Special Accelerator That Got 750+ Proposals Has Shortlisted This For Fast-Track Funding

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Sanitizer Techs

Sample Preservation Tech

BENGALURU: A special accelerator launched on March 26 with an aim of fast-tracking funding for Covid-related technologies or solutions has identified 13 near deployment-ready products from across critical categories such as ventilators and air and surface sanitizers as its prime candidates.The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (CCAMP) Covid-19 Innovations Deployment Accelerator (C-CIDA) has shortlisted these 18 products developed by start-ups from across Indian cities — Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kochi — from more than 750 proposals it received in just two weeks of its launch.“Given the magnitude of the global health challenge Covid-19 has posed, scope for importing solutions to address these outstanding needs becomes more and more unlikely. These indigenous innovations that may have been gestating over the last eight or nine years are now emerging as solutions that are timely, affordable and effective. C-CIDA will now facilitate immediate uptake of these innovations by Government and private sectors after the customary certifications and scale up support wherever necessary,” CCAMP, an initiative of ministry of science and technology, told TOI.Of the 18 products, ‘Respiraid’ by Biodesign Innovation Labs, Bengaluru and ‘Jeevan Lite’ by Aerobiosys Innovations, Hyderabad are assisted respirators. Respiraid is a portable, emergency and transport ventilation system which is based on automated respiratory assist, while Jeevan Lite is a full-fledged low-cost portable ventilator that can be operated in multiple modes of ventilation, capable of CPAP as well as standard invasive ventilation.Being IoT enabled, Jeevan Lite will also have the capacity for real-time data transfer and remote operation, opening up possibilities of telemedicine and tele-support.Products by MedIoTek’s Vincense (Chennai), Cardiac Design Labs (Bengaluru) Nemocare (Hyderabad) and Dozee (Bengaluru) are variations of wearable devices capable of real-time remote monitoring of vital stats.Further, Leafbox Technologies (Bengaluru) has developed a shortwave ultraviolet light-based air purifier that is also HEPA (high efficiance particulat air) and activated carbon filter functionalized with a coverage area of 900 sqft. Their other product is a UVC steriliser box to be used for dry sanitisation of gadgets and medical instruments like phones, masks etc.Another Bengaluru start-up, Biomoneta, has built Zebox, a standalone plug and play decontamination technology best suited for hospitals. It utilises the best in electronics and airflow design to trap and disable microbes within 10 minutes, while Clensta Technologies (Delhi) has repurposed its zero-water personal hygiene solutions for a waterless, antiseptic and antimicrobial rub that can kill viruses within minutes.Blackfrog (Manipal) and Tessol (Navi Mumbai) with their temperature-controlled medical grade cold chain systems can address the critical need of sample preservation as the pandemic makes inroads into India’s hinterland and throws up challenges of transport of samples especially because the ICMR-approved diagnostic centres are still mostly concentrated in urban or semi-urban regions.“Their innovations will ensure that swab samples remain viable by the time they reach the lab thereby preventing false negatives, a very crucial factor in checking the Outbreak,” CCAMP added.Ministry of AYUSH-certified preventatives have been developed by Kochi-based Omicsgen and Delhi-based OMG Innovations. Stating that gadget sanitisation methods that are 100% anti-infective while at the same time safe for gadgets are an unmet need in India, CCAMP said: “Omicsgen’s Smartlyse, a gadget smart wipe for microbes with a lysis buffer at its heart can lyse protein and lipid bilayers in viruses or bacteria within five minutes. Smartlyse is further boosted by a staying power of months.”Meanwhile, Whiff Biospray by OMG Innovations is a completely herbal, antimicrobial and antiviral spray that can be sprayed in the air, both indoors and outdoors for sanitisation. Just 1.5/2ml is required to sterilise 150 sqft or more making a 200 ml bottle perfect for home use.While these are the 13 shortlisted this week, C-CIDA had identified five last week. They are: CoSara Diagnostics, and Ampligene Diagnostics for rapid diagnostics, Coeo Labs and Avyantra for assisted respiratory devices and Anabio Technologies for preventatives.