Innovation History

Healthcare and medtech innovation

In recent years, IISc has developed a variety of technology products, especially in the healthcare domain, which have direct social relevance. An example is the development of a heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine candidate that can be stored and transported at room temperature, significantly cutting down production and distribution cost. Another example is the development of a hand-held, portable detection kit for sickle cell disease that uses just a drop of blood to screen for the disease. IISc faculty are also developing targeted interventions for diseases like diabetes, such as a bandage that can sequentially release drugs, and customised footwear that can help diabetic foot ulcers heal faster. Efforts are also on to develop vaccines that can prevent a variety of infectious diseases.

Present

AI and Robotics

The dawn of industry 4.0 has rapidly integrated cyber-physical systems into everyday applications. At IISc, the AI Robotics and Technology Park (ARTPARK), a not-for-profit company, was established in 2020 to make multiple industries ready for the “Smart Systems” revolution. ARTPARK aims to provide a viable mechanism to translate lab-level research in robotics and autonomous systems into products for the market. With over 25+ startups working under its roof, it is poised to make a difference and impact the everyday lives of many enterprises. For instance, AHAM robotics is looking into deploying robots at museums to enable virtual tours. Gati Robotics, another startup, is leading innovation in designing the building blocks of robots – like the robotic joint actuator. The research efforts being undertaken are truly multidisciplinary and a testament to the rich and vibrant techno-culture at ARTPARK.

2020s

Deeptech startup ecosystem

STEM, which is part of the Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) at IISc, is one of the few truly deep science and tech incubators in the country. Its origins at IISc give it a privileged perspective in understanding the specific needs and challenges of a science based start-up. To date, more than 80 startups have been incubated, focusing on a wide range of industrial and societal challenges, including PathShodh, which is developing point-of-care devices for faster disease diagnosis; Mynvax, which is developing a universal flu vaccine; OpenWater, which is developing sustainable and portable water filtration devices, and Astrome, which is accelerating the deployment of 5G and rural telecommunication infrastructure.

2010s

India’s first handheld simple computer

The Percolat laboratory at IISc’s Department of Computer Science and Automation, headed by Vijay Chandru, Swami Manohar, Ramesh Hariharan and V Vinay, was involved in cutting-edge research traversing the boundaries of Industry and academia. They developed the SIMple, Inexpensive, Multi-lingual comPUTER – the Simputer. The idea took root during the International Seminar on Information Technology for Developing Countries held in Bangalore in 1998. It was designed to unleash the potential of the digital age by placing the power of information technology in the hands of common people in developing countries. The user interface was simple and operated through touch, sound, and visual icons, without the need for a complicated keyboard. The device also translated websites into local Indian languages. The New York Times Magazine called the Simputer “the most significant innovation in computer technology in 2001.”

2000s

Foundations of genomic testing

Strand Life Sciences, a spin-off from IISc, was born as Strand Genomics in the year 2000. It is a biotech and bioinformatics company working towards enhancing accessibility and insights from human genome sequencing. It was founded by Vijay Chandru, Ramesh Hariharan, Swami Manohar, and V Vinay, who were faculty members at IISc. The company now provides a suite of services from diagnostic genetic testing to multiple pharmaceutical applications and software development for genomic studies. In 2021, Reliance Industries, one of Asia’s largest business conglomerates, acquired a majority stake in the company. With more than two decades of experience, the company is on a mission to widen the reach of genome sequencing and usher in the era of precision medicine

2000s

Birthplace of Wipro IT

In 1979, when business magnate Azim Premji decided to venture into the Indian computers market, the company approached the newly established Centre for Scientific and Industry Consultancy at IISc. This kicked of a series of discussions between IISc and Wipro, which gave birth to the Wipro Series-86 – India’s first machine with multiuser, multitasking, and database-oriented operating system features, along with 16 terminals. The Institute’s role was so vital that the first employee of the company’s IT division was an MTech student at IISc, who worked out of the Digital Lab in the now Department of Computer Science and Automation. The Wipro-IISc story continued to blossom over the next decades after the company’s success in entering cutting-edge domains like driverless cars and metal 3D printing.

1970s

Space exploration

We strive to innovate when it comes to functionality. Our mission is to be the best, come and join the ride.

1960s

Giving wings to Indian aerospace industry

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was established in 1941 to bolster the aerial combat efforts of the allied forces in World War II. The first aircraft that rolled out from it in 1941 – the Harlow PC-5 – was built using technical assistance from IISc. The Institute’s newly established Department of Aeronautical Engineering trained a large cohort of electricians, machinists, and carpenters to provide skilled workforce for the war. A wind tunnel was also set up in which HAL aircraft models were tested, and practical lessons were imparted in collaboration with HAL and British Royal Air Force personnel. The aerospace department also helped the National Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) design and set up a large transonic/supersonic wind tunnel. Today, both HAL and NAL provide state-of-the-art technologies and services to the Indian Air Force, Navy, Railways and for space research.

1940s

Useful Links

Contact Us

head.iic@iisc.ac.in

Phone

080- 23442779 | 080- 23314314 | 080-23460622 | 080-22933295

Innovation History

Useful Links

Follow Us

Contact Us

IISc Students - Join this WhatsApp group for updates