In the field of medical applications arising from scientific advances, the Institute's focus has been on Cancer. The Institute prepared a report on research programmes that could be undertaken in a newly established cancer research centre within a specific financial allocation in a year. This was based on review of activities in many other centres in India and abroad as well as visits to research centres in India and organising an interactive meeting.

The Institute organised a study on Indian Systems of Medicine in the Treatment of Cancer. It collected state of the art papers from selected experts ...in the different fields such as Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani. These papers were presented in a specially organised seminar and thoroughly discussed. The proceedings of the seminar were brought out as a publication of the Institute.

The Institute also organised a seminar on Radio Nuclide Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer, focusing on recent scientific advances in the field. Here  also experts from different centres all over the country contributed state of the art papers which were discussed in the seminar.

In the field of Renewable Energy, an important aspect of environment friendly technologies, the Institute has made significant contribution in evolving curriculum in teaching in this discipline at graduate and post-graduate levels. In an assignment from GTZ (Germany), the Institute convened two international meetings in New Delhi in 1995 and 1996. The Institute selected resource persons from UK, Australia and Germany as well as participants from Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. The Institute staff also visited centres in all :these countries and prepared background documentation for the two seminars, each one of a week's duration. Based on the discussions, the background documentation was reviewed. The results of this exercise were I published as a book with the additional support from the Ministry of Non- Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India and widely distributed to the institutions in the participating four countries.

The Institute undertook the assessment of technology status in four countries of the Asia Pacific Region, through the sponsorship from ON-APCTT. Based on desk study, interaction with their Embassies in Delhi, correspondence with leading centres in the respective countries, supplemented with visits to some of the countries and regional ON offices, the Institute assembled technology status reports on Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and the Philippines. These reports have been very well received and appreciated by the sponsors and other Government departments. The Institute also published a brochure on the study of technology profiles and distributed it extensively.

The Institute prepared a report on behalf of the Indian National Science Academy, covering the role of scientific and technological developments in meeting the challenges of Human Settlements in the 21st Century. This report formed the basis of-lndia's input on scientific aspects to the City Summit held in Istambul in June 1996.

The Institute prepared a report for UN-ESCAP on Technology Flows To and From the Countries of the Asia Pacific Region, as part of their studies covering the region. This report was presented by ESCAP in an international meeting organised by them in 1997 where similar reports of other countries prepared by them were presented and discussed.

The Institute prepared and commissioned several papers on Emerging Aspects of Intellectual Property in the context oflndia becoming a member of WTO. It participated in important meetings convened by the Government and later organised a special workshop and discussed some of the newer forms of intellectual property protection. The papers presented with the discussions thereon were brought out as a book by the Institute; it is one of the landmark publications on the topic.

The Institute has prepared a Directory of R&D work in the country covering water supply and sanitation. The report submitted incorporates modifications in the light of the observations from the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment, Govt. of India.

The Institute completed the work in organising an Awareness Programme on Eco-mark. The Institute prepared a report on this meeting and framed three project outlines and had submitted the same to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of lndia, for funding; two were approved for further study by the Institute.

The Department of Biotechnology had assigned the task of preparing a report on Teaching and Training Intellectual Property to Biotechnologists. The work involved compiling data from different countries as special target groups and their areas of interest in different aspects of lPR. The study also identified the specific programmes being followed in leading institutions in different parts of the world. The terms of reference also included identifying institutions in India where such programmes can be started. A survey of the current status in the country was carried out. The project report was submitted by end of May 1998. The Institute has prepared a draft report on the measures adopted by other countries to accelerate their technology exports. This has dealt in particular with a few countries like Japan, Korea, Australia and UK and compared their with the measures adopted in India. The rep6rt was finalised after an evaluation committee meeting at the Ministry. ) Based on the discussions in the Science Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment, the Institute had commenced to bring out a WIST A: 'Urbo- Tech', featuring new and emerging technologies for urban development. It was expected that data on technological developments in this field would be of interest to Ministry of Urban Affairs. However, since sponsorship could not be obtained, this publication has been stopped, the last issue being dated Jan2000. ,) The Institute is interacting with the Ministry of Law, Govt. of India, and the Department of lndian Systems of Medicine. Both are interested in the subject of intellectual property and have sought inputs from the Institute. Law Ministry has invited the Institute to be a member of their panel to examine provisions of law to ensure compliance with in the TRIPS and to examine provisions on Trade Secrets. The Institute has submitted critical inputs to the working groups set up on Intellectual Property under the Chairmanship of Secretary Law, Govt. of India. The final report of the Ministry has now been submitted.

Programmes in the Area of medical Science

The Institute on the basis of the output of its Research and Analysis Team brings out a quarterly update, ie, WISTA: War on Cancer. This is being sponsored by the Indraprastha Cancer Society and Research Centre.

The Institute is pursuing the activities relating to work on preparation of Directory of Medical Services, Privatisation of Medical and Health Care, and Medico-legal Problems in the Context of New Development in DNA Evidence. Specific projects will be framed depending on sponsorship of the work.

Environmentally Friendly Technologies

Tracking Technological Innovation. One regular programme in the area is bringing out a bimonthly technology update, now under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of lndia., The Research and Analysis Team selects important and topical items for analytical treatment and for being published as special features.

The Institute is now bringing out a WISTA on 'Environment Audit', sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Research and Analysis Team has also explored other areas which can be worked on. At the behest of the Ministry, a survey was conducted to assess the utility of this publication. On the basis of the survey, the Ministry is examining the proposal for continuing this publication.

The Institute received approval for bringing out a WISTA on Eco-Mark. The first issue was published in April 1999 and the sixth issue in March 2000. The proposal for continuing the publication is being examined by the Ministry.

The Institute received approval for bringing out the proceedings of the workshop it had organised on Awareness of Eco-mark Programme. This work involves updating the material prepared and also incorporating the points and discussion at the workshop. The proceedings are scheduled etc be brought out as a publication. (The work on the book was completed in April 2000 and released In July 2000).

The Institute was asked by the Ministry of Environment and Forests etc submit proposals for funding on two topics: (i) Estimation of Ground water Contamination due to Hazardous Chemicals and Wastes; and (ii) Abandoned Landfills. The Institute submitted three project proposals on the above subject. One of the proposals titled: Current Status of Instrumentation on the Estimation of Groundwater Contamination has been approved and the proposal will receive fund from WHO. A draft report prepared Wa5 discussed in an interactive meeting held in December 1999 and the final report was submitted to Ministry .The Ministry conveyed its approval of the study to the WHO funded the project.

Intellectual Property

The Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, has assigned a project of compiling a Compendium of Cases in Intellectual Property (patents) which will be of special interest in science and technology. The Institute corresponded with leading law firms in many countries as well as contacted the distinguished members of the Society in other countries. The Institute submitted the report in January 1999 and this was discussed in a monitoring committee and then completed. This report has opened up a wide range of options for new projects and programmes.

The Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, had also assigned another project of analysing Emerging Issues in the Domain of lntellectual Property, in particular Trade Secrets, Trademarks and Designs. Designs and Tradetmarks are protected by specific statutes in the country, but there is no specific Act covering Trade Secrets. In the context of TRIPS all the three are important. The focus was to analyse areas that will influence technology management. A draft report presented to the Ministry was discussed in a monitoring committee meeting in March 2000. The revised report is to be submitted in May 2000.

The Institute submitted a proposal to the Department of Biotechnology on analysing emerging issues in IPR in Biotechnology. The Department of Biotechnology had conveyed its approval. This programme will involve preparing a state of the art paper on five topics: (i) Patentability in Biotechnology; (ii) Plant Varieties Protection; (iii) Patenting Microorganisms; (iv) Broad Patenting in Biotechnology; and (v) Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. A draft report was submitted to the Ministry and an interacting meeting to discuss the report was held at the Institute in January 2000. On the basis of the discussion, a finalised report was submitted to the Ministry completing a very important study.

The Institute is publishing a WISTA on Intellectual Property regularly as a quarterly. The Research and Analysis Team prepares state of the art papers on several items which are presented in the seminars and workshops held in the country; these are published in different issues of the WISTA as Special Features. The Institute has submitted new project outlines to the Ministry of Science and Technology for support.

The Institute had submitted two proposals to the Ministry of Science and Technology, covering: Valuation of Intellectual Property and Case Study on Trade Secrets. The Ministry has approved both these proposals combining them as one proposal in two parts. The work on this proposed project commenced from April 1999 .The Institute has assembled extensive information collected from a very extensive network and has classified it to fit with the different sections of the report. A draft of the cases relating to trade secret has been assembled. The segment relating to Valuation of Intellectual Property has also advanced well and the report is being framed. (The draft reports were submitted to the Ministry in May 2000 and the Ministry will convene a monitoring committee meeting thereafter).

Technologies for Rural Development

On the basis of discussions with CAP AR T , the Institute submitted three project outlines for support:

One was the preparation of WISTA on Rural Technology. After an assessment by a team of experts this was approved. The Institute brought out the first issue in January 1998.

The second related to the evaluation of technologies developed for rural. development. After a meeting with the Institute, CAPART has communicated that they will not be funding this project.

The third one relates to bringing out a journal on Rural Technology. A final decision on this has not been taken.

The Institute participated in an interactive meeting organised by CAPART at Bhopal in which WIST A- Rural Technology was presented and received appreciation. On the suggestion of CAPART, the Institute has modified the cover page of this publication and now it carries colour pictures of rural technology activities.

The proposal for extension of this project is being examined by CAPART. A team from CTD visited the Institute and has submitted its report to CAPART. A decision from CAPART is awaited.