Chinese learn database creation skills

Professors from a university in China are presently in Ahmedabad to learn about creating a database on grassroots innovations...

Professors from a university in China are presently in Ahmedabad to learn about creating a database on grassroots innovations,and to look at the possibility of exchanging innovative ideas between China and India.

The Tianjin University of Finance and Economics (TUFE) in north-eastern China is the only centre in the province that collects such innovations, said Professor Zhang Jiaxing,president of the university. Professor Jiaxing said there are plans to link the over 40 universities in the province in terms of setting up such centres,for which the Ahmedabad-based centre,SRISTI (Society for Research Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Innovations) will extend help.

TUFE has about 3,000 grassroots innovations in its database,of which a third were scouted,while the rest are from secondary sources, said SRISTI founder and IIM-A Professor Anil K Gupta.

Prof Gupta said: The present visit is the third conference between TUFE and SRISTI and is part of the Grassroots Innovations for Inclusive Development (GRIID) project. They call it harmonious development,and we,inclusive development.

One of the discussions is that TUFE is likely to host a handful of Indian farmers to look at the farm-utility innovations there.

Several similar grassroots innovations exist in China and India,such as a cycle-hoe for ploughing fields,and retrofitted vehicle gears for the disabled made by an Indian,and an automatic gear for cars,developed by a Chinese innovator.

According to Professor Gupta,a cross-trade in these innovations is likely to be in place soon,since India,China and Brazil have similar needs especially at their respective grassroots levels.

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