As per the prioritization advised by Scouting and Documentation section, VARD section technically scrutinizes innovations (exploratory and accepted category) to ascertain the novelty in each innovation. VARD section conducts a brainstorming session with the internal value chain members from IPR and BD division. Members from GIANs are also involved during technical assessment. Innovations that are potential for improvement and value addition are identified. A prior art search is conducted followed by market analysis through field visits, focus group discussions and consultation with market leaders, entrepreneurs in industrial clusters etc. Some innovations are also either tested in leading laboratories or their efficacy is tested through on-farm trials or in field-testing. On completion of the primary assessment, the innovation is placed before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) for their expert advice. Prototyping support is given in many cases where prima facie case appears to be strong even before these technologies are put up to RAC.

Key tasks performed by the Value Addition Research and Development team with the ultimate objective of commercialization through new business models are:

a) Coordination with public and private sector R & D institutions, academic institutions, private associations, industry clusters and innovation intermediaries.

b) Formulation of strategies, undertaking detailed product planning and prototype development while maintaining a WBS (work breakdown structure).

c) Mobilization of support for product development proposals through the DST's TePP fund and other similar programs / projects either at local or international level.

d) Creation of a contractual value chain through either benefit sharing or through an up-front fee as suitable in the specific context.

e) Establishment of grassroots incubation centers like GIANs or GIAN cells to coordinate regional product development activities jointly with local advisory committees.

f) Recommendation of domain expert members for Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to scrutinize the innovations for their novelty value, cost effectiveness, social impact etc. Further the process of incubation is tracked through an Incubation Advisory Committee (this process needs considerable strengthening) so as to increase the probability of commercial success of the innovations or traditional knowledge.

 

NIF has established community workshops in different rural areas of the country at the premises of seasoned innovators so that other grassroots innovators of the region can have access to fabrication facilities and also learn from the experiences of such innovators. 64 such workshops have been established in 23 states of the country (list below).

Many times some ideas which need trial and error, could not be developed due to lack of dimensional drawings, required for communication with the fabricators. Also many times the innovators don't get it fabricated due to fear of copying by the other fabricators; the community workshop would facilitate the conversion of ideas/dreams into reality. The type of facility provided varies as per innovator's skills and experience, and facilities already available with him.

All the innovators are willing to help other innovators of the region. Meeting cum workshop of regional innovators are organized from time to time so that the innovators can share their experience, learn the tricks of precise and economic fabrication with minimal wastage.

 

View Community Workshop on map

S. No.	Innovator	Address	Preferred language for communication
1	Mushtaq Ahmed Dar	R/o Kreri, Teh. Doru, Dist:   Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir - 192211; Phone no. 08803034868, 09858357847	Hindi
2	Dharamveer Kamboj	Village Damla, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, Phone no.: 09896233637	Hindi
3	Gurmail Singh Dhonshi	Dhonsi Mechanization, Padampur, Dist: Shri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, Phone no. 09414631570	Hindi
4	Madan Lal Kumawat	Village Danta, Dist Sikar, Rajasthan, Phone no.09413162395	Hindi
5	Mohammad Yusuf Khan	Yussuf krishi yantra udyog Fatehpur road, In-front of hotel paradise, Sikar, Rajasthan - 312001, Phone no. 09413856786	Hindi
6	Mehtar Hussain and Mustak Ahmed	Muslim Ghopha, Teh:    Darang, Via: Sipajhar, Dist: Dibrugarh, Assam - 784 145; Phone No. 08011750515, 09678115456	Assamese
7	Uddhab Bharali	U K B Agro Tech K B Road North Lakhimpur, District: Lakhimpur, Assam 787001, Phone no. 09435189642	English
8	Kanak Das	Ward No 3, Mori HiraGaon, Dist: Marigaon, Assam 782105 , Phone no. 09435651701	Assamese, Hindi
9	Karunakanta Nath	Nadatari, Hengalpara, Darrang, Assam -784148, Phone: 9954287077	Assamese
10	H.V. Lalzuimawia	C/o Dr P.C. Biaksiama, House No 37/A, P.O. Vaivakawn, Aizawl, Mizoram, Phone no. 09436361723	Mizo
11	L. Ralte and L. Sailo	P&B Machinery Y 143 A/1, Ramhlun, South Aizwal, Mizoram -796001, Phone no. 09436197191	English and Mizo
12	Imlitoshi Namo	H No 19 A, Arkong Ward, 1st floor, Above Eagle Printing Press, Opp New Market, Mokochung Nagaland 798 601, Phone no. 09774047485, 9856447485	English
13	Birendra Sinha	Muhalla: Belwanwa, Post- Motihari, Distt: Purvi Champaran(Bihar) Phone No. 09835007123	Hindi
14	Amrutbhai Agrawat	Vill-Pikhor, Post-Maliya, Dist: Junagadh, Gujarat, Phone 09429581351	Gujarati
15	Mansukhbhai Jagani	Mota Devaliya, Dist. Amreli, Gujarat, Phone no. 09925447400	Gujarati
16	Gopalbhai Surtia	At. Katholi, Taluka. Sankheda, Dist. Baroda, Gujarat - 391145	Gujarati
17	Paresh Panchal	302, Kalptaru Complex, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, Phone no. 09429389162	Gujarati, Hindi
18	Arvindbhai Patel	92, Pragatinagar Society, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Phone no. 09824623397	Gujarati, Hindi
19	Mansukh Prajapati	Ramkrishnanagar , Panchasar Road Village: Wankaner, Taluka: Morbi, District: Rajkot, Gujarat Telephone: 02828-221156/ 9825177249	Hindi, Gujarati
20	Nattubhai Wadher	Village Erwada Patadi, Dist: Surendranagar, Gujarat- 382750, Ph. No.: 09924055012	Gujarati, Hindi
21	Gopal Malhari Bhise	Shendurni, Taluka: Jamner, Dist: Jalgaon, Maharashtra -424204	Marathi, Hindi
22	Shaikh Jahangir	Supreme Colony Opp. Dutta Dairy, Nr. Dr. Pramod Chaudhary's Clinic Jalgaon, Maharashtra - 425002, Phone no. 9422282938	Hindi, Marathi
23	Roshanlal Vishwakarma	At. & Po. Mekh, Tehsil: Gotegaon, Dist: Narsimhapur, Madhya Pradesh, Phone no. 09300724167	Hindi
24	M. Abdul Razzak	149, Nabigal Nayagam Street, Beebikulam, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu098949052682	Tamil
25	Annasaheb Udgavi	Pattanmoduthotta, Post: Sadhalga Taluka: Chikkodi, Dist: Belgaum, Karnataka, Phone no. 09342212732	Kannada, Marathi
26	V. Jayaprakash	'Kavyatheertham' (Neelikhandi), Komathukara, Koilandy Calicut, Kerala - 673305,Phone no. 09847547486	Malayalam
27	Abdul Kaleem	S/o Md Aziz Mansuri(Arfi), Deoria Khas, Bhujauli road, Arfi Manjil, Deoria, Uttar Pradesh- 274001	Hindi
28	Sukhram Mistry	Doda Toly, Power Ganj, PO: Power Ganj, Lohardaga, Jharkhand - 835302	Hindi
29	Ranjeet Mirig	Post: Gadamunda, Via : Remad, Block: Dhankauda, Dist: Sambalpur, Orissa -768004	Oriya
30	Usman Shekhani	P.O. Bhanupratappur  Dist: Kanker, Chhatisgarah494669	Hindi
31	Raisingh Dahiya	F937, Mahadev Industries, Nr Bharat Gas Go-down, VKI Road No. 14, Jaipur, Rajasthan- 302013	Hindi
32	G. K. Rathnakar	Turbo Turbine Lights Jayapura, Koppataluk, Chickmagalur district, Karnataka - 577123 Phone no. 09448407703	English, Kannada
33	Kshetrimayum Nicholson Singh	Wangkhei Koijam Leikai, Post. Poromat, Nr. Wangkhei Meihouban Leikai, Dist: Imphal East, Manipur 795001 Phone no. 09774263190	Hindi, English, Manipuri
34	Indrajit Balvirsingh Khas	Gurunanak Engineering Works, A/P Soygaon, Tal: Soygaon, Dist: Aurangabad,Maharashtra - 431120, Phone no. 09158917636	Hindi, Marathi
35	Jeetender Mallik	Village : Seenkh, Tehsil: Israna, District : Panipat, Haryana, Phone no. 09813718528	Hindi
36	Sukhranjan Mistry	Village: Dev Nagar (Shakti Farm No. 3),Post: Shakti Farm, Tehsil: Sitar Ganj, Dist: Udham Singh Nagar, Uttaranchal 263151, Phone no. 09917352427	Hindi, Bengali
37	Mohd RafiqAhnager	Village : Adlash-MagamSirguffara, Near Masjid Sharif Post Sirguffara, Dist: Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir- 192401	Hindi
38	Md. Aminuddin Ahmed	North East Refrigirator & Electricals, Darbar Road, Village: Arjunguri District - Sibasagar, Assam 785640	Assamese, Hindi
39	Sadhu Patel	Village- Salepali, Post: Paikmal, District- Bargarh, Odisha 768039	Hindi, Odiya
40	Nabajit Bharali	C/o Mr. RudraBharali, Michamari Gaon, P/O: Michamari, District: Dhemaji, Assam -787026	Assamese, Hindi
41	Milan Jyoti Das	Village and Post: Soneswar, Via: Kamalpur, District Kamrup, Assam -781382	Assamese, Hindi
42	D. N. Venkat	#3/940, Vetrivelava Nagar, Poochiyur, Narasimhanaicken Palayam, Coimbatore - 641 031, Tamil Nadu	Tamil
43	A. K. Mawlong	'ELHANAN', Langkyrding Mihngi, Block IV, Shillong - 793001	English
44	Maibam Deben Singh	Singjameri chingamakha, Imphal west Imphal west, Imphal - 795008, Manipur	Manipuri
45	Imna Meren	Suhoi Village, Dimapur District, Nagaland 797112	English
46	M. Manihar Sharma	Nongmeibung Wangkheirakpam Leikai (Pung Makhong), P.O. Porompat, District: Imphal East, Manipur -795005	Hindi, Manipuri
47	Mihin Yalio Pussang	Limpia, Upper Tajang, Ziro, Lower Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh	English
48	Lakhan Lal Patel	Village- Budeli, PO- Malda, Tahsil- Sarangarh, Dist- Raigarh, Chhattisgarh- 496001	Hindi
49	Kapil Dev Thakur	Vill & Po-Bariyarpur, Dist : Sitamadhi, Bihar 843302	Hindi
50	Dipak Sardar	Sri Krishna Nagar, Sardar Para, Joy Nagar, S 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743372	Bengali
51	Bakul Chandra Das	Village- Basanta, PO- Trimohini, Dist- Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal- 733126	Bengali
52	C V Raju	Hasthakala Nilayam, etikopakka, Yelalamachili Mandal, Vizag, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh - 531082	English, Telgu
53	Suren Barua	Tea Engineering Works, A.T. Road, Panitola, Tinisukia , Assam, 786183	Assamese
54	Durlov Gogoi	M./s Gogoi Innovations , Dhaman Nalani Kapouhuam P/O: Dhaman, P/s Tingkhang, District: Dibrugarh, Assam; 786610	Assamese
55	Madhab Behera	Phuka, Post: Rudayagiri, Dist: Gajapati, Odisha 761016	Odiya
56	Gopabandhu Patel	Kegaon, Block Golanunda, Dist: Kalahandi, Odisha 766036	Odiya
57	Jogendra Patra	Srabana, Post Agria, Block: Betanati, Dist: Mayurbhanj, Odisha 757025	Odiya
58	Pramod Kumar Pradhan	R Padikia, Post : Rattinga, Block G Udaygiri, Dist: Kalahandi, Odisha 762100	Odiya
59	Saruj Chetia	Aichang Innovation and Research, Village: Naojan Gaon; PO: Nitai pukhuri, Dimou, District: Sivasagar, Assam,785671	Assamese
60	Lanu Jamir	Zip Engg and Innovation Centre, 138, Sector A, Lane 7, Aoyimti Village, Dimapur, Nagaland-797112	English
61	Bijoy Tisso	Ram Sing Tisso Gaon, PO: Baghpani, PS: Dokmoka, Dist. Karbi Anglong, Assam 782441	Assamese
62	Mohan Sharma	Kabilpur, Angargoria , Dist : Birbhum, West Bengal -731132	Bengali
63	Maharaj Singh Lodhi	Nayarkheda, Richhavar, Udaypura, District: Raisen Madhya Pradesh - 464774	Hindi
64	Sadasibo Majhi	PWD colony (Dhepasahi), Post Jeypore, Dist- Koraput, Odisha 764001	Odiya

NIF set up a ‘FAB LAB’ in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA in 2009. FAB LAB of NIF is part of the FAB LAB Network for taking advice of the network in the course of design and development. The FAB LAB includes the following machines

1. ShopBot: It is a CNC router for precision cutting in 3 Axis of large sheets of material like plywood, light metals, composites, etc. Apart from making parts of products, we can also make templates of value added products, which can improve fabrication quality in actual material.
2. Epilog laser: It is a machine for engraving/printing on wood, acrylic, plastic (non-metallic) and can remove the anodized layer from the metallic components.
3. MDX-20 milling machine: The machine is capable of scanning and milling. A useful machine for variety of product design tasks, including reverse modeling, rapid prototyping, model making, and small lot production. The machine can also be used for engraving PCBs.
4. Vinyl cutter: It is useful for making flexible circuits. In addition to vinyl signs and graphics it can cut adhesive backed copper foil for PCBs and stencils for sandblasting painting or etching.
5. Variable speed scroll saw: The machine is useful for cutting range of soft materials by varying speed or the tool.

In addition to the above machines, basic mechanical fabrication machines (including lathe, drill, milling machine, arc welding machine, metal cutter, gas welding, wood planner, sheet bending machine, etc) were also included in the FAB LAB to strengthen the fabrication activities in 2012.

In 2014, a 3D printer (size 0.75 x 0.5 x 1.0m, having accuracy of 100 micron and suitable for HIPS, ABS, PLA), TIG welding machine, vacuum forming machine, spot welding machine, etc., were installed in the FAB LAB.

In 2016 the FAB LAB was further strengthened by including CNC Vertical Machining Center, CNC wire cut EDM Machine, Laser cutter for cutting metallic and non-metallic sheets, Mechanical Shearing Machine, Plate bending machine, pipe bender, Power press, Horizontal metal cutting bandsaw, Wood Band Saw and Fly press machine, Conventional plasma cutting machine, All gear head lathe (small size and larger sizes), etc.