India was hit the hardest during the second wave of COVID-19. Due to the delayed distribution network, production and supply of oxygen were constrained. SIIC in collaboration with MSME manufacturers, 15 design partners with startups, came together to address this crisis within 90 days.
Oxygen support created
Oxygen plants setup
Products developed
Successful technology transfer
The set-up Oxygen Plants were installed in tier 2, tier 3 areas, and other rural areas with a primary objective to serve the economically backward people who did not have access to oxygen supply during the crisis. These services were made widely accessible with zero initial asset cost and reduced ICU charges. The critical places where the Plants were set up include.
Watch hereHasan is another backward area in Karnataka with a vast section of people below the poverty line. Hence, installing an Oxygen Plant in this area proved to be a huge sigh of relief to the local people.
Kaushambi is one of the 13 most backward districts in Uttar Pradesh. Hence, installing an Oxygen Plant came as a blessing for the local population.
Motihari is the headquarters of East Champaran district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is one of the backward areas in Bihar. The installation of an Oxygen Plant in the area benefitted the local population significantly.
Under Mission Bharat O2 to serve the critical demand for Oxygen in the country amidst a global pandemic, SIIC, IIT Kanpur launched the Open Manufacturing Challenge in May'21, inviting innovators to manufacture Oxygen concentrators and setting up Oxygen Plants. 10 applicant companies were shortlisted for the challenge, 5 under each manufacturing category, out of the pool of 70 applications and two rounds of screening by the manufacturing experts and incubator personnel. SIIC facilitated community learning, connection with academia and domain experts for these startups.
Read moreIt usually takes months and years to develop a robust and efficient oxygen concentrator and set up an Oxygen plant. However, SIIC IITK devised a process to align the innovative startups and experts with a fast-tracked product development without hampering the quality of the product.
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