Minutes of the Fourth meeting of the General Body of the Goa State Innovation Council held on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024 at 10.00 am at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Margao, Goa 403602 in hybrid mode.

Ref: GSInC/2023-24/                                                                                                       29/09/2024

Minutes of the Fourth meeting of the General Body of the Goa State Innovation Council held on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024 at 10.00 am at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Margao, Goa 403602 in hybrid mode.

The list of the members and other participants present in the meeting are mentioned below:

Chairman informed that he had invited Rev. Fr. Kinley D’Cruz, Director – Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda for the meeting.

4.0    In the Opening remarks, Chairman formally welcomed the members of the General Body of the Society and the Invitees and stated that the quorum was established, and the meeting was properly constituted at 10:00 a.m. He, then directed the Project Officer, GSInC to take up the agenda items.

4.1                Confirmation of the Minutes of the Third General Body meeting held on 17th September, 2024.

The Project Officer informed that the Minutes of the Third General Body meeting held on 17th September, 2024 were circulated through e-mail and since no comments were received from any members, the minutes were confirmed by the General Body.

4.2                Item no 4.2: Follow up action on the decisions taken in the Third General Body meeting of the Society.

The Project Officer provided a brief update on the progress concerning the creation of the new post for the Society, stating that the proposal has been submitted for financial approval. The Member Secretary informed that consistent follow-up on the proposal is ongoing. The Chairman recommended submitting the file concurrently to the Law Department for approval of the relevant Rules and Regulations. He instructed the Project Officer to continue following up with the respective departments.

The Project Officer informed the General Body that the Utilisation Certificate for the first installment of ₹20,00,000/- had been submitted, along with a proposal for the second installment of ₹20,00,000/-. The Member Secretary assured that efforts were underway to expedite the release of the second installment.

During the third General Body meeting, a proposal was discussed to create a platform for developing a database focused on innovation-based research from various institutions, including Goa University, CSIR-NIO, and others. The Chairman appointed a sub-committee comprising Dr. Krupashankar M.S., Principal of Goa Engineering College, and Dr. Neena Panandikar, Principal of Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda. The Chairman instructed the Project Officer to visit NIT Goa and Goa University to discuss the creation of this platform and nominated Dr. Krupashankar M.S. and Dr. Neena Panandikar to accompany the Project Officer during the visit. The General Body requested that a detailed report be presented at the next meeting.

4.3                Item No.4.3: India International Innovation & Invention Expo (INEX) 2024

The details of the India International Innovation & Invention Expo (INEX) 2024 were reviewed. The event is set to be held from 13th to 15th November 2024 at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, with participation from 12 countries. The Project Officer reported that the press conference for the launch of the INEX brochure took place on 21st October 2024 at the same venue, receiving coverage from major newspapers, TV channels, and social media platforms. Additionally, the Project Officer noted that schools and colleges from North Goa have been invited for the event on 13th November, while those from South Goa are invited on 14th November. It is anticipated that INEX 2024 will attract around 3,000 attendees, including students, innovators, startups, faculty members, and industry professionals.

During the discussion, the General Body was informed that a heritage tour has been proposed for the afternoon of 15th November, with the itinerary planned by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). It was noted that 17 international and national delegates are expected to attend, and all related expenses will be covered by the GTDC. The Chairman recommended including nearby locations such as Shree Mangeshi Temple and the Spice Plantation in Ponda and directed the Project Officer to accompany the guests on this tour. The Chairman also instructed the Project Officer to contact the GTDC to request Goa Government’s canvas bags containing maps and other state-related materials for distribution to the delegates. The Project Officer reported that nine applications had been received for the prestigious INEX Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Award for Promoting and Incubating Innovators and Startups at INEX 2024. The screening and shortlisting process is being managed by IBS Global and the Indian Innovators Association.

Additionally, the Chairman directed the Project Officer to procure around 10 traditional diva lamps as mementos for the delegates, within a budget of ₹1,500/- per lamp.

The General Body has approved a budget of ₹1,50,000/- for INEX 2024. The detailed breakdown is as follows:

Item No.4.3: Progress achieved for the year 2024-25

The Project Officer showcased the overall achievements of the Society:

The Chairman and members expressed their appreciation for the Society's achievements upon reviewing the figures.

3.7                Item No.3.7: Any other Item with the permission of the Chair:

The Project Officer provided details of the scheme Goa Rajya Vidnyanik Puraskar (GRVP), an award initiated by the Government of Goa through the Department of Science & Technology & Waste Management (DST&WM). The GRVP aims to recognize and honor innovators and scientists whose implemented ideas have resulted in impactful innovations with global significance. The award includes three prizes of ₹2,00,000/- each, in the categories of Innovation, Environment, and Societal Impact.

The Chairman directed the General Body members to nominate individuals for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to cover the following expertise domains:

• Chairman of the TAC
• Expert in Innovation
• Expert in Environment
• Expert in Societal Impact
• Project Officer (Member Convenor)

The TAC will be responsible for scrutinizing applications and shortlisting eligible candidates for presentation before the Expert Committee. The Chairman will appoint the members of the TAC. The Expert Committee will comprise a Chairman and two members nominated by the Government, who may be professionals, experts, or recipients of awards for notable achievements in Science, Technology, and Innovations.

It was decided that the proposal for the establishment of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Expert Committee will be submitted to the government for approval through the Department of Science & Technology & Waste Management (DS&T&WM).

The meeting concluded with Thanks to the Chair and all the members/participants.

CHAIRMAN