KDEM And Hebrew University Business School Sign MOU To Enhance India’s Start-Up Capabilities

* The synergy will explore opportunities and programs to connect start-ups with mentors through a mentorship program in partnership with GOK for start-ups

Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) in its endeavor to augment India’s start-up ecosystem and collaborative innovation, today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Hebrew University Business School, Jerusalem one of the world’s premier educational institutes sign an MOU to leverage Israel’s unique start-up and innovation ecosystem to enhance India’s Start-up capabilities.

Signed today in Bengaluru, this MoU will help KDEM and Hebrew University Business School to create a symbiosis and enhance the ecosystem for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in technology areas such as information technology, start-ups, incubators, and investors, innovation, mentorship, training, rural entrepreneurship, etc. These technologies could be in the areas including, but not limited to Fintech, Rural Livelihoods, Education, Healthcare, Energy, Waste Management, Sanitation, Drinking Water, Environment, Civic Tech, Governance, etc.

KDEM along with Hebrew University Business School hopes to harness and understand the secret of the outstanding Israeli phenomenon called “The Startup Nation” and to implement this learning in the Indian Scenario. KDEM and HUJI shall aim to work together to learn from the nations’ innovation management initiatives for mutual progress. HUJI shall offer an innovation management program to the Government and Corporates of Karnataka on a revenue-sharing model.

Speaking on this important development, Shri B V Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission said, “The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission has been unwavering in its commitment to harness the limitless potential of the state’s digital economy in order to transform the lives of the people. This MoU with Hebrew University Business School would give Indian start-ups a unique insight into the Israeli Innovation Ecosystem that can be leveraged for India’s growth.”

Through the MOU, Indian academicians and Karnataka government-led organizations will get the opportunity to adapt and learn skills to further expertise in the area of innovation and managing start-ups. The MOU will act as an entrance ticket into the world of the Israeli Innovation economy. Hebrew University shall bring ideas from its Executive Experience in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the unique, trailblazing program of tailor-made seminars and workshops that reveal the secret of the outstanding phenomenon called “The Startup Nation” and extend IP access to Karnataka Industry for Engineering and product development to market access.

“It gives me immense pleasure to partner with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission and be a part of their game-changing mission. With KDEM’s reach and our expertise, we are very hopeful of enabling an enriching platform to the ascending start-up environment of Karnataka,” said Mr. Itay Friedman, Executive Director of the Hebrew University Business School. “Hebrew University Business School and KDEM will work together to learn from each nation’s innovation management initiatives for mutual progress,” He concluded.

As a part of the MOU, KDEM to onboard Hebrew University as a training partner for innovation management. The two conducted the Innovation Management Program in June 2022 that opened a window into the secrets of the Israeli business ecosystem and innovation capabilities. The program included first-hand familiarity and training under Israel's most successful and experienced mentors through entrepreneurship and innovation workshops. The business leaders who participated in the program received their certification today.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. E V Ramana Reddy, ACS, Dept. of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Govt. of Karnataka said, “India is known for its collaboration with Israel across several spheres. This newest association with the Hebrew University gives startups and business leaders in Karnataka an insight into Israel’s expertise in innovation, education, and transformative technologies. Karnataka has already taken pole position in the country to promote excellence and innovation and this association will strengthen the K-tech ecosystem to foster the growth of technology and hardware and help us build a formidable platform in the state that will contribute to the nation’s digital growth.”

Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, CEO, KDEM said, “KDEM and the Hebrew University will leverage each other’s unique strengths to proliferate the growth of a world-class digital ecosystem in the state of Karnataka. Our mission is to go beyond attracting investments, Together, we shall strive to work on developing and engaging with the Innovation authority of Israel for imbibing ideas from the “Startup Nation”. Our purpose will be to go above and beyond the purview of this MoU in creating a robust entrepreneur ecosystem.”

The Consulate General of Israel in Bangalore has been instrumental in supporting this collaboration between the two organizations. The Federation of Indo-Israel Chamber of Commerce (FIICC) in Bangalore, India is the official partner of the Hebrew University business school in India.

About Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)

With an objective to increase the share of the Digital economy in the state, the Government of Karnataka set up the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), a Section-8 organization, which acts as a knowledge bridge between the industry and the government. To meet the objectives, KDEM has been working towards the five focus areas, viz. IT Products & Services, BPM & GCC promotion; Innovations & Start-ups; ESDM; Beyond Bengaluru; and Talent Accelerator.

Axis AMC’s Unique Bouquet Of WhatsApp Services Offers 27 Key Facilities

Axis Asset Management (Axis AMC) has extended its wide range of WhatsApp services to enable investors access to 27 key facilities. From completing entire transactions online (except for Lumpsum investments in which case the investor needs to login on the website) to availing additional services like raising a query and tracking it, investors can take advantage of a plethora of services on their fingertips without needing to visit the branch office. Existing Investors have to simply send a ‘Hi’ from their registered mobile number to ‘7506771113’ to avail all the services.

Axis AMC had introduced ‘WhatsApp services’ to its investors in April 2020 with 6 features. Over the course of time, the fund house has launched newer facilities like SIP Registration, Redemption and Switch Transactions, etc. and investors also have the option to communicate in vernacular languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati. Axis AMC’s ‘Connect with US’ is a Live Chat feature wherein investors can speak to relationship managers directly between working hours (9AM to 6PM) except for Sundays and Holidays.

Some of the Salient Features include:

1.       NAV: Investor can check the latest NAV for all schemes of Axis Mutual Fund

2.       Valuation: Investors can check the valuation of their folio

3.       Statement: Under the statement option, investors can access their Account as well as Capital gain/loss statement. An email is triggered to the registered email id. The download option provides the statement directly on WhatsApp itself

4.       Transaction Status: Investors can track the status of their Purchase, Redemption, SIP Registration, SIP Cancellation, NCT on the basis of the mobile and folio number provided

5.       Initiate Transaction: Investors can initiate the transaction for Lumpsum (which directs the user to the website) or register for SIP. They can also redeem, switch, cancel or pause the SIP via WhatsApp

Commenting on the initiatives, Chandresh Nigam, MD & CEO, Axis AMC said, “We wanted to provide an unforgettable experience to investors by ensuring that the frequently used and most relevant services are available on the go. WhatsApp (as a medium of communication) has demonstrated its prowess in being able to connect with the last mile consumer in a mannerism that is familiar and comforting to him/her. We also have implemented NPS (Net Promoter Score) to capture the investor’s feedback; ultimately helping us improve investor experience.”

Investors can also gain access to Non-Commercial Transactional services like Mobile Updates, Email Updates, FATCA Updates easily. Additionally, they can check their KYC status and download all key information online. The QRC Status feature allows investors to understand the status of the last five queries they raised via WhatsApp.

Syska Fans Rolls Out ‘#SaveKiyaKya’ Campaign With Rajkummar Rao

 * The campaign is conceptualised and created for its BLDC fans to create mass awareness about the energy saving aspect

* The actor was announced brand ambassador by Syska in 2020 for its Fans & LED range of products

Syska Group, the leading FMEG (Fast Moving Electrical Goods) brand in India, has unveiled its latest campaign featuring the brand ambassador Rajkummar Rao to introduce its new brushless direct current (BLDC) fans range. The campaign showcasing Rajkummar Rao emphasizes the efficiency and powerful output delivery of the fans that saves up to 60% power.

Conceptualized around the theme #SaveKiyaKya, the campaign aims to connect with Indian audiences by showcasing the latest range of technologically designed BLDC fans. These fans will enable consumers to decrease their carbon footprint, and at the same time will help save money on electricity bills. It’s a multi-film campaign that features a narrative between Rajkummar Rao in a double role depicting a relatable, real-life, commonplace scenario of Indian homes incorporating humour and snappiness. 

Commenting on the campaign, Mr Rajesh Uttamchandani, Director, Syska Group said, “Our newly launched range of BLDC fans are for consumers who yearn for products that save money and power without compromising on aesthetics, each of which is intrinsic to their lifestyle. With our latest range, we hope to go beyond the fundamental requirements of fans as an appliance by improving functionality and design so that our fans can effortlessly integrate into the daily lives of our consumers. With the campaign created with Rajkummar Rao, we hope to encourage brand recall and communicate Syska’s meaningful innovations.”

Commenting on the campaign, Rahul Gupta, CEO & Creative Director, IBD India Pvt. Ltd. said "IBD found synergy in the core values that Raj appeals to and felt he is the right ambassador for a brand that is futuristic, in being a link in the health of the planet and yet being accessible to everyone. He is talented, versatile and widely-loved for his work. This segue of the brand, the artist, and the agency is creativity... by design." 

The campaign has gone live on leading TV channels across Hindi and regional languages in the country. The communication will be amplified through digital touch points and social media to add to the buzz amongst the customers. Remaining ads of the campaign will be unveiled in the subsequent phases to build the brand hype accordingly. In 2020, Syska signed Rajkummar Rao as the brand ambassador for LED & Fans. The brand aims to achieve INR 250 crore revenue in the fans segment this year and looks at being among top five brands in the fans segment in the next two years. 

Quick link to the ad film: https://youtu.be/-3bX2h8JT9k

About Syska – Starting with Guru Nanak Marketing, a company that was involved in the distribution of T-series Audio cassettes, CDs and audio video systems for Maharashtra, the SYSKA Group had only one thing to do: grow. As the SYSKA Group continues to grow and become a domestic leader, their eyes are set to the world as their presence grows in countries across the globe. Empowered by a strong vision and drive, the SYSKA Group grew and diversified into more segments such as LED, Personal Care Appliances, Mobile accessories, Home Appliances and only continues to grow and dominate these markets.

Union Bank of India Signs MoU With JCB India Ltd For Extending Equipment Finance To Its Customers

* The Partnership with JCB India Ltd (JCB) aims to create ‘market leadership position of the Bank in equipment financing’. 

Union Bank of India entered into partnership with JCB India Ltd (JCB) for extending Equipment Finance to the Customers of JCB. Under the partnership Union Bank of India and JCB have mutually agreed to pool their resources together and be associated with each other for mutual benefits. The wider reach of the Bank will help both Union Bank of India and JCB to extend the best offering to the buyer of JCB machines across the country. JCB India is the largest manufacturer of Construction Equipment in India and are part of the Global JCB group from UK.  

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Mumbai by Shri C.M. Minocha, Chief General Manager, MSME, Union Bank of India and Shri Anuj Tomar, Associate Vice President and Head – Retail Finance, JCB India Ltd. 

Speaking on the occasion, Shri C.M.Minocha, CGM, MSME, Union Bank of India, said  “Equipment Financing to our existing and new customers is identified as a 'niche product for market leadership' by Union Bank of India. This tie up with JCB India Ltd will help both Customers of JCB and Union Bank of India with best in class offerings under Equipment Finance Scheme of the Bank.  

MAHE Manipal Trained African Doctors Set To Destigmatise Infertility In Their Countries

* The IVF Embryology training programme is jointly offered by MAHE and Merck Foundation

A cohort of African doctors who completed the MAHE–Merck Foundation IVF Embryology training programme received their certificates from Dr Ranjan Pai, President of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), and Chairman of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) on Thursday in Manipal.

The IVF Embryology training programme offered by MAHE and Merck Foundation aims to change attitudes towards infertility by empowering doctors and teaching advanced in-vitro fertility techniques.

Dr HS Ballal, Pro Chancellor of MAHE addressed the awardees and said “Though both man and woman are equally responsible in determining fertility, it is only the woman who is subjected to the trauma caused due to infertility. This is nowhere truer than in Africa, where infertile couples are ostracised, and medical intervention is sparse”

Monica Baawuah from Ghana who is one of the trainees of the programme said “Infertility is a serious social problem in my country and unfortunately, we are helpless due to limited facilities and expertise to offer IVF treatment to couples. But after this programme we are now confident to manage all complex infertility issues”

Dr Sharath Rao, Dean of KMC Manipal said “MAHE seeks to replicate the successes of this programme in other regions that direly need greater exposure to a healthy outlook on infertility. To address the lack of trained and skilled health professionals in this area, KMC is aiming to scale up the Embryology training program to other countries”

The training programme is offered jointly by MAHE and Merck Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany. Merck Foundation aims to strengthen healthcare resources in Africa by connecting the continent to other countries. Through their partnership with India, Merck Foundation seeks to scale up fertility care capacity in Africa and other developing countries.

Impact Of Poor Muscle Health On Your Body’s Immunity Across India

To lead healthy, wholesome lives, building and maintaining a strong immune system is a priority, more so in recent times. A strong immune system is even more critical for people battling chronic diseases to ensure that mild infections do not escalate into further severe complications. While good, balanced nutrition is a well-known contributor to building a strong immune system, what most people are unaware of is the fact that poor muscle health can also adversely impact immunity. Dr. Irfan Shaikh, Head, Medical & Scientific Affairs at Abbott’s Nutrition business tells us how:

The Connection Between Muscles, the Immune System and Disease Management

Muscles matter as they are well-known for their role in movement, and muscle preservation is vital for maintaining strength and function as we age. There is evidence suggesting muscles play a role in immune function, as well. Muscles produce and release compounds which play an important role in the creation, activation, and distribution of some immune cells.[i] They are also key sources of amino acids used by the body during stress or infection.[ii]

After the age of 40, the physiology of both men and women undergoes changes. More importantly, the body starts to lose muscle mass faster, and that can be as much as 33% of muscle mass loss between 40-80 years old.[iii]

Low muscle mass and inadequate protein intake may weaken the body’s response to an injury or infection, and emerging research suggests loss of muscle mass can contribute to compromised immunity and infections. While it is important for everyone to prioritize their muscle health and prevent muscle loss as they age, those living with chronic conditions need to be even more vigilant. For example, conditions like chronic lung diseases, diabetes, heart diseases etc. can accelerate muscle loss and diminish strength.[iv]

Can a healthy lifestyle help address muscle health concerns? The answer is yes

Exercising regularly – aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week – and eating a well-rounded diet are essential to staying healthy, supporting muscles, and also helping to manage blood sugar.

The benefits of physical exercise are plenty! Research studies have shown that when we include physical activity it helps reduce abdominal obesity, improves our lipid profile; insulin sensitivity, and reduces blood pressure. A chair challenge test is an easy way to test your muscle strength, understand your muscle age and adopt any timely corrective measures. The time you take to do 5 sit-ups on a chair of approx. height 43 cms (1.4 feet) can tell you your muscle age.  For example, for males between 40 and 50 years of muscle age it should take about 6.8 to 7.5 seconds and for females the time taken should be 6.9 to 7.4 seconds to perform the test.[v] To know more about how the chair challenge test works, one can visit www.muscleagetest.in. In addition to exercising and adopting healthy lifestyle habits, incorporating good nutrition practices into daily lives is also essential.

Maintain a balanced diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats

Eat enough protein-rich foods like chicken, seafood, eggs, nuts, beans or dairy. Adults should aim to eat about 15 to 20 grams of protein per major meal. However, adults over the age of 65 may need more protein than younger adults – particularly those with a health setback

Prioritize quality foods that contain micronutrients to support a healthy immune system, such as vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D

It’s not always easy to get enough of all the nutrients needed to adequately support muscle and immune health. This is even more challenging for people with chronic diseases who also need to stay on top of their medications and routines and feel they don’t have enough time to plan ahead when it comes to meals and snacks. This is where individuals can opt for disease-specific nutritional supplements – as part of a healthy lifestyle program – to help close that gap and ensure proper nutrient intake.

Godrej Reveals How To Win The War Against Malaria Through Strategic Collaboration

 ~96% decline reported in Malaria cases in Madhya Pradesh, due to public-private-people partnership

On World Mosquito Day, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) completed over 6 years of collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Government to fight malaria and other vector-borne diseases through project EMBED (Elimination of Mosquito Borne Endemic Diseases). Since 2016, EMBED has run intensive behaviour change programmes that has made a difference to the lives of over 11.5 million people at high-risk from malaria and other vector-borne diseases in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

One of the projects under the EMBED initiative works to support India’s national goal of Malaria Elimination by 2030. We support and supplement the Government of India’s frameworks for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030 and the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination 2017-2022 with WHO support.

The EMBED programme piloted in Madhya Pradesh in partnership with National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. In 2015, Madhya Pradesh was in Category-3 with 25 districts having malaria cases. In 2021, Madhya Pradesh was a Category-1 and was among the top 10 states having low malaria case, and the malaria infection has declined to below 1 case per 1,000 population. During this time, EMBED’s intervention villages accounted for 45% of the state’s malaria burden. The Health Ministry of Madhya Pradesh also expressed their appreciation of the initiative’s technical support and training of ground-level workers.

The progamme has also developed an app for Malaria treatment, which is being used by the Health Departments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh and is available in local languages like Gondi and Halbi.

EMBED programme has been able to bring together everyone in the fight against malaria. The programme collaborated with the MP state health department, committees at district levels, the panchayats, ASHA workers, and the citizens. The progamme bridged the gaps in the existing framework. One example is that the team worked with health department and toured the villages and homes before health department organized fumigation drives in villages. They aligned the villagers and circled public spaces prone to mosquito breeding sites. This helped in effective coverage of the fumigation drive and reduced the breeding of mosquitoes.

The collaborative approach of the programme worked as malaria cases dropped by 96% between 2016 and 2021 and the state is on the path to meeting the goal of malaria elimination. A major win was that 80% of the 469 intervention villages in the four most malaria endemic districts of MP – Alirajpur, Jhabua, Sheopur, and Shivpuri – became malaria-free.

We’ve expanded our efforts and are now working on dengue and other vector-borne diseases awareness in four metro cities in India in partnership with the government.

Dr Prabhuram Choudhary, Health Minister, Madhya Pradesh, said, "Family Health India and Godrej CSR, in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Public Health & Family Welfare, are running project EMBED to eliminate vector-borne disease in 11 Malaria affected districts of the state. This project has participated at the community level in IEC, BCC activities, ASHA, and training of ground-level health workers. The state's health department has received excellent help from project EMBED regarding Malaria elimination as public awareness program. The technical assistance has also played a vital role. EMBED project has developed a Malaria dose chart application for the right treatment of Malaria positive cases which is used by ASHA and ANM workers and is applicable in all 51 districts of Madhya Pradesh. This application is helping in the correct and complete treatment of Malaria. In collaboration with these institutions, the state government has worked on properly using LLIN, fever surveillance, and comprehensive treatment of Malaria patients. It has also helped in the reduction of vector sources. The combined efforts have brought MP from category 3 to category 1 in Malaria elimination in 2021. I hope the EMBED project will be extended in the state in Malaria affected districts so that the State government can continue getting help in eradicating Malaria and Dengue control.”

Sudhir Sitapati, MD, Godrej Consumer Products Limited, said, “Health and poverty are intertwined. Public health problems affect the poor people disproportionately. Wage loss due to malaria and dengue continue to be serious concerns in India. Project EMBED is a proven collaborative model that ensures people are aware, take precautions and seek medical support at the right time to combat malaria. Our role and aim through EMBED is to provide support to the existing government efforts and ensure last mile impact by inculcating behavioural change, encouraging community action to prevent Malaria, and timely diagnosis and treatment. With the success of EMBED we now aim to fight dengue and other vector-borne diseases and protect over 30 million people by 2025.”

Dr Bitra George, Director, Family Health India shared, “With funding support from GCPL, Family Health India (FH India) has supported the State Vector Borne Disease Control Program, Government of Madhya Pradesh in its goal of elimination of malaria by 2030. The behaviour change communication tools and online training module have been adopted by the state and scaled across all districts in Madhya Pradesh. Through the efforts of the EMBED team, Madhya Pradesh has achieved the category 01 status at the national level on the way toward malaria elimination on the occasion of World Malaria Day event held on 25th April 2022 at New Delhi. We are proud of our partnership with Godrej as well as Department of Public Health and Family Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh and continue to strive towards the malaria elimination goal in the state.”

Gayatri Divecha, Head CSR & Sustainability, Godrej Industries and Associate Companies, said “Our biggest learning from EMBED is that developmental problems are interconnected, deep rooted, and require large scale systemic change and innovation. It is difficult to work on these problems in silos. Our successful partnerships with various government entities at the State Health departments, District Collectors, Chief Medical Officers and the people at the Panchayat were an essential ingredient to our success. Without the immense commitment, dedication, and strategic vision of the Government of MP, none of our work with EMBED would have been possible.”

Over 95% of the Indian population lives in malaria-endemic areas. 80% of the cases occur among 20% of the population that live in tribal, hilly, and hard-to-reach areas. Statistics from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program reveal an evident decline of Malaria case load as well as the fatalities. But the data from the World Malaria Report 2021 points out that the rate of decline of Malaria cases has been slower than pre-pandemic. Furthermore, the report highlights that India still shares over 80% of the malaria burden of SouthEast Asia.  As per research, a 10% decrease in Malaria has been associated with a 0.3% rise in GDP. The total economic burden from malaria in India is around USD 1.9 billion and this can be reversed as malaria is an eliminable disease.

About Godrej Industries Limited 

Godrej Industries Ltd. is part of the Godrej group, one of the leading business groups in India and is in the businesses of Oleochemicals, surfactants, finance & investments and estate management. It has substantial interests in several industries including property development, oil palm plantation, animal feeds and agri-products, poultry, personal care and household care, etc., through its subsidiaries, associate companies and joint ventures. 

About Godrej Consumer Products Limited 

Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company. As part of the 124-year young Godrej Group, we are fortunate to have a proud legacy built on the strong values of trust, integrity and respect for others. At the same time, we are growing fast and have exciting, ambitious aspirations.

Today, our Group enjoys the patronage of 1.15 billion consumers globally, across different businesses. In line with our 3 by 3 approach to international expansion at Godrej Consumer Products, we are building a presence in 3 emerging markets (Asia, Africa, Latin America) across 3 categories (home care, personal wash, hair care). We rank among the largest household insecticide and hair care players in emerging markets. In household insecticides, we are the leader in India, the second largest player in Indonesia and are expanding our footprint in Africa. We are the leader in serving the hair care needs of women of African descent, the number one player in hair colour in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, and among the leading players in Latin America. We rank number two in soaps in India and are the number one player in air fresheners and wet tissues in Indonesia.

But for us, it is very important that besides our strong financial performance and innovative, much-loved products, we remain a good company. Approximately 23 per cent of the promoter holding in our Group is held in trusts that invest in the environment, health and education. We are also bringing together our passion and purpose to make a difference through our 'Good & Green' approach to create a more inclusive and greener India.

At the heart of all of this, is our talented team. We take much pride in fostering an inspiring workplace, with an agile and high performance culture. We are also deeply committed to recognising and valuing diversity across our teams.

For more info, visit https://www.godrejcp.com/