Castrol Unveils Carbon Neutral Sustainability Solutions for Automobile Customers Across Indian Market

Highlights

* Pratham Motors, Bengaluru becomes first ‘Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral’ car dealership for this industry-leading initiative in India
* Castrol to support automotive dealerships to offset emissions and run their operations carbon neutral
* Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral Programme complements government’s sustainability agenda

Castrol India Limited, the leading automotive and industrial lubricant manufacturing company in the country, has launched an industry-first Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral programme in India to help automotive dealerships reduce their carbon footprint.*

Pratham Motors - one of Bengaluru’s leading automotive dealerships will become the first Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral dealership by offsetting 100% of its operating emissions across all its 12 sales and service locations. Castrol has supported Pratham Motors in this endeavour by estimating its current annual carbon footprint and become carbon neutral by offsetting emissions from all its operations including demo and courtesy cars, electricity consumption in workshops and showrooms, as well as business travel. In addition to this, Pratham Motors will offer its customers the option to drive carbon neutral for 10,000 kilometres by neutralizing their vehicular carbon footprint. Castrol has offered this programme with support from BP Target Neutral.

Through this initiative, Pratham is offsetting 1,459 tonnes of CO2e**, equivalent to an individual taking over 8,600 flights from Bengaluru to Mumbai.

On the occasion, Samar Bhasin, CEO, Pratham Motors, said, “Recognising overall environmental challenges, we at Pratham Motors are keen to cut down our emissions. We are delighted to be working with Castrol India to reduce the carbon footprint of our dealerships and that of our customers, helping us play our part in contributing to a sustainable future for the next generation.”

Commenting on this announcement, Omer Dormen, Managing Director, Castrol India Limited, said, “Our strategy is to support the transition to a low carbon environment by introducing products and solutions which help reduce carbon footprint for our customers. We are proud to launch this industry-first sustainability initiative in India. The Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral programme enables Pratham Motors to take a leadership position on their environmental impact and to help their customers offset their emissions.”

Along with this unique offer, Castrol continues to supply its Carbon Neutral range of products - Castrol EDGE PROFESSIONAL and Castrol MAGNATEC PROFESSIONAL to its franchisee workshop customers in India.

Aster to Set-Up an Innovation and Research Hub in India and GCC

Highlights

* Dr. Satish Prasad Rath has been appointed as Chief of Innovation to lead the Aster Innovation and Research Centre
* The Centre to be based in Bangalore, would be introducing the latest advancements in healthcare science, while encouraging research through collaboration with start-ups, academia and industry partners

To improve the ultimate health outcomes for patients and enhance their overall experience at all its facilities, Aster DM Healthcare is setting up Aster Innovation and Research Centre in GCC and India. Over the next three years, the Centre will aim to achieve key milestones like introduction of innovative solutions for home healthcare with focus on digital primary care, establishing a rich eco-system of digital health partners from start-ups to academia and starting digital health/ informatics/ medicine as a stream for future healthcare workers.

Joining as the Chief of Innovation, Dr. Satish Prasad Rath, MD would be spearheading the innovation projects that will aim to leverage the advances in digital health research like AI, cognitive psychology, blockchain, IOT, behavioral economics etc. and on-board start-ups which can drive innovation. The Centre will also work in a collaborative manner focusing on applied research with academia, startups and industry partners.

Aster DM Healthcare has the unique positioning of providing an integrated service offering that ranges from primary care (aster clinics and pharmacy) to quaternary care, along with an in-house research center as MIMS Research Foundation and a medical college as DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (DMWIMS). The new center will accelerate various ongoing innovation projects being led by different units, like the diabetes, sepsis and dialysis projects; and will be working to introduce an interdisciplinary subject on digital health/medicine at DMWIMS.

The founder chairman and managing director of the group, Dr Azad Moopen, said, “Our main objective as an organization has been to ensure that quality and affordable healthcare is easily available at the doorsteps of our patients. With evolving patient needs, it is essential to focus on digital transformation of healthcare because of advances being made in various areas like AI, genomics and molecular biology which is likely to produce a quantum leap. We are confident that under the leadership of Dr. Satish, Aster Innovation and Research Centre would play a major role in introducing the most advanced and unique patient care solutions and enable our organization to become one of the most technologically progressive healthcare providers in the world.”

Dr. Satish Prasad Rath, a post-graduate medical doctor and a digital health scientist with multiple patents, comes with rich experience of leading research and innovation labs at Xerox Innovation Group, Wipro Technologies, Intel labs and Philips Research. He is also an adviser to several start-ups and incubators.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Satish said, “Today, there are many inefficiencies being experienced by the healthcare industry. We can reach far more people who are not able to access health system due to geography, knowledge or affordability constraints. Leveraging AI, IoT, blockchain, cognitive computing we can address these difficult segments in sustainable way. We will be tapping into the rich evolving entrepreneurship culture of start-ups and academia in a collaborative model whom we can curate and co-create for better future.  Simultaneously we will be preparing the digital health aware/ empowered workforce in collaboration with govt and teaching institutions.”

Emerson Global STEM Survey Shows Growing Interest in STEM Careers but Decline in Encouragement

As the world faces a skilled workforce gap, the fifth annual STEM survey by Emerson revealed a generational gap in STEM careers. While nearly all Indians (84%) believe that STEM jobs are important to the country’s future, fewer Gen Z respondents said they felt encouraged to pursue a STEM-based career than Millennial respondents, which make up the generation above them.

With technology accelerating many industries, the skilled workforce gap is growing. To keep up with the rapid pace of change, workers are increasingly looking to their employers to address these upskilling needs: 87% of Indian respondents said they believe companies should do more to train and prepare their STEM workforce.

“As automation and technology become truly ingrained in our workplaces and schools, there’s a growing urgency to prepare the workforce with STEM skills that will be critical to the continued strength of the global economy,” said David N. Farr, chairman and chief executive officer for Emerson. “We want to lead the charge in making strategic investments that will provide both the current and future workforce with the right skillsets to succeed in one of the many tremendous careers made available through STEM – from software development to new technologies in manufacturing.”

There is widespread support of boosting STEM awareness and education: Most of India (96%) say they consider STEM education important to the country’s future. Despite this universal understanding of the importance of STEM, fewer than half of respondents believe their country is ahead in STEM education. In addition, half of respondents said STEM careers in India continue to experience a gender gap, with women lagging behind. Creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to pursue STEM can help address this perception in India – and contribute to growing the global STEM workforce.

Empowering more qualified workers of both genders to explore a STEM career could have a significant impact on the workforce gap. Of the women who said they were not encouraged to pursue STEM careers in India, 41% attributed this missed opportunity in the workforce to stereotypes that STEM careers are for men, and 44% highlighted a lack of female role models in the field.

“Emerson’s global survey shows the vast headroom for growth in India’s STEM workforce, as well as the number of opportunities at hand to prepare the next generation of Indian innovators,” said Rinita Laskar, director of human resources for Emerson India. “We strive to amplify the voices and opinions of our growing number of women engineers at Emerson and equip them with the necessary skills and resources to excel.”

Routematic Hosts Wheels 2.0, Opens Discussion on Present and Future of Corporate Transportation in India

Underlining its commitment to providing the best mobility solutions, Routematic, India’s fastest growing Corporate Mobility Company, recently hosted Wheels 2.0 conference on corporate transportation. The event was held at the Courtyard by Marriott, Bellandur, Bangalore on August 23, 2019. It was aimed at examining the current state and future opportunities of the fast-growing employee transportation sector in India.  It brought together corporates, technology partners and policymakers to share best practices on multiple tracks of corporate mobility. The event also featured several industry-leading organizations including Ocwen, Accenture, ANZ, Infosys, Wipro, Mindtree, IBM, KPMG, Capgemini, Cisco, Dell, Deloitte, Flipkart, Honeywell, Mercedes Benz, TCS, and HCL.

Dr. NV Prasad- IAS, MD, BMTC graced the event as the Chief Guest and presented a keynote address on mobility-related issues amid rapid urbanization. The event facilitated several panel discussions around topics including the role of corporate transportation in urban mobility, public-private partnerships, technology innovations to risk management, women safety in corporate transportation etc. Some of the panellists, who talked on these issues were Vijay Ramachandran-Deloitte, Padmanabhan Kannan- Mindtree, Merril Cherian- KPMG, Roopa Divakar Moudgil-IPS, Ravi-SP, Deepti Singh- IBM, Abhishek Kumar- Ocwen Financial Solutions.

Speaking on the role of technology in mobility, Spokesperson of Routematic, Mr. Surajit Das, Co-founder and CEO said, “The need for rethinking the role of technology in Corporate Commute is immediate. With the advancements in AI and Big data, today technology can solve largescale problems like peak traffic congestion, carbon emission, commuter safety and improve cost efficiency. The event is a great way to to learn from industry experts and create a consensus on the future of Corporate Mobility. There needs to be a shift in the mindset of corporates towards employee mobility, which will promote shared mobility and alleviate the problem of traffic congestion and emissions. In short, corporate mobility powered by technology is the future.”

Routematic also gave an informative presentation on corporate transportation as the key to the government’s electric vehicle (EV) vision. Considering the rising number of internal combustible vehicles and thus rising carbon emissions, the Indian government is aiming for 100% electric mobility by 2030. As corporates start adopting sustainable employee mobility policies by encouraging the adoption of EVs, they can power the pursuit of a greener India. This and other insightful discussions made Wheels 2.0 a massive success, leaving attendees with deeper insights into the corporate mobility landscape.   

Microland Unveiled a Visionary Plan for Enabling Technology to do More and Intrude Less

During a press event today, Pradeep Kar, Founder and Chairman, Microland, noted his company’s 30th anniversary by announcing a visionary plan for the years to come. By providing infrastructure that is secure, reliable, and predictable, Microland enables businesses to optimize internal processes, interact with clients in innovative ways, and increase the productivity of their employees. Microland’s suite of services is designed to make humans’ relationship with technology more harmonious: Technology does more and intrudes less.

The new suite of services meets Microland clients’ rising demand for advanced Automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IIoT, Cloud, and Cybersecurity. Many of these clients are members of the global Fortune 500 and perceive the application of technology as a key competitive advantage. As the premier infrastructure technology provider for enterprises across the world, Microland has been investing steadily over the last half decade to secure the talent, skills, tools, and frameworks necessary to re-invent itself - staying ahead of the curve even as the rate of technological change increases exponentially. Thanks to this investment, Microland is regularly sought out and recognized by its clients for expertise in IT (Information Technology)-OT (Operations Technology) convergence, embedding automation at the heart of delivery and providing best-in-class end-user experiences.

“We have laid the groundwork for the next stage of our journey,” Kar explained to an audience of        media, clients, partners, and employees. “We’ve made significant leadership additions and doubled-down on our partnerships, innovation labs, and global delivery hubs in India, Middle East, UK, and US.  As infrastructure moves from the back office to the edge to being the hub of Automation, AI, and Machine Learning, Microland’s extreme focus on delivering infrastructure that is 100% reliable 24/7/365 is directly connected to how our clients show up in a digitally engaged world. I’m pleased to say that as the premier technology solutions provider making digital happen for enterprises around the world, Microland is well-positioned for the future.”

Ashish Mahadwar, Microland’s President, Global Sales & Marketing explained, “Today, as infrastructure blends with Automation and IIoT, Microland has the agility and innovation to ensure our clients’ embrace of AI, Automation and IIoT is predictable, reliable, stable, and industry-leading.”

Underscoring its commitment to supporting modern digital needs, Microland’s Chief Technology Officer, Robert Wysocki, noted that, “Microland has observed the steady trend of infrastructure becoming a commodity and the growth of Cloud. We are now innovating and partnering around AI, Automation, IIoT, Machine Learning, and Cloud as well as setting new benchmarks in Cybersecurity that allow us to support complex windfarms and intelligent factories for leading enterprises.”

“A System Integrator for today’s IIoT ecosystem requires a team with strong IT-OT skills to securely deliver business outcomes and ROI. We believe that with the investments and alliances that Microland has made in the recent years, it is uniquely positioned to be the preferred IIoT services partner for global enterprises,” said Manjanath Nayak, Senior Vice President and IIoT Leader of Microland.

With a 30 year legacy in infrastructure management and its proven global expertise, Microland is betting on its Indian heritage and fanatical client-centric culture to deliver a new breed of predictable, reliable and stable services. It is making digital happen.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Brings Safe and Clean Drinking Water to More Villages in Karnataka

Highlights

* Total of 37 water units are installed since 2012 [one in Varanasi, one in Vaishali and remaining spread across Bangalore, Mandya and Ramanagara district]
* Out of 37 water units, 22 are conventional and 15 are high tech
* Toyota installed water purification unit has four differential dispensing modes to achieve right use of such economical water source ensuring no water loss, negative ion water for medical purposes and high standard water for domestic use
* Ultra filtration along with six stages of purification; Efficient wastewater management
* Toyota has so far delivered clean water to over 238000 villagers covering 226 villages across India

In line with its sustained commitment towards its mission to aenhance health, sanitation and hygiene in the local communities, Toyota Kirloskar Motor today inaugurated community based water purification units at Sidaganahalli, Bychapura, Hosahalli, Shambudevanahalli and Thimmasandra in Magadi area taking the total number of such units to 37. With this, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has installed a total of 37 water units since 2012 [one in Varanasi, one in Vaishali and remaining are spread across Bangalore, Mandya and Ramanagara dist] catering to around 2,38,000 beneficiaries in total.

The newly set up unit has a 1,000 liter per hour capacity accompanied with a minimum 6-stage purification system dispensing around 5,000 to 6,000 litres of water per day. With a first-ever advanced feature - Water Quality Standards & Consumption Data Display, the client can easily access from their location without visiting the site to assess the filtration quality standards of the water [TDS, PH contents] for delivering the high standards of purified water to the community members. Also, the advanced app based filtration system will provided water consumption data on daily basis to ensure the cause reaching the affected.

In addition, the installed unit is equipped with solar system, power backup, wastewater management, The wastewater generated will be discharged into the recharge soak pit after ensuring compliance to waste water quality standards thus ensuring no water waste efficiently contributing to recharging the aquifer. The uniqueness of this initiative has been the assessment & installation of the water purification unit in such identified location which not only caters to the general public for domestic purposes, but also specifically catering to the ailing patients at the Health Care Centre whose water requirements would be more specific to medical needs for healthy recovery & further prevention of possible water borne diseases.

The advanced technology “Negative Ion Water” dispenser cater to the specific needs of the Hospital located near the water unit largely benefitting the patients who require alkaline water which neutralizes the body acidity, thus help restore vital minerals in the body for healthy recovery. Such mineral reserves in the water boosts the immunity in the body and resist diseases. Also, the cost of water consumption at the hospital will reduce to bare minimum, while they were sourcing such water at exorbitant price of appx. Rs. 150 – Rs. 300 per litre on an average. Such water can be dispensed from Toyota installed water purification unit at mere cost of Rs. 1 per litre, which is just 2% of the total cost spent by the hospital for such water standards

Toyota has been able to effectively support the affordability of required quantity & quality of water by contributing towards reduction of 98% of the total cost for such water being sourced through other vendors. .

Sharing his thoughts on this initiative, Mr. A Manujnath, MLA Magadi Constituency said, “Access to safe water and sanitation plays a vital role in ensuring good health and prosperity of the communities. We are happy that responsible corporate organizations like Toyota Kirloskar Motor are actively addressing the complex issue of lack of safe and affordable drinking water in rural communities.  Such dedicated support from companies in delivering sustainable projects will help cater to the requirement of regular supply of clean water and also eliminate water borne diseases.”

Commenting on the new units launch, Mr. Naveen Soni, Vice President - Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Proper access to safe and affordable drinking water has been a critical issue in India especially in semi urban and rural areas. Rampant pollution, dumping of sewage waste and abuse of the rivers has rendered the water sources unfit for use. Poor hygiene and unsafe water are responsible for 90 per cent of worldwide diarrhoeal deaths. It is a real challenge and Toyota being a responsible corporate is trying to cater to the need of safe and affordable drinking water through installation of water dispensing units spread across various regions, with an intent to provide better health and hygiene for the community.

Further to our earlier Health & Hygiene projects in providing safe drinking water, we have enhanced out intervention through this specific initiative by carefully assessing the potential needs of the community in terms of desired quantity and quality of water to meet different consumption patterns through in-built choices of such installed unit, catering to all kinds of requirements from domestic use to medical centres. Our aim at Toyota is to enable maximum outreach of our social contributions through these various integrated and sustainable approaches to make a difference and bring a smile to as many lives as possible.”

In the past, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has installed water purification units at Byramangala, Ramanahalli, Bidadi, Manchanayakana halli, and Harohalli Grama Panchayats in Bidadi region and one each in Varanasi and Vaishali to cater to the drinking water requirement of villages.

Toyota remains committed to bring in more enriching and sustainable CSR projects for the holistic development of the community members, thus effectively contributing to the underlying cause of positive societal development and bring in a change towards transformation of the larger community.

Trend Micro Positioned as a Leader Again in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, today announced that it has been named a Leader in Gartner, Inc.’s 2019 Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms, in evaluation of its Apex One endpoint security solution.

Trend Micro has been named a Leader in every Gartner Magic Quadrant for this category since 2002 and believes this latest recognition proves how its strategy and performance continue to meet the evolving demands of global customers.

“We are delighted to once again be named a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms,” said Wendy Moore, vice president of product marketing for Trend Micro. “Our Apex One solution redefined endpoint security by combining automated detection and response with a comprehensive range of threat defense capabilities, all available from a single agent. From our perspective, this recognition is a testament to our commitment to innovation and performance in an ever-changing market.”

Apex One is powered by industry-leading threat intelligence and leverages Trend Micro’s cross-generational layered approach to security, known as XGen, to apply the right threat defense technique at the right time.

Trend Micro’s comprehensive support for both current and legacy/out-of-support operating systems and global presence combined with localized support to help meet regional regulatory and technical needs are also standout offerings.

The endpoint is increasingly the frontline in the war against cyber-threats and IT teams are overwhelmed by the volume of alerts they must manage. Following the success of Apex One, Trend Micro has launched its XDR solution, becoming the first to offer detection and response capabilities integrated across email, network, endpoint, server and cloud workloads.