War On Covid Spurs A Blitz Of Innovation

With low-cost testing kits, drones & fever detection systems, students and startups arm frontliners with hi-tech arsenal

- Gulam Jeelani and Shashank Shekhar

*On Friday, HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ felicitated a team of scientists from IIT Delhi involved in the development of a low-cost Covid-19 testing kit.

* A day before, engineers at the Design Innovation Centre of Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipora, Kashmir, announced the making of a low-cost ventilator prototype.

* A Noida-based startup has developed a portable fever detection system which, once installed in buildings, can automatically detect body temperatures of multiple people even from a 10-metre distance.

START UP INDIA, SHUT DOWN CORONA

The Covid-19 pandemic is sparking a flurry of lowcost but hi-tech innovations in the country. From testing kits to portable ventilators, sanitizer-drones to portable fever detection systems, institutes and startups are coming forward to join the fight against the pandemic.

Minds At Work