TIFAC has a wide range of activities – all connected with technology services and delivery – be it Intellectual Property Right (IPR) or preparing the educational institutions for capabilities in high performance computing or Centres of Relevance and Excellence (CORE) in colleges or its most popular Website or Expert Network. DST/TIFAC have a unique advantage of serving the country as a whole primarily through networking cutting across disciplines and institutions. The achievements are updated in this new document.

Since TIFAC has a wide network and knowledge base on Waste Recycling and Management, we are planing to launch a number of projects on Waste, as a part of Vision 2020 projects.

I look forward to a major movement in India to unleash the potential and dormant technological capabilities of Indian institutions, industries and individuals.

Message by Y.S. Rajan, Former Executive Director & Member Secretary

• TIFAC began its contributions from 1989 with sharply focussed technology forecasting and assessment reports as well as techno-market surveys: forerunners of forward looking technology movement in the country. They covered most of the important areas of social and economic significance to the country. The reports provide a vision and options for technology trajectories for industries, institutions, entrepreneurs and experts.

• The reports contain wealth of information and knowledge base for technology linked business opportunities. Incidentally the reports also become a rally point for Indian technology expertise to focus on commercial opportunities – reports generated by Indian experts in an Indian context but with a global outlook.

• Soon, under the guidance of the TIFAC Governing Council and many other experts, the knowledge base led to networked actions in several parts of India. It created a number of Home Grown Technologies and Technology Missions. These innovative technology projects were instrumental in creating a new India, a new mind set. These multiple development led to Technology Vision for India 2020; a unique set of documents showing clearly the Indian stregths, and also a path ahead.

• We had reported about this reality of knowledge network in action in our earlier report "Technology Development: Towards Commericalisation" dated 10th February, 2000. (TIFAC:P: 044). The network is growing wider, deeper and stronger.

• The TIFAC technology development has not only led to commericalisation with competitive strengths but has developed special features of reaching out, which is crucial for customisation. The development has grown further beyond commercialisation to delivery.

• We are happy to share with you glimpses of these new developments with the readers, who have encouraged us earlier, and have given suggestions for new areas of actions.

• We would not be what we but for a large number of persons who are creating and sustaining the knowledge-action-network of TIFAC. They guide TIFAC, help TIFAC and make it reach out and customise. We specially thank of all of them and invite many more partners to take us forward.

We are very happy that this report is being released on Technology Day 11th Mary, 2001.