Future on show at startup conclave in Telangana
The two-day conclave began at Zaheer Memorial School Grounds in the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT). It is jointly organised by CSIR-IICT, CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), and CSIR–National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).
Centred on the theme 'Catalysing Innovation, Connecting Ecosystems', the event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to share insights, network, and explore collaboration opportunities.
Among the agricultural innovations was a stall featuring various rice varieties. Of note was Improved Samba Mahsuri (RP Bio-226), a high-yielding, bacterial blight-resistant and diabetic-friendly variety. It retains the grain quality of traditional Samba Mahsuri, offering major benefits to farmers.
Dr Raju Madanala, Senior Technical Officer (Plant Sciences) at CSIR-CCMB, told TNIE, 'Improved Samba Mahsuri has so far been cultivated across 22,000 hectares in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.'
In the health-tech space, the Mini DNA Lab drew attention. The compact device, priced around Rs 2 lakh, can detect early-stage diseases and possible drug reactions, marking a step forward in accessible, personalised healthcare.
Water sustainability solutions also stood out. Meghdoot, a device that extracts potable water from atmospheric moisture, attracted considerable interest.
'This year's Budget allocated Rs 13,000 crore to CSIR'
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and CSIR Vice-President Dr Jitendra Singh said, 'From just 50 startups in 2014, India now has nearly 10,000 startups.' He urged the youth to channel their passion and creativity into building startups as a service to society.
He noted that this year's Union Budget allocated Rs 13,000 crore to CSIR—over 230% more than the previous year—and encouraged youth to shed the belief that one must be a scientist to start a business.
Later, several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and technology transfers were signed between companies and the three CSIR host institutes in the minister's presence.
Addressing the gathering, MP Eatala Rajender said, 'The central government is supporting startups financially to help them succeed. Hyderabad startups can benefit from scientific expertise and government initiatives.'
Before speaking at the event, Jitendra Singh interacted with startups and researchers, showcasing their technologies and products.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
35 minutes ago
- Hans India
Electronics, pharma industries get 70 pc of total PLI scheme funds in FY25: Govt data
New Delhi: The electronics and pharmaceutical sectors emerged as the biggest gainers under the government's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme in the financial year 2024-25, cornering nearly 70 per cent of the total incentive disbursed, according to official data. Out of Rs 10,114 crore released under the scheme during the year, the electronics sector received Rs 5,732 crore, while the pharma sector got Rs 2,328 crore, the data showed. Launched in 2021 to boost domestic manufacturing, the PLI scheme was initially rolled out for 14 key sectors. Since then, it has played a crucial role in strengthening India's industrial base and pushing for higher value-added exports. The success of the scheme is clearly reflected in the performance of the electronics sector. Due to the strong manufacturing push, electronics have now made it to the list of India's top three export categories. The sector recorded a remarkable export growth of 32.46 per cent in 2024-25, with shipments rising from $29.12 billion in 2023-24 to $38.58 billion in the previous financial year. This is a big jump from $15.7 billion in 2021-22 and $23.6 billion in 2022-23, according to the government data. A major highlight within the electronics segment was computer hardware and peripherals, which saw an impressive 101 per cent growth, with exports doubling from $0.7 billion to $1.4 billion in FY25. The United Arab Emirates, the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy were among the top destinations for Indian electronic goods. The pharmaceutical sector also continued to show strength. India's drugs and pharmaceutical products are now reaching over 200 countries. In 2024-25, pharma exports rose by nearly 10 per cent to touch $30.5 billion -- underlining the country's global presence in the healthcare and medicines space. The fresh data points to the growing impact of the PLI scheme in driving India's manufacturing and export ambitions, especially in sectors where the country is beginning to emerge as a global leader.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Fold 6 vs Fold 5: Battery comparison
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, its latest foldable smartphone that introduces updated displays and the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. However, despite these upgrades, the device retains the same 4,400mAh battery capacity that has been used since the Galaxy Z Fold 3. This upgrade has sparked discussions about the phone's real-world battery performance and whether it offers significant improvements over previous models. To test the Galaxy Z Fold 7's battery life, tech YouTuber Ben from Lover Of Tech conducted a detailed battery drain test comparing it to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 5. The test involved running a series of power-intensive activities for an hour each, including 4K video recording, Instagram Live streaming, TikTok browsing, YouTube playback, and music streaming. These tasks were designed to simulate heavy daily usage. The results showed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has achieved a screen-on time of 5 hours, 36 minutes, and 31 seconds. This marks an improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes, and outperformed the Galaxy Z Fold 5 by about an hour. The better battery life on the Fold 7 can be attributed to the efficiency gains of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Additionally, the Galaxy Fold 7 stayed cooler during the test, likely due to enhanced heat management in its slimmer design. Despite these gains, the fixed 4,400mAh battery limits the potential for major improvements in endurance. Users who wish to upgrade from the Fold 4 or Fold 5 may notice the difference, but those coming from the Fold 6 will find the battery life improvement less significant. In short, the Galaxy Fold 7 offers a modest boost in battery performance, but it still faces constraints because of the unchanged battery size. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available in four colour options: Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet Black, and Mint (exclusive to Samsung's online store). The device is priced at Rs. 1,74,999 for the 12GB RAM with 256GB storage model. The 12GB + 512GB variant is priced at Rs. 1,86,999, while the top-tier 16GB + 1TB model is priced at Rs. 2,16,999.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Nothing Phone (3) review: A flagship smartphone for hipsters and geeks
In tech, one of the fundamental ways to become dominant is to make consumers submit to your vision and choose to live within that world. That's why companies like Apple and Nintendo remain so successful, despite releasing several not-so-well-received products over the years. It's not just one product that makes you popular, it's how people believe in the brand and become fans of it. I see a similar pattern with Carl Pei–led Nothing, which is seeking the kind of validation that made Apple and Nintendo household names – not by following a tried-and-tested formula, but by offering a distinctive take on everyday tech products. Its Phone (3), perhaps its first true high-end flagship, may tick all the boxes of what a premium smartphone should be, but at its core, it's a doorway to something more playful. It's an unusual experience, and sometimes it may or may not make sense, especially with the new Glyph Matrix interface. But that's exactly what Nothing wants to be: a company known for doing the unexpected and embracing the strange. In fact, if I am honest, it feels refreshing and welcoming. And it's okay if the Nothing Phone (3) isn't the most spec-heavy smartphone – it has Nothing's own quirkiness through and through. But this time, the ambitions are grand and so is the sticker price. The real question is: does the Phone (3), as baffling and fascinating as it might be, make sense to you? What: Nothing Phone (3)| Price: Rs 80,000 Pick any Nothing device, and there's a distinct dystopian aesthetic to it. I am glad the company is comfortable with its design choices and isn't afraid to express itself. The Phone (3) follows the same path though this time everything feels more polished. The see-through transparent glass back gives the device that signature Nothing feel. The back features a grid pattern, showcasing three printed circuit boards, along with visible screws, circles, and cutouts that give off the vibe of a tech product, not just another smartphone. The cameras, meanwhile, have a rather unusual layout. The three sensors are positioned within specific squares in a separated arrangement: two are lined up next to each other, while the third sits in a corner of the phone, not really aligned with anything else. It feels absolutely wild every time I see the Phone (3). There's something undeniably charming about the Phone (3), with its retro-chic aesthetic. The hipster-friendly, old-school design may be polarising to some, but I kind of enjoy the goofiness and the disturbingly weird vibe at the same time. And honestly, that's okay, as long as you are the right audience for it. The Phone (3) looks beautiful and feels great in the hand. I love holding it in a way I haven't since the iPhone X. It comes in black and white, and the white version, which I have for review, reminds me of the original iPod. The device features an aluminum and glass sandwich design and weighs 218 grams. The Phone (3) also supports the standard IP68 water and dust resistance. For me, the most eye-catching feature of the Phone (3) is a small dot-matrix screen on the top-right corner of the device that powers the Glyph Matrix interface; and it's a nifty experience. At times, it feels a bit gimmicky, but there's a certain thrill to it. And because it's a physical hardware feature (reminding me of the crank on the Playdate console), the interaction feels natural. With the Phone (3), Nothing has done away with the signature 'Glyph' LED strips on the back, the ones that used to light up in complex patterns for notifications, calls, timers, and charging, a staple of its earlier smartphones. In their place is the new Glyph Matrix interface. The idea remains the same: to notify users about things like messages and calls. But this time, since it's a real display, it's more functional. However, unlike many others who have tried (and failed) to integrate secondary displays, Nothing opted for a dot-matrix screen, the kind you often see on buses and at airports displaying important information. The matrix is made up of 489 LEDs and can display monochromatic images. Well, the Glyph Matrix showcases Glyph 'Toys,' as Nothing calls them. Right now, there are a handful of Glyph Toys. Some are simple widgets, like a battery level indicator or a stopwatch. But my favourites are still the games, like Spin the Bottle, Rock, Paper, Scissors, and the Magic 8 Ball. One Glyph Toy that felt silly but fun to me is the one that lets you take photos and turn them into Glyph patterns. It reminded me of how Nintendo made a camera for the Game Boy that let you take photos and convert them into monochrome images. I am hoping to see more Glyph Toys in the future, as Nothing is making it easy to make your own Glyph Toys via an SDK. I think the idea of a dot-matrix display is really fun, even if it may feel a bit silly at times. But that's exactly what makes the Phone (3) stand out from other smartphones. I also liked how you interact with the matrix through the Glyph button, which is built into the rear of the Phone (3). It's a single button that, when pressed, activates the Glyph Matrix, allowing you to cycle through different Toys, with a long press used to activate them. The interaction is simple and intuitive, though I do wish there was some form of tactile feedback. In the Settings menu, you can customise the Glyph Matrix to your liking. A standout feature of the dot-matrix display is how neatly it handles notifications. You can choose to be notified about specific alerts from select apps and even set custom display artwork to appear on the Glyph Matrix, making it easier to recognise what the notification is about at a glance. I also like this notification approach because I don't have to open the phone every time a notification comes in. It's a better way to avoid the madness and anxiety that constant notifications can cause, especially when you don't want to be glued to your phone. The Phone (3) has a 6.7-inch screen size; it's a large, fast OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 1600 nits at maximum brightness, peaking at 4,500 nits with compatible HDR content, which looks really good. The Phone (3) is powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, which is fast but not quite flagship-grade. Nothing is very clear that it's not chasing the spec game with the Phone (3), and I think that makes sense, the longevity of the chip matters most, especially since smartphones these days receive software updates for years. In my time testing the Phone (3), the device felt snappy, and apps opened quickly with no noticeable lag. My review unit is a premium unit with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. The battery life is great: the Phone (3) ships with a 5,150 mAh battery that lasts about two days between charges, even with a mix of 5G and Wi-Fi usage. A compatible 65W wired charger is supported. There's also 15W wireless charging, if you care about it. The Phone (3) runs Nothing's version of Android 15, which offers a relatively clean, fast, and unique experience, thanks to subtle design touches based around dot-matrix art. The design language Nothing has used for the user interface is interesting, and the wide range of customisation options makes the interaction a lot more fun. I particularly enjoyed the monochrome, distraction-free themes. As for updates, Nothing's software policy still doesn't match the likes of Google Pixel devices or Samsung Galaxy smartphones, but it's getting close, with the company promising five Android OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates. A major software addition to the Phone (3) is Nothing's Essential Space app, which leans heavily on AI. The app essentially collects and analyses various screenshots, text, and voice notes. A dedicated button on the side of the phone captures what's on screen, while pressing and holding it records a quick voice note to go along with it. The app then analyses the content to generate summaries, transcriptions, and possible actions such as reminders or to-do lists. Right now, the app is fairly basic, to say the least. Some features, like AI summaries, are hit-or-miss, but others, like Essential Search, show great potential. The Phone (3) has three cameras on the back: a 50MP main camera with an f/1.68 aperture, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 114-degree field of view, and a 50MP periscope lens offering up to 3x optical zoom, 6x digital zoom, and 60x AI Super Res Zoom. This will also serve as a macro camera, allowing for clearer close-up shots. The front-facing camera is also 50MP. Photos taken with the Phone (3)'s main camera look good, delivering fine detail and solid dynamic range. I think it performs well in most situations, though low-light performance isn't its strong suit. The ultrawide camera is reasonably good, while the 3x zoom camera is arguably the best of the three. I wouldn't say the Phone (3) beats the top smartphone cameras on the market, but it's remarkably good, especially the 3x zoom, which lets you get incredibly close to subjects while capturing plenty of detail. It's a great option if you enjoy taking macro-style shots. The Phone (3) has more power than I know what to do with. That's the premise Nothing is going for with its first and most expensive smartphone. It's right there, but not quite in the same league as the highest-end options from Apple, Samsung, or Google. In fact, it's the opposite, and that's refreshing. It's a smartphone that goes back to the basics, while still offering a sense of premiumness. The Phone (3) is a forward-looking device, and I admire it for its design and the unique dot-matrix display. At the same time, it's a fascinating puzzle… one that takes some time to figure out. On the surface, Nothing's new high-end smartphone feels deeply nostalgic, rooted in the idea of building a legacy in the way Apple and Nintendo have done. There's a far more interesting device hidden in here, an experience that, at its best, has a sense of humour, if you can understand and relate to it. Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
