Effort towards sustainable technologies

From the desk of Director, CSIR-CMERI

Since the advent of the lethal Corona-virus pandemic, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has mandated to place itself as a sentinel to contain and arrest the spread of the contagion. The CSIR, is consistently engaged in their capacities to tackle the current crisis. Some of the Fortes that a few labs of CSIR are working upon are Vaccine Development, Rapid Testing Facilities/Kits, Drug Development & Formulation and Enhanced Detection Mechanisms. CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur has focused upon the development of Technologies/ Products which aims at non-pharmaceutical Interventions and more so towards the development of Protective/Precautionary technologies. The primary focus of the Institute has been two-pronged that is creating Positive Social Impact & Uplifting the Economic Architecture of the disadvantaged. As has been stated by the World Health Organization, the development of a comprehensive Anti-COVID19 vaccine may require a minimum of One year clinical trial to prove its efficacy. Therefore, CSIR-CMERI’s efforts are consistently focused upon development of an array of Small Protective/ Precautionary Intervention Technologies (Healthcare Assistive Devices), which when synchronized collectively, can work as a veritable front against the spread of the lethal virus. The Institute developed technologies needs to be rigorously implemented throughout different spheres of the society. Some of such technologies developed by the Institute are:

• Disinfection Walkway
• Road Sanitizing Unit
• Face Mask
• Mechanical Ventilator
• Oxygen Concentrator
• Soap, Sanitizer and Dispenser
• Indoor Disinfection Unit
• Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device

Besides, to maintain Protocol Standard Hygiene, CSIR-CMERI has also tried to further intensify its efforts towards Waste Management. Recently, we have also delivered a Webinar for CII on “Solid Waste Management”, where we received an unprecedented interest and constructive feedback from the Industrial participants. The two primary target areas for the Institute in this regard have been Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSW) and Hospital Waste Management. These technologies aim to upgrade current hygiene standards to a level, whereby contamination and transmission can be arrested to a major extent, even in the post-COVID19 era.

The current situation is not only a period of global health pandemic but also a time-span of significant economic crisis. To boost the economic prospects of the concerned, CSIR-CMERI is endeavoring to align with the financial institutions so they may extend the best possible financial support to the StartUps and the MSEs to bring the CSIR-CMERI’s technologies to the market for the larger benefit of the society. CSIR-CMERI is also committed throughout to prioritize the interests of the Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), while developing its products. For the benefit of the small industry, particularly MSEs, we are bringing a compendium of CSIR-CMERI’s technology bouquet related to COVID-19 pandemic. The technology and pricing profile of the Institute-developed products and technologies have always been aligned to the needs of the MSEs and Rural Small Businesses. In the current scenario, the MSEs are urged to come forward and join hands with CSIR-CMERI to enhance the Economic and Societal Profile of their enterprises. These priorities have been given a further thrust during the current National Crisis, so that the economic prospects of this Sector can be intensified to help develop a Self-Reliant India or AtmaNirbhar Bharat.