Archiv der Kategorie: Events

„Doing well by doing good“: New opportunities for Indo-German cooperation?

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Report in Germany Contact India, 5/2011, p. 17:

„Doing well by doing good“: New opportunities for Indo-German cooperation?

Last few years have seen the rise of several new and dynamic paradigms in innovation management, especially at the bottom of the population pyramid. These seek to motivate companies to develop affordable and good-quality products for rural and poor customers especially in developing economies.
Such ideas, though admirable in their own right, have in many instances failed to fully appreciate and utilize the power of innovative ideas and the rich heritage of traditional knowledge passed down the generations and are lying largely untapped.
Many local users in rural areas come up with inventions that are not only innovative and useful but also less expensive than the usual solutions available in the market. Other important features of these so called grassroot innovations are that they are environment friendly and in sync with the given infrastructural conditions. Examples of such innovations include water-based cooling systems that do not require electricity or non-sticky frying pans made of earth (clay).
The idea of grassroot innovations has been popularized by Professor Anil Gupta of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad. Grassroot innovations are being fostered by institutions like the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and the Honey Bee Network in India. The Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at Hamburg University of Technology (TIM/TUHH) has recognized the potential of this paradigm, both, for the practice of innovation management in firms and for giving an impetus to Indo-German cooperation in fields of science, technology and business. There are several studies currently under progress at TIM/TUHH to survey the potential implications of grassroots innovations.

TIM/TUHH, together with the German-Indian Round Table (GIRT), will hold a workshop during the India Week Hamburg 2011 to explore and demonstrate the vast cooperation opportunities for German companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, to assist the inventors with technical and marketing know-how. Mutual benefit can be found, for instance, in the giant domestic Indian market as well as in international marketing of such products in other corresponding markets of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Anil Gupta is scheduled to deliver the keynote address and to participate in a panel discussion. Other cooperation partners include India’s National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

(Source: Germany Contact India, 5/2011, p. 17)

See a local copy as PDF: clipping-gc-tuhh (76 KB)

Celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary and the International Day of Non-violence in Hamburg

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The Consulate General of India, The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Committee, Hamburg, are jointly organizing the Celebration of the International Day of Non-violence and the 142nd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday, the 2nd October 2011 in the premises of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.

For all further enquiries please contact: mkmahatmagandhi@gmail.com

Registration for the Grassroot-Event now open

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All those interested in attending the „Grassroot Innovation“ event during the India Week in Hamburg (20th of October 2011, 12:00 – 18:00h Plenarsaal of the Chamber of Commerce) may register themselves by using this registration form (PDF, 460 KB).

The registration form duly filled maybe sent back by e-mail (grassroot@tu-harburg.de) or by fax (+49 (0)40 42878 2867).

Please note that owing to capacity reasons it may not be possible to accept all the regsitrations. We will therefore confirm all the accepted registrations individually. The last date to register is the 14th of October 2011.

Grassroot Innovations: New Opportunities for Indo-German Cooperation?

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India Week Hamburg 2011

[Grassroot Event] [GIRT Events]

[Background] [Event Concept] [Agenda] [Venue & Date] [Registration] [Partners] [Downloads]

Background

source: rediff.comLast few years have seen the rise of several new and dynamic paradigms in innovation management, e.g. the “Bottom of the Pyramid” (BOP) or “Frugal Innovations”. These seek to motivate firms to develop affordable and good-quality products for rural and/or poor customers especially in developing economies. Such ideas, though admirable in their own right, have in many instances however failed to fully appreciate and utilize the power of innovative ideas and the rich heritage of traditional knowledge emerging at “grassroots” from common people.

Rather than selling to poor, as BOP implies, Honey Bee Network – an initiative from India – insists on buying from people, helping them disseminate a lot of creative knowledge as public goods, and/or as platforms for collective co-creation of location specific solutions. “Poor people are not sink, but source of ideas, innovations and initiatives,” says Prof. Anil Gupta of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad, in a thought-provoking statement (see a collection of media reports on grassroot innovations).

Source: ndtv.comMany local users in rural areas come up with inventions that are not only innovative and useful but also less expensive than the usual solutions available in the market. Another important feature of grassroot innovations is that they are generally environment friendly and in sync with the given infrastructural conditions. Examples of such innovations include water-based cooling systems that do not require electricity, or non-sticky frying pans made of earth. The idea of “grassroot innovations” has been popularized by untiring and inspiring efforts of Prof. Anil Gupta, winner of Star of Asia – Opinion Shaper award of ” Business Week” magazine in 2001 and called “Gandhi of Technology” by the reputed German magazine “Der Spiegel”. Grassroot innovations are being fostered by institutions like the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), SRISTI and the Honey Bee Network in India.

The Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at Hamburg University of Technology (TIM/TUHH) has recognized the potential of this paradigm, both, for the practice of innovation management in firms and for giving an impetus to Indo-German cooperation in fields of science & technology, and business. There are several studies currently under progress at TIM/TUHH to survey the potential implications of grassroots innovations.

Event Concept

TIM/TUHH, together with the German-Indian Round Table (GIRT) and some other partners, e.g. the National Innovation Foundation of India and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce (see Partners), will hold a workshop during the India Week Hamburg 2011 to explore and demonstrate the vast cooperation opportunities for German firms, especially small and medium-sized ones, to assist the inventors with technical and marketing know-how. Mutual benefit can be found, for instance, in the giant domestic Indian market as well as in international marketing of such products in other corresponding markets of Africa, Latin America and Asia. In some cases, e.g. herbal medicines, it might even be possible to introduce the products in Germany or other developed countries. Prof. Anil Gupta is scheduled to deliver the keynote address and to participate in a panel discussion.

Agenda

The event will be inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Garabed Antranikian, President of the Hamburg University of Technology and Mrs. M. Subashini, the Hon’ble Consul General of India in Hamburg. We have confimed participation of Prof. Anil Gupta (National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad) and Prof. Luc Soete (UNU-MERIT, the Netherlands). For a complete list of speakers and the programme agenda please see:

Agenda (PDF, 61 KB) as on: 23.09.2011.

Venue & Date
Venue: Plenarsaal, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Date: Thursday, 20th October 2011, 12:00 – 18:00h.

Registration

The event is intended primarily for business firms, scientific and research community, institutional players and other interested person with an interest in the field of grassroot innovations, the so-called „Bottom of the Pyramid“, frugal engineering and in Indo-German an/or Indo-Euroean cooperation. Participation is free of charge. However, due to limited number of seats we require a binding pre-registration for the event. The registration will be possible between 5th September to 14th October. Please download the registration form (PDF, 460 KB) here and send it by e-mail (grassroot@tu-harburg.de) or fax (+49 (0)40 42878 2867) to us. Please note that owing to capacity constraints we might not be able to accept all the registrations and shall individually confirm the acceptance.

Event Partners

Organizers: Hamburg University of Technology (Institute for Technology and Innovation Management), German-Indian Round Table (GIRT) Hamburg, National Innovation Foundation (Ahmedabad/India), Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Event Sponsor: Mahindra Satyam

Media Partner: Indien Aktuell

Cooperation Partner: Hamburg section of the German-Indian Society (Deutsch-Indische Gesellschaft e.V.)

Downloads

Event Description (English): PDF, 313 KB

Veranstaltungsbeschreibung (German): PDF, 275 KB

[Download India Week Flyer, PDF, approx. 4 MB] [Download Program Booklet, PDF, approx. 1.4 MB]

India Week Hamburg 2011: Events with Participation of German-Indian Round Table (GIRT) Hamburg

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India Week Hamburg 2011 Logo (English)GIRT

German-Indian Round Table (GIRT) Hamburg is one of the founding partners of the India Week in Hamburg. Since Feb. 2010 Rajnish Tiwari heads GIRT Hamburg in an honorary capacity and in this role he, and inter alia also TIM/TUHH, have the opportunity to make an even greater contribution to the India Week Hamburg. GIRT Hamburg, apart from being co-organizer of the India Week as a whole is also involved as host and/or partner of the following events this year:

  • Current Trends Concerning Business With India
    (Monday, 17.10.2011, 09:30 – 15:45, Handelskammer Hamburg, Albert Schäfer Saal)

    The Indian economy is witnessing above average growth – and you too can be a part of this growth story! Numerous sectors in India are planning huge investments to extend their capacities. This development offers interesting opportunities for companies in Hamburg as well. However, the Indian market is quite challenging, and companies should prepare themselves carefully.The inaugural event of the India Week in Hamburg this year will be organized jointly by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV), the German-Indian Round Table (GIRT) and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC). It will inform about recent developments in various sectors as well as about important changes in legal and taxation matters. The participants may expect valuable hints regarding market entry strategies, recruitment of qualified staff, cross-cultural aspects, and intellectual property regulations. Managers and practitioners from several renowned companies will share their experiences in diverse branches such as engineering, logistics and consumer goods.

  • Europe’s Relations with India: New Impulses for the Cooperation of Democratic States
    (Tuesday, 18.10.2011, 18:00 – 20:00, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Spiegelsaal)

    The EU and India already enjoy a close relationship based on shared values and mutual respect. Ever since the first summit of the EU and India in Lisbon in the year of 2000, India’s relations with the EU have steadily intensified on a political, geopolitical and economic level, as well as in respect to trade policy. So what are the challenges, chances and expectations the EU and India have with regard to a strategic partnership in the era of the 21st century?[ Event Flyer, PDF, 1.3 MB ] [ Direct link to Event Partner Europa Union ]

  • Grassroot Innovations: New Opportunities für Indo-German Cooperation?
    (Thursday, 20.10.2011, 12:00 – 18:00, Handelskammer Hamburg – Plenarsaal)

    Many local users in rural areas come up with inventions that are not only innovative and useful but also less expensive than the usual solutions available in the market. Another important feature of grassroot innovations is that they are generally environment friendly and in sync with the given infrastructural conditions. Examples of such innovations include water-based cooling systems that do not require electricity. The idea of “grassroot innovations” has been popularized by untiring and inspiring efforts of Prof. Anil Gupta, called “Gandhi of Technology” by the reputed German magazine “Der Spiegel”. Grassroot innovations are being fostered by institutions like the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), SRISTI and the Honey Bee Network in India.The Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at Hamburg University of Technology, together with the Hamburg chapter of German-Indian Round Table (GIRT), will hold a symposium during the India Week Hamburg to explore and demonstrate the vast cooperation opportunities for German firms, especially small and medium-sized ones, to assist the inventors with technical and marketing know-how. Mutual benefit can be found, for instance, in the giant domestic Indian market as well as in international marketing of such products in other corresponding markets of Africa, Latin America and Asia. In some cases, e.g. herbal medicines, it might even be possible to introduce the products in Germany or other developed countries. Prof. Anil Gupta is scheduled to deliver the keynote address and to participate in a panel discussion. Other (cooperation-) partners of the event include the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, National Innovation Foundation of India, the Hamburg chapter of German-Indian Society, and Mahindra Satyam.

    [ Direct link to the event ]

  • Dance with the Tiger – Intercultural Challenges Concerning Business with India
    (Thursday, 20.10.2011, 17:30 – 20:00, KWB Koordinierungsstelle Weiterbildung und Beschäftigung e.V., Haus der Wirtschaft, II. Stock)

    The Indian Tiger has awakened. Whoever wants to compete with him needs to sharpen his claws. For, as promising the predictions may be, progress reports of both German and Indian businessmen have shown: despite good preparation, several aspects between German-Indian cooperation often times turn out rather “differently” than expected… Together with various experts, businessmen and managers with the respective India-experience, carefully examine some success factors and stumbling blocks of German-Indian cooperation projects. Draw the necessary conclusions for entrepreneurial practice. Lecturers: Sujata Banerjee, Surja Bose, Surya Bose, Rudolf Weiler (requested) and more.

[Download India Week Flyer, PDF, approx. 4 MB]
[Download Program Booklet, PDF, apprx. 1.4 MB]