Indian grassroots innovator wins a competition at the 3rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum in Cambodia

ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum

The ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum organized annually COSTI in partnership with DST, Government of India and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India comprises of seminar sessions, innovation competitions, and an exhibition. By bringing together key players, namely government officials, grassroots innovators, student innovators, academics, business actors, and the wider community, this forum provides a platform to promote and strengthen the development of the grassroots innovation ecosystem. 

The 1st two forums were organized in Indonesia (2018) and Philippines (2019) respectively while there was a brief pause of two years owing to the pandemic. 

The three-day 3rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum was organized by the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India during 20-22 December 2022. The forum consisted of Grassroots Innovation Competition, Student Innovation Competition, Panel discussions, Keynote speeches and an exhibition of innovations consisting of participants from India and the ASEAN Member States (AMS). About 100 technologies from 9 countries were on display during the three-day exhibition.

Indian innovator wins

Ms Shalini Kumari from India received first prize in the Grassroots Innovation Competition at the 3rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation forum for her innovation ‘Modified walker with adjustable legs’. 

The technology which was transferred to the industry, Vissco Rehabilitation Aids, a leading manufacturer of orthopaedic products in the country, is available for purchase through Brick and Mortar stores and also through marketplaces like Amazon India for purchase by common people of the country. 

Ms Shalini Kumari received the the cash prize of USD 1,500 by virtue of being the winner of first prize. 

Ms Shalini Kumari is a resident of Patna in Bihar; she was first recognized by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India through IGNITE Competition in the year 2011 for the same technology.

Source : PIB