National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, government of India has come up with a call inviting innovative citizens to participate in its Challenge Covid-19 Competition (C3).

Pre-Connect
The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India was set up in March 2000 with the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It is India’s national initiative to strengthen the grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge. Its mission is to help India become a creative and knowledge-based society by expanding policy and institutional space for grassroots technological innovators. NIF scouts, supports and spawns grassroots innovations developed by individuals and local communities in any technological field, helping in human survival without any help from the formal sector.
•    NIF has till date recognised 992 grassroots innovators and school students at the national level in its various National Biennial Grassroots Innovation Award Functions and annual Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Ignite Children Award functions.
•    NIF has also set up an augmented Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) for product development and strengthening in-house research.
•    Micro Venture Innovation Fund (MVIF) at NIF, with support from Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has provided risk capital to 230 innovation-based enterprise projects, some of which are at different stages of incubation.
•    The grassroots to global (G2G) model that NIF is propagating is all set to change the way the world looks at creativity and innovations at grassroots.
•    INSPIRE Award – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) is being revamped and executed by Department of Science & Technology and National Innovation Foundation-India to align it with the action plan for “Start-up India”.

Highlight
Ideas are invited for gainful engagement of people at home, healthy food for nutrition and boosting immunity specially at the time of lockdown when raw materials are limited, (Personal Protective Equipment) PPE’s and rapid diagnostic testing facilities for capacity building of healthcare, rethinking contactless devices for the post-Corona implementation, varying needs of the different segment of the population during COVID-19 like differently-abled people with special needs and mentally challenged population.

Conclusion
The selected technological ideas and innovations will be supported for incubation and dissemination.

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country, based on a detailed study and deliberations on innovation and entrepreneurial needs of India.
    Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated innovation workspaces of 1200-1500 square feet where do-it-yourself (DIY) kits on latest technologies like 3D Printers, Robotics, Internet of Things (IOT), Miniaturized electronics are installed using a grant of Rs 20 Lakhs from the government so that students from Grade VI to Grade XII can tinker with these technologies and learn to create innovative solutions using these technologies.
    Smart India Hackathon is a nationwide initiative to provide students with a platform to solve some of the pressing problems we face in our daily lives, and thus inculcate a culture of product innovation and a mindset of problem-solving.

Wormivet
National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has brought out an indigenous herbal medication (dewormer) in form of commercial product for livestock owners as an alternative to chemical method of treatment of worms.
In order to diffuse this technology to control endoparasite infestation among livestock, NIF value added and promoted development of a commercial product ‘Wormivet’.
The model had demonstrated an improvised engagement of formal institutions and orientation of research in developing, implementing products for needy locations, reassuring farming communities.
Internal parasite is a significant health problem as it causes diarrhoea, loss in body weight, anaemia, reproductive health concern thereby limiting productivity and growth. Inappropriate use of chemical dewormer generates resistance.
NIF which enables protection of such viable, cost effective therapies and their large-scale diffusion either through social or commercial channels, helps to organise the knowledge to control endoparasite infestation and its valorization, leading to mainstreaming technology derived from knowledge of society.