CoE IoT Official Blog

In developing countries like India where the population is huge and medical facilities and experienced staffs are sparse, quality and reachable care are quite hard to come by especially for people living in the remotest areas. Hence, making healthcare affordable and accessible to people everywhere is the sole vision of the healthcare ecosystem. Established organizations, as well as the startup community, are relentlessly combining forces to boost parity in medical management.

One of the medical fields that have been receiving increasing attention over the past few years is the discipline of radiology. Radiologists and digital health enthusiasts are working hard to bring a dramatic upswing in the imaging devices & interpretations, MRI, guidelines, and skilled technicians to help the industry meet the healthcare crisis that has mushroomed with the advent of the COVID pandemic.

The radiology of the chest, often referred to as chest X-rays helps physicians to detect and medicate life-threatening ailments. However, these potential tests are extremely time-consuming. The use of feudal machines, techniques, and practices are a few more reasons that have heightened the complexities in this sector.

To resolve the challenges in radiology, Keyur K Mithawala an enthusiast and Researcher at Standford University along with a team of AI and Radiology experts from around the world initiated an open-source code charity project calledAiAi.care. The team has designed a Tuberculosis (TB) screening device that can screen X-rays in 45 seconds. This CAD (Computer-Aided Detection) algorithm can scan Chest X-Rays using Deep Learning models for Lung Cancer nodule detection and registration. Physician, X-ray centers, and other Primary Health Centers (PHC) can now take pictures with their mobile phones, point it at the X-ray and get the screening done in few seconds.

The team has leveraged 700,000 labeled chest X-Rays dataset + Deep Learning to build an FDA-approved, open-source screening tool for Tuberculosis, COVID-19, and Lung Cancer. They are diligently unearthing inventive measures to upgrade their algorithm to screen COVID-19 pneumonia. The tool’s algorithm has the potential of delivering expert-panel-grade TB screening capabilities and is re-trainable.AiAi.care ‘sagile and accurate services can help hospitals in the early diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer.

This open-source organization has also proposed an ML screening tool for lung cancer detection with class-leading sensitivity and specificity that is capable of abridging the obstacle of radiologist shortage and missed diagnosis opportunities. This Machine Learning screening invention is competent of ensuring survival rates by 5X through early detection.The team of AiAi.carehas brainstormed a unique approach of teaching computers the techniques to see X-rays and screen them for the symptoms of Tuberculosis.

AiAi.carehas set its goal on putting an end to the commercial CAD algorithms by applying the latest breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, ensembling, and data augmentation. This furtherance can help healthcare professional shave prowess over diagnosis, treatment and medication. It aims to distribute its service for free to developing countries (Vietnam, India, and Belarus), charitable hospitals, and organizations like WHO.

The company aims to become the world’s first FDA-approved, open-source CAD that will distribute the AiAi.careCAD for free to every emerging nation like India, Vietnam, and Belarus, and also to charitable hospitals as well as organizations such as WHO.AiAi.careteam is driven by the desire to solve the “lottery of birth” which means it intends to help people in remote places with little access to quality medical care get world-class X-ray diagnosis. Furthermore, the company looks forward to collaborating with industry experts, innovative minds, and social groups to work together and make healthcare affordable and accessible to one and all.

“A lot of computer engineers owe gratitude to NasscomCoE, an organization that championed the IT industry and created opportunities for meaningful careers for us all. Today, CoE is leading an even more powerful mission, by encouraging AI innovation for challenging national problems like healthcare and agriculture. I am certain that CoE’s leadership will play a pivotal role in India’s future prosperity” says Keyur K Mithawala, Founder and CTO, AiAi.care.
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For any further information\query you can write to us at Co-innovate@nasscom.in.

AI and Robotics are the two radical innovations that have revolutionized the way industries regulate their operations. The automation of industry has helped companies gain a competitive edge, create new opportunities, and aggrandize efficiency to meet the consumers’ demand. AI-powered Robotics has the potential to aid companies to deal with tedious tasks, minimizing the labor invested for the completion of the errands.

Slowly but surely, Robotics has made its introduction in our everyday life. We do not have to watch a sci-fi movie to see robots as efficient helpmates supporting humans sew up their per diem along with the many intricate chores. Cleaning robots have emerged as programmable machines that have curtailed the burden of cleaning floors at homes, public spaces, warehouses, hospitals, and others. Inventors are constantly striving to further technologize the cleaning robots to shape up the future of cleaning. COVID 19 on the other hand has prioritized the use of automated machines for cleaning and sanitization purposes which led to the rise in the adoption of these tech-enabled robots in the healthcare industry.

Pune-based industrial robotics startup, Aubotz Labs Pvt. Ltd., that sells its products under the brand-name Peppermint is exploring the potential of robotics to change the conventional method of completing mundane tasks like scrubbing and cleaning, making it undemanding and intelligent.This modern, smart and autonomous floor cleaning machine that make cleaning faster, better and fresher. Since we are living in a crisis situation where social distancing and limited human involvement is a necessity, Peppermint is devised to clean large areas without any human intervention,enabling industries to contend with the pandemic.

This leading intelligent housekeeping robotics developing firm was amongst the 12 finalists of the ‘Qualcomm Design in India Challenge’ 2020. The startup claims to have been India’s first intelligent housekeeping robotics maker, upgrading operations across Industries.

“We had been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be part of the Qualcomm cohort. The many programs on product development, business and operations, which were rich in context and information helped us understand and serve the industry even better. We are availing the Qualcomm boards for the telematics program of Peppermint which will be standard fitment on our robots getting shipped across the world,” says RunalDahiwade, Founder & CEO,Peppermint.

This robotic floor cleaning machine’s preventive maintenance sends alerts to the operator, customer and OEM. It is capable of scrubbing dry up to 10-12,000 sq. ft. / hour and is formulized with steam bath features that clean 9.99 % bacteria on the floor and remove oil with a degreasing agent. It is a self-driving machine that changes scrubber pressure automatically for optimal cleaning, takes 5 minutes to drain wastewater and replenish freshwater with Aubotz Docking station D1. It is devised to swap batteries for seamless and continuous cleaning. “Our Core IP’s are around Intelligent Navigation, our patented Triple-action cleaning technology and Remote Telematics System. Our cleaning robots are currently deployed in warehouses, offices, and malls in India and the UAE,” informs MirajVora, Co-Founder &CSO, Peppermint.

The brainchild of RunalDahiwade and MirajVora, Peppermint has received the “Nidhi Prayas” grant from the Department of Science Technology (DST), Government of India which the team used to launch the early prototypes.Venture Catalysts, an integrated incubator, invests $250,000–$1.5 million in early stage start-ups.

Peppermint is all set to go from developing housekeeping robots to pioneer profound robots that can carry out outdoor and toilet cleaning operations with ease. The startup intends to design optimization software to spruce up housekeeping operations across our working and public spaces. It is planning to launch efficient deep cleaning robots for commercial spaces including Hospitals, Industries and Large offices where cleaning will not be demanding but will be managed by Robots and management.

“We have been leveraging NASSCOM CoE across two fronts .i.e. Product Excellence Support for Quality Certification, Production Certification and Technology Tools to streamline internal and external workflows for Peppermint,” he commented.

For any further information\query you can write to us at Co-innovate@nasscom.in.

A technology innovation company, Renalyx is inventing inclusive solutions to confer comprehensive renal care. Established in 2012, the company’s end in view is to curate top-notch programs to reach, care and treat patients suffering from diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, and hypertension. Considering the cost and perplexities in the medical process of dialysis, Dr. Shyam Vasudeva Rao and a team of professionals took the initiative of building an economical and get-at-able renal solution that can ensure better treatment and quality of life. These made-in-India machines are particularly fashioned to conduct early detection of CKD with a point of care solution.

Since diabetes is one of the underlying factors causing deaths in COVID 19 patients. Timely diagnosis, management, and treatment of the disease can save millions of lives. The team of Renalyxis leveraging technology to bridge the gap between patients.

The three neoteric products composed by Renalyx are:

• Point of Care: Renalyx has specially designed a program to clip the screening of diabetic and hypertensive in patients. These strip-based urine tests that are used to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) problems at an early stage are calorimetrically analyzed by an App running on an Android mobile phone.
• Renal Information Management System: Renalyx-Care uses a cloud-based Nephrology Information System to maintain patient records. It educates and advises the patients about treating chronic kidney disease (CKD), helping them to put a pause on its progression from Stage-1 to Stage-4. It helps the patients pick out the right diet, medicines, and counseling.
• Dialysis Machine: The device is created to remotely monitor the vital statistics during the dialysis process as entailed by qualified nephrologists. This program has proven to be beneficial in treating CKD stage-5 (ESRD) patients by a connected dialysis machine.

The cloud-based feature of these solutions allows it to be connected with the mobile app, helping the doctors to have access to the patients’ health records and monitor them from any place and anytime.

This Bangalore-based firm has partnered with some of the leading organizations like IIT KHARAGPUR, PESIT, EHEALTH ENABLERS, Vinyas Innovative Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and BMSIT, SWASTHYA MED – C. In its incredible nine years of existence, Renalyx has won many accolades and significant media attention. It secured second place for Innovation by Indian Innovation Growth Program for the Year 2015 which was jointly conducted by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and Lockheed Martin Corporation. It also won an award for Technology Innovation (2015-2016) by the Government of India, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers for the Dialyser development project along with I.I.T. Kharagpur. The company has successfully attained ISO 13485 & CE Certification.

Renalyx has recently inked a Techno commercial agreement to exclusively manufacture and market the Hemodialysis machine with Bharat Electronics Bangalore a Govt. of India enterprise in early 2021.

“Our mission and vision are lucid. We aim to help people lead a quality life by enabling trouble-free and affordable dialysis treatment through our nonpareil renal care solutions and measures. We aim to expand and build a passionate team that nurtures professionalism, skills, and ethical standards,” states Dr. Shyam Vasudeva Rao, Founder & Director, Renalyx.

The future Renalyx envisioned, is inclined towards creating innovative and inclusive solutions that are cost-efficient and delivers comprehensive renal care. The team has set its sight on constantly enhancing the potentiality of the solutions and innovate devices to meet the evolving requirements and expectations of the customers.

“Our experience with NASSCOM CoE has been an interactive and interesting one,” says Dr. Shyam Vasudeva Rao, Founder & Director, Renalyx.

For any further information\query you can write to us at Co-innovate@nasscom.in.

COVID-19 pandemic brought to fore the long-standing gaps in the Indian healthcare industry.  The country endured a tough time in meeting the challenges caused by the critical shortage of ventilators particularly during the second wave, one of the main causes that spiked the mortality rates. In such an uncertain environment, the nation witnessed a promising collaboration between industry giants, innovative startups and the government to fill in the gaps prevailing in the healthcare industry. Medical innovation on the other hand has been extensively promoted to beget effective solutions which can support hospitals and healthcare providers in the battle against COVID-19.

Biodesign Innovation Labs, a startup associated with Center of Excellence – IoT& AI, which is a joint initiative of MeitY and NASSCOM, came up with a frugal yet potent innovation called RespirAID- a smart life-sustaining automated respiratory assist device. It is a reliable, affordable, adaptable device that can be used in emergency care, transport ventilation, ambulances, post-operative care, and intraoperative care. It played a vital role in supporting ICUs during the shortage of sophisticated ventilators. It proved of great help during the second COVID wave in India as it helped many hospitals manage patients by maintaining the vitals with high FI02 and PEEP requirements, saving the lives of patients.

How does it help!

• RespirAID aids the primary function of ARDS patient management.
• Its UPS enables trouble-free mobility of the patient within the hospital as well as during examinations & surgeries.
• The safety alarm system draws the attention of the caretakers during an emergency
• The device displays real-time breath rates, tidal volume, inspiratory/expiratory ratio, peak inspiratory pressure that empowers operators to make quick decisions and PEEP.

An automated-portable breathing support system, RespirAID employs a ventilation strategy known as positive pressure mechanical ventilation andto monitor the crucial respiratory parameters. Patients with a higher risk of lung collapse can find solace in RespirAID. It will potentially save thousands of lives.

The passion to leverage technology to root out the loopholes in the healthcare system inspired tech-savvy siblings Adithya Pasupuleti and Gautham Pasupuleti establish Biodesign Innovation Labs- a medical device and healthcare technology company focused on developing innovative yet affordable medical tech solutions that can save lives and improve the quality of life for all.

“With our products RespirAID, ResPAP and other life-giving solutions we intend to save millions of lives around the world. We have one goal and that is to diligently work towards building an ecosystem where patient care is cost-effective, within reach, and downright,” says GauthamPasupuleti, CEO & MD, Biodesign Innovation Labs.

The unique characteristics of this tech-driven medical device have stirred a buzz in the hospital industry. RespirAID’s efficacy of bringing about an equilibrium in the medical sector has bagged Biodesign Innovation Labs humongous appreciations and honours. Both public and private hospitals across the country have deployed their products on a pilot as well as a commercial basis. It owns a solid customer base consisting of enterprises from the private sector, government, NGOs, CSRs and channel partners. Remidio is one of the partner companies of Biodesign Innovation Labs, collaborating for the mass manufacturing of ventilators.

Biodesign Innovation Labs has accomplished several milestones since its inception in 2017. It made it to the top 10 of the shortlisted startups in the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge 2019 cohort, bagged the BIRAC BIG Grant & Nidhi Prayas Grant, declared a finalist in challenges like Ayushman Bharat PM Jay & Tata Social Enterprise Challenge and won the CAMTech Awards. It has recently won the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021- Pandemic Response Prize of USD 50,000.

“We are fortunate to get the opportunity to work and evolve under the mentorship of industry leaders who share the same objective of making healthcare accessible and affordable and develop lifesaving innovations and technology,” he adds.

Biodesign Innovation Labs envisions a strategic innovation roadmap where it aims to persistently invent lifesaving solutions to shape the future of the healthcare ecosystem. Using innovative measures the company anticipates revamping respiratory care, critical care, and emergency care and axe out the pitfalls of the healthcare industry, in India and abroad. In a word, the team is marching towards its goal of building value for its customers and aggrandize the quality of care, making healthcare accessible & affordable.

“NASSCOM CoE has provided us great support with connections to industry members such as AstraZeneca (Bangalore). We developed several other connections which were important for us in terms of collaboration and for our business. We are very grateful for their facilitation support and mentorship,”

For any further information\query you can write to us at Co-innovate@nasscom.in.

John Hagel, a well-known management consultant and author has rightly said that if we use the robotics technology correctly we might not only be able to evolve a form of work that taps into our uniquely human capabilities but restore our humanity as well. As we mull over this catchphrase, we realize that the inception of robotic solutions has made industrial operations a lot more comprehensive and accessible than before. Industry experts are making every effort to bring about a correlative understanding between robots and humans to strengthen the precisions, workability, durability, and versatility. These modern requirements and innovations have equipped worker’s safety and boosted industry endeavours to a great extent.

Tanuj Jhunjhunwala and Vineet Upadhyay are two hard-core marine robotics enthusiasts who took a keen interest in leveraging robotics technology to create a paradigm shift in underwater inspections. They have conceptualized the idea of using indigenously manufactured and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to support the underwater robotic inspection and survey solutions for industrial sectors in India. Their passion for technology and innovation incited them to establish Planys Technologies-an IIT Madras incubated company that provides submersible robotic inspection and survey solutions.

The duo along with a powerful and adroit team have framed disruptive, perceptive, and cost-effective marine robotics by amalgamating the unique underwater Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and AI-enabled post-inspection analytical digital reporting dashboard. The company’s unmanned inspection solution supports HD marine videography, murky water inspection,Environmental Monitoring, Archaeological Survey, robotic cleaning and others. Through Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Ultrasonic, Magnetic, and SONAR sensors the company offers its clients unique insights into the definitive health of underwater structures.

Planys Technologies emerged as the first runners up in the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge 2020- an initiative by Qualcomm that encourages design houses and product companies to invent useful and innovative hardware product designs incorporating Qualcomm SoCs pl and technologies.

“It was an honour to be selected and work with a tech giant like Qualcomm. The cohort had several innovative startups from different sectors. We worked with Qualcomm’s technical team to develop the IOUT solution. The program was meticulously organised despite COVID challenges. They also organised some highly informative workshop sessions by professionals. Overall a great platform boosting the Make-In-India initiative,” states Tanuj Jhunjhunwala, Co-Founder, Planys Technologies.

For the time to come, Planys Technologies is laying the groundwork for its future endeavours. The team is thought showering ideas to formulate revolutionary NDT techniques and products that have the power to further change the status quo of underwater inspection. They aim to further strengthen their presence overseas and explore international opportunities. The company is all geared up to set-up offices in different regions of India and abroad and widens its footprints across the global market. The company has extended its services to Ports/terminals, Oil & Gas, Process Industries (desalination, power, and chemical plants), Desalination/ Power, and Dam & Bridges – India’s critical infrastructure.

Planys Technologies has grown progressively, acquiring more than 75 customers across India, Europe & the Middle East. Based in Chennai, the startup has launched its operation in Saudi Arabia and Netherlands. Its customer base consists of the state governments and leading big guns of the industry including L&T Shipbuilding, Indian Oil, TATA Steel, HPCL, PSA Singapore, Chennai Port Trust, and several others.

It has raised two rounds of investment, Seed round of INR 1.75 Crores in Jan. 2016 from Keiretsu Forum (Singapore and Chennai) and a Pre-Series A of INR 14 Crores in Jan. 2018 from ONGC, Ranjan Pai, and Kris Gopalakrishnan. Along with financial gains, Planys’ pioneering initiative has secured it several national & international awards & accolades such as ‘Young Entrepreneurship Award 2016’ by Takeda Foundation Japan, ‘Aegis Graham Bell Jury Choice Award 2020’, ‘National Startup Award 2020’, ‘National Entrepreneurship Award 2019; and many more. In five years, the company has delivered 160+ assets,developed six products, filed 20+ patents, and inspected 40+ bridges for a state highways department, few crucial railways bridges across different zones, and few crucial dams in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

“Our one-of-a-kind AI enabled digital reporting has been lauded by several key stakeholders and steadily it is bringing about a shift in the inspection arena to digitalise inspections! This innovative solution by Planys helps asset owners in increasing efficiency and forecast maintenance measures,” Vineet Upadhyay, Co-Founder, Planys Technologies.

The prime movers of Planys Technologies are working towards disrupting the global underwater inspection arena by inventing ground-breaking solutions

“It has been amazing to be a part of the NASSCOM CoE community, we have leveraged the wonderful ecosystem of innovation that they have created.Through their support, we have discovered and strengthened several of our domain capabilities. I believe it is an exemplary phenomenon of the ‘Digital India’ initiative and every budding startup should join hands with them to achieve greater heights,”states Tanuj Jhunjhunwala, Co-Founder, Planys Technologies.

For any further information\query you can write to us at Co-innovate@nasscom.in.

It is an undeniable fact that the COVID situation has pushed technology and innovation over the edge and has set off a disruption that humans have not seen in decades. This era has witnessed the maximum technology utilization and its wide-scale adoption. The disruption caused was indeed a wake-up call for the healthcare ecosystem to expedite digital transformation.

Since tests have surfaced to be the first and foremost step to control the spread of COVID 19, developing rapid and reliable testing tools has become extremely necessary. We have seen the healthcare industry, innovators, technology leaders, and the global community banding together to pioneer technological applications and initiatives to hasten diagnosis and treatment.

A month ago, the DRDO center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) announced the launch of “ATMAN AI”-an Artificial Intelligence algorithm that is capable of detecting the presence of COVID-19 disease in Chest X Rays. DRDO developed this AI-based diagnostic tool with the support of the Bangalore-based startup 5C Network & HCG Academics. 5C Network has successfully deployed ATMAN AI at zero cost across its entire client base of 1000+ hospitals and diagnostic centres in 27 states in India. This cost-effective diagnosis has supported the healthcare providers to accelerate COVID screening and management. Apart from this, 5C has integrated several in-house and partner AI algorithms to create India’s largest Medical AI platform. ~50% of all scans reported on 5C are now AI-assisted.

To help the nation meet the healthcare crisis and deliver fast (Avg TAT of 24 minutes during the peak of the second wave during April and May), accurate and specialised diagnosis to lakhs of patients, 5C Network has come up with many inventive initiatives. It has created a platform called ask5c.com that enables people with mild COVID symptoms to take a second opinion by getting their reports reviewed by a network of experienced radiologists. Patients from across India have sent their scans to 5C for an expert opinion.

5C Network is one of the six startups selected for the First Cohort of the first startup collaboration program on the Edison platform, Edison[X] – Startups powered by GE Healthcare. 5C and GE Healthcare are together moving towards the mission of creating innovative solutions using contemporary technology to address the major healthcare challenges.

“GE and 5C have built a strong synergetic relationship and we have been able to expand our technology and reach with their support. We were already working with GE before and the EDISON experience only strengthened it,” states Syed S Ahmed, Co-Founder 5C Network.

Co-Founded by Syed S Ahmed and KalyanSivasailam, 5C Network has created a niche for itself in the field of diagnostic. It leveraged the strength of the digital radiology network to extend advanced quality radiology services that minimize the TATs (Turnaround times) and cost. The versatile team of the company is working day and night to improve the diagnostic ecosystem by making diagnostic reports timely, accurate and actionable. They are pioneering cutting-edge technologies to support the healthcare system to perform better. The medical technologists, competent and specialized radiologists, and an industry gold-standard structured framework of rigorous clinical audits safeguard the quality and accuracy of the reporting.. The company has saved more than 75,000 lives through emergency reporting, saved 3,000,000 waiting hours, and above 100,000 doctors have without any doubt trusted 5C’s reports.

The AI-powered diagnosticsstartup, 5C Network has created a valuable partnership with leading organizations including ASTER Group, ARM Healthcare, Sehgal Neo, Sanjeevani Hospital, Hopeberry Diagnostics, Yatharth Hospital, Bhanavi Hospital, Moolchand Hospital, and others. After receiving pre-seed and seed funding from India’s leading marquee investors Unitus Ventures, Axilor Ventures, and Ahmedabad Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), 5C Network is now aiming to secure Series-A funding from marquee investors.

The future looks bright for 5C Network. It is diligently putting its time and effort to mould the future workspace for diagnostic. This approach will solve the redundancies in the healthcare ecosystem through digital health solutions. They are also looking forward to venturing into new domains such as pathology, audiology, and cardiology markets

“NASSCOM CoEhas a very important role to play in the Indian Startup ecosystem, and 5C has been a beneficiary. It nurtures early stage companies and ideas and helped entrepreneurs build businesses around technology advantages,” comments KalyanSivasailam, Co-Founder, 5C Network.

For any further information\query you can write to us at Co-innovate@nasscom.in.