolated actors, but as co-creators of a brighter, bolder digital Malaysia.' He said the initiative is designed to accelerate blockchain adoption by building a trusted and transparent infrastructure supported jointly by government and industry. 'With the launch of MBI, we hope to fast-track blockchain adoption in Malaysia, enabling broader usage built on trust and transparency,' he added. MBI, developed by Mimos Bhd in collaboration with Zetrix and Masverse, addresses persistent challenges in blockchain deployment, including fragmentation, high transaction costs and a lack of cross-platform compatibility. 'This trusted and inclusive national digital backbone will empower government, businesses and the public, strengthening Malaysia's digital economy for the future,' Chang said. He explained that MBI functions similarly to a financial clearinghouse, such as Mastercard or Visa, by enabling seamless interoperability across different blockchain systems. 'It acts like a clearinghouse, allowing smooth transitions between blockchain technologies. It simplifies transactions for everyone,' he noted. MBI is grounded in the National Blockchain Roadmap 2021–2025, which outlines Malaysia's ambitions to lead the region in blockchain adoption across various sectors, including public administration, finance, halal certification and trade. 'We see blockchain enhancing transparency in government, reducing costs in finance, and strengthening halal traceability and supply chain logistics,' said Chang. 'This is about embedding trust and efficiency at every level.' To date, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) has achieved 60% of the objectives outlined in the roadmap, with additional milestones expected by the end of the year. 'We've reached 60%, and we aim to go even further by year-end,' Chang affirmed. The minister outlined a vision of a fully digital public infrastructure powered by blockchain, encompassing secure procurement, automated halal certification and streamlined financial services. 'Halal products verified from farm to fork, leak-proof procurement – all powered by MBI. This is not a distant vision; it is well within our grasp,' he said. While large enterprises are expected to benefit, Chang highlighted that startups, SMEs and underserved communities will also gain from reduced digital entry costs and greater access to secure data ecosystems. He said MBI would serve as a trusted platform for early-stage companies and blockchain startups to engage with verified partners. 'This platform enables startups to find trusted blockchain partners – whether service providers or platforms. It also serves as a form of government endorsement.' Chang underscored the importance of collaboration among government, industry and academia in unlocking MBI's full potential. 'Innovation isn't confined to institutions. It flows from startups, entrepreneurs, researchers, and public services. This embodies the Malaysia Malaysia vision, where innovation is guided by compassion, progress is rooted in trust and technology serves all levels of society,' he said. Chang disclosed that a new national roadmap is in development, focusing on explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and blockchain through to 2030. The initiative will primarily involve local experts, with opportunities for international collaboration. 'We're working with the Ministry of Digital and relying largely on local experts. However, we remain open to input from foreign specialists,' he said. As other Asean countries move towards integrating blockchain in trade and governance, Malaysia aims to leap forward with a cohesive, government-backed framework, rather than relying on scattered pilot programmes. 'With MBI, Malaysia is positioning itself at the forefront of digital trust infrastructure – one that supports not only innovation but also real-world impact across industries and communities,' said Chang. The two-day Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025, organised by Lydian Labs and supported by ARC, features expert panels, technology showcases, and cross-border collaborations designed to scale blockchain innovation across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Mid East Info
16-07-2025
- Health
- Mid East Info
Canadian University Dubai to lead three DFF funded projects to advance healthcare innovation - Middle East Business News and Information
Projects to position UAE at the forefront of technology-driven solutions in the healthcare sector Researchers from the Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been awarded three separate grants from the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Program to advance the application of technologies to improve the health of people in the UAE. CUD faculty will be leading each of the projects, that will develop tools to improve health outcomes and position the UAE at the forefront of technology-driven healthcare solutions. The university's School of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology has secured two grants to support projects aimed at advancing technologies that support diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of healthcare. Led by CUD's Prof. Firuz Kamalov, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi School of Management and the University of Huddersfield, a team of researchers will pioneer an Explainable Artificial Intelligence system to support the early detection of dementia and to develop an understanding of its potential progression. The project has the capacity to deliver a major step forward in transforming dementia care through AI-driven innovation that can deliver earlier diagnosis to improve patient treatment, guide clinical decisions, and offer vital support to families. Meanwhile, another project in the same School of Engineering Applied Science and Technology is led by Associate Professor, Dr. Haythem El-Messiry, in partnership with researchers from Shandong University and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. This project will harness the power of Volume Electron Microscopy (VEM) to enhance biological research capabilities. VEM involves a group of electron microscopy techniques for revealing the 3D ultrastructure of organisms at nanometer resolution. The technology is heralded as a revolutionary advancement in imaging to unravel biological complexity at scale, supporting the progression of research in health sciences. This project aims to develop a fast, robust, and high-precision VEM image processing workflow which can achieve high-throughput and high-resolution large-scale biological 3D structure analysis to effectively bridge the gap between cell biology and tissue biology analysis. A third project in the university's School of Health Sciences and Psychology will embark on a pioneering project to establish a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) System in the UAE, to improve evidence-based decision-making in healthcare. Aiming to digitize health systems and promote multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approaches, the project will integrate AI and web-based platforms, to enable more informed decisions about the value and reimbursement of health technologies. Led by CUD Assistant Professor, Dr. Mohammed AlKhaldi, the research team will also include CUD Associate Professor, Dr. Wissam Ghash, along with collaborators from McGill University, Canada and University of Bonn, Germany. Each of the projects aims to contribute to the UAE's strategic vision to be a world leader in healthcare and wellbeing. Speaking about the awards, CUD Provost, Dr. Adam Fenech said, 'These grants recognize CUD's leading role in health research and innovation in the UAE and wider region. With the support of Dubai Future Foundation and our institutional partners, we are tackling critical issues in global healthcare. These projects have the potential to establish the UAE as the benchmark for innovations that have impact on a global scale.' ———- About Canadian University Dubai Established in 2006, Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is a higher education institution located in City Walk, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The university is the #1 ranking University in Dubai according to the QS World University Rankings 2025. CUD is a diverse and dynamic institution, with over 120 student nationalities. With a reputation for academic excellence, the university offers more than 30 specialized majors, concentrations, and focus area pathways, through over 25 accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The curriculum is Canadian-inspired and serves as a gateway for students to pursue higher education, research, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in Canada.
