The story of a spider web: g2G (grassroots to Global)

When an entrepreneur starting her/his enterprise first time faces the harsh market, s/he might seek refuge in the sympathetic eyes of a well-wisher or choose to cry on the shoulder of a benevolent Samaritan. Much depends upon the diversity of hooks to which a spider's web is tied, whether strong winds or storms can break into a spider's web. More hooks or anchors, fewer chances of breaking the spiders' web apart but then it also needs such support system to be available to an entrepreneur-the web maker.

If such hooks are global, even better.

That is the point I wish to make this week drawing upon the experience of extensive exchange among grassroots innovators from India, Indonesia and 13 other countries from ASEAN region.

National Innovation Foundation and The Honey Bee Network had developed a g2G model implying grassroots to Global and have made a few strides already in this regard. SRISTI had transferred three grassroots innovations to Kenya during the last four years supported by USAID. In the forthcoming RUFORM forum of higher education in Africa, this and other experiences will be shared at this global platform. Later this month, FAO is also organising an international conference on Grassroots Innovations where again the lessons of Honey Bee Network will be shared followed by 4th ICCIG.org (Jan 28-30, 2019) organised by SRISTI at Grambharati, Gandhnagar.

Recently, at the Pushpitek Festival of Innovations organised by Indo-ASEAN platform on Innovations at Jakarta by NIF, DST, ASEAN and hosted by the Indonesian government, I met several innovators whose ideas may be very useful to India. Rina Vidyawati had developed a rotor roaster for both shelled maize or groundnut and other grains. It could roast full pods also. Her design was simple but what was interesting was the way oil was inserted in the roller on the inner surface of the roller. This is something which might be useful for small SHGs as well as other small and marginal farmers. Knowing that magnesium sulphate spray or a liquid application gives relief from joint pains, there was an entrepreneur who was selling well packaged bottled of such a spray. There are so many similar solutions all around us but these are not available so easily here. In Sattvik –Traditional Food Festival, (Dec 22-25, 2018) this time, SRISTI and GIAN will have a workshop of DIY solutions of proven traditional knowledge.

Rio Priaady, another innovator brought by LIPI, the national research institution of Indonesia had developed multiple pipe based system for saltwater circulation for rearing crabs fed once a day and water circulation twice a day. It was easy for women also to manage and was low cost, efficient system. Pauzan Bhari had developed prosthetics made of a composite made of coconut fibre (oauzanbahri@gmail.com). The innovator was using an artificial coco fibre based leg himself. It was low cost, easy to fabricate and very flexible and environment-friendly.

Dr Endang Sukara converted a well-known practice into the neatly packaged product. The vinegar of organic red rice, rich in anti-oxidants and easily usable as salad dressing can help in weight reduction and provides numerous other health benefits. The question, of course, is, as to why Indian entrepreneurs are reluctant to provide healthy processed food alternatives backed up by scientific evidence as often as many southeastern countries seem to be doing.

There were many Indian innovators including young children, college students, farmers and artisans who had presented their innovative products there.

I hope that India will show much eagerness to learn, share and transfer solutions across the region and the world. The time has come when India should aim to become the world's largest provider of open source, DIY solutions apart from the conventional IPR protected frugal solutions. The social network, spider's web so made regionally and globally will provide early head-start for young start-ups from rural and urban areas to showcase their products around the world. Economic diplomacy in the Ministry of External Affairs needs to evolve into Innovation Diplomacy.

The author is founder of Honey Bee Network & visiting faculty at IIM-A
anilgb@gmail.com