5) Description of housing product/service offering: BUIDING CERAMIC PRODUCTS LIKE TILES FOR ROOFING,WALL AND FLOOR TILES,VITRIFIED PRODUCTS,BRICKS AND DECORATIVE ITEMS/WALL HANGINGS AND OTHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING SECTOR AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THUS THE PRODUCTS SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE ECO-FRIENDLY ROOFING TILES WITH ANTI-ALGAL PROPERTIES,LOW-TEMPERATURE GLAZED TILES, LOW COST VITRIFIED TILES,FLY-ASH BONDED BRICKS,LIGHT WEIGHT BRICKS,CHROME-SLUDGE BRICKS.HIGH STRENGTH ,LOW- POROSITY PAVEMENT MATERIALS ARE A SPECIALTY, ALONGWITH ANTI-SOILING ROOFING TILES AND FLUX BONDED BRICKS, WITH SPECIAL PROPERTIES.EARLIER LIFE EXTENDED THATCH FROM DRIED COCONUT LEAVES AS ROOFING MATERIAL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND WIDELY DIFFUSED AMONG WEAKER SEGMENTS THROUGH EXTENSION EFFORTS INVOLVING ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.THE PRODUCTS FROM BUILDING CERAMICS AND ITS VALUE-ADDED APPLICATIONS HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT OF KERALA ,INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT AND TILE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENTAL EFFORTS ,EXPERIMENTAL TRIALS AND PRODUCT DIFFUSION.THIS IS ALSO BEING SUPPORTED IN THE PLAN OF ACTION AT CSIR FOR THE SOCIETAL PROGRAM FOR THE ELEVENTH PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENTAL- CUM-PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS.THIS IS ALSO PART OF THE SOCIETAL INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS AT RRL,TRIVANDRUM FOR EXTENSION AND DIFFUSION AMONG SOCIAL SEGMENTS BASED ON ECOFRIENDLY AS WELL AS LOW COST CONSIDERATIONS AND INNOVATIVE NATURE OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE MARKET FACILITATING PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION IN INDUSTRY WHICH HAS BEEN FACING A CRISIS. THUS IT CONTRIBUTES TO INDUSTRIAL RENOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT AS WELL AS ECONOMIC BOOST TO TRADITIONAL SEGMGNT THROUGH MODERNISATION,ECONOMY AND MARKET VIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS.

6) Description of innovation: THE EXISTING PROGRAMS ARE ALL MAINLY FOCUSSED ON LOW-COST MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES USING KNOWN METHODS FOR HOUSING STOCK FOR THE MARGINALISED SEGMENT. SOME ARE MATERIAL FOCUSSED,SOME MANPOWER AND SOME FINANCE.THE BURGEONING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL WASTES AND AGRO- WASTES AS WELL AS THEIR POTENTIAL FOR VALUE-ADDED APPLICATIONS IN INDUSTRY IS NOT REALLY ATTENDED TO IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER ,THOUGH SOME PIECE-MEAL AND FRAGMENTED EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE FORMAL AND NGO SEGMENTS,MOSTLY IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE OF THE ORGANISED EFFORT WITH RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY SUPPORT AND SPONSORED BY GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY FUNDING.THERE IS ALSO MISSION MODE SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH BASED PRODUCTS AND ITS DEVELOPMENT ,ENGINEERING AND EXTENSION/DIFFUSION IN INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY.THE RESEARCH AGENCY WILL HAVE ITS RESEARCH PRODUCTS ALREADY DEVELOPED AT A BENCH-SCALE AND WHICH ARE BEING PROVIDED FUNDING SUPPORT AS A RISK FINANCING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THE DEMONSTRATION TRIALS ATTRACT INDUSTRIAL ATTENTION AND COMMERCIAL INTEREST,PROMTING INDUSTRIAL INVOLVEMENT FOR INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT,TRANSFER AND DIFFUSION.THIS MODEL IS A CULMINATION OF YEARS OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITY AT THE LAB-LEVEL AND ITS INTERACTION WITH INDUSTRY AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING NOVELTY AND VIABILITY FOR RELATIVELY LOWER COST AND ECOFRIENDLY APPLICATIONS IN MIND IN EMERGING MARKETS FOR CAPITALISATION BY INDUSTRY THROUGH DIVERSIFIED PRODUCT PORTFOLIO OF AN INNOVATIVE NATURE.SINCE MORE AND MORE OF ACTIVITIES IN THIS SECTOR ARE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE MODEL ASSUMES SIGNIFICANCE THROUGH THE ECO AND ECONOMY ADVANTAGES TOGETHER WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL BY WAY OF PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION AT A TIME OF DIFFUSED INDUSTRY WIDE GROWTH, THAT WAS POSING PROBLEM IN THE NATURE OF INDUSTRIAL CLOSURE, THROUGH LACK OF TRADITIONAL PRODUCT DEMAND.

7) Benefits to clients: THE DELIVERY MODEL IS THE TRIPLE -HELIX OF RESEARCH - INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION FOR PRODUCT/PROCESS INNOVATION ,ITS DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFUSION UNDER THE AEGIS OF INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT.THIS IS REQUIRED GIVEN THE CONSERVATIVE INDUSTRY STATUS AND APPROACH PARTICULARLY FOR INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS WHICH THE INDUSTRY DO NOT PROMOTE AS SUCH GIVEN THE RISK UNLESS PROVEN. MANY OF SUCH PROVEN INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS BEING INTRODUCED ARE COSTLY PRODUCTS LARGELY OUTSIDE THE RUBIC OF THE PRESENT CONTEXT.THE RISK COVERAGE BEING PROVIDED UNDER GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFUSION,THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN PROMTED TO GET TECHNICALLY AND FINANCIALLY INVOLVED FOR BETTER DIFFUSION OF THE PRODUCT RANGE IN THE MARKET. THE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE LAB-LEVEL WOULD NOT HAVE ENTHUSED THE INDUSTRY BUT FOR THE SUPPORT AS ABOVE.THE PROMOTIONAL FUNDING AS PART OF THE SOCIETAL PROGRAM OG RRL,TRIVANDRUM AND CSIR-WIDE SUPRA EFFORT AS A SOCITAL PROGRAM WILL ENSURE SUBSIDISED DIFFUSION OF THE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS THROUGH CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AIMED AT THE WEAKER SEGMENTS.EARLIER UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING ORGANISATION ,A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY,RRL,TRIVANDUM HAS DIFFUSED ITS TECHNOLOGY FOR LIGHT WEIGHT BRICKS THROUGH CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS FOR THE MARGINALISED GROUPS FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS.THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF ECO-FRIENDLY ASPECTS DO COVER THE COSTS FOR THE GOVERNMENT ALSO,PARTICULARLY FOR FLY ASH,TANNERY SLUDGE AND AGRO- WASTES.THE MODEL ALSO FACILITATES UPGRADATION AND DIVERSIFICATION IN INDUSTRY THROUGH THE SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION IN ITS PRODUCT RANGE WHICH WILL FURTHER HELP IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALM GIVEN THE TRADITIONAL NATURE OF THE BRICK AND TILE INDUSTRY IN KERALA AND ITS DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS. BUT FOR THIS GOVERNMENT -RESEARCH SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED OR GONE FOR THE HIGH COST ROUTE OF IMPORTED TECHNOLOGY GIVEN ITS ELITIST AND MECHANISED NATURE.

8) Key operational partnerships: RESEARCH -KERALA GOVERNMENT AND TILE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION LINKAGES,TIFAC-FLY ASH MISSION -DEPARTMENT AND INDUSTRY LINKAGES FOR DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENGINNERING EFFORTS,LINKAGES WITH FOREIGN UNIVERSITY LIKE TNO AND UNIDO IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE PROGRAM FOR POLICY ,TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS EXPERTISE BUIOLD-UP IN CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT AND REAERCH BASED BUSINESS PROMOTION IN TRADITIONAL INDUSTRY BASED ON AN INNOVATIVE PRODUCT RANGE.LINKAGES WERE ALSO BUILT-UP WITH SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES IN KERALA FOR SCALE-UP STUDIES AND FOR SETTING UP QUALITY CONTRO LABS IN INDUSTRIAL PREMISES THROUGH RRL,TRIVANDRUM INVOLVEMENT AIMED AT PRODUCT DIFFUSION,INNOVATION,QUALITY UPGRADATION,PROCESS OPTIMISATION AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL ASWELL AS TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY AND TROUBLE SHOOTING.THIS WAS ALSO PART OF A CSIR TASK FORCE AND NETWORKED PROGRAM INVOLVING CBRI,ROORKEE,A CSIR NODAL LAB IN THE BUILDING SECTOR

9) Financial model: AS ALREADY MENTIONED THE FINANCIAL MODEL IS ONE OF THE TRIPLE HELIX WITH GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT IN AN ENTRPRENEURIAL MODE INVOLVING INDUSTRY WHO PROVIDE ONLY A PART FUNDING TO ENSURE INDUSTRY WITH RESEARCH PROVIDING THE INNOVATION AND TRAININF FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT FUNDED PARTLY BY RRL,TRIVANDRUM AND CSIR TASK FORCE NETWORK FUNDS.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 20-

          • Financing: THE INITIATIVE IS FINANCED INITIALLY MAINLY BY GOVERNMENT FOR INNOVATION SUPPORT AND DIVERIFICATION OR UPGRADATION IN TRADITIONAL INDUSTRY,BASED ON VALUE ADDED PRODUCT RANGE UTILISING LOACAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES. THIS INDIRECTLY PAYS UP THE COSTS TO A LARGE EXTENT THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITIES FOR THE GOVERNMENT BESIDES HELPING TO REVIVE A LIMPING INDUSTRY BY WAY OF INNOVATIVE PRODUCT DIFFUSION UNDER MARKET CONDITIONS AND SUPPORTED THROUGH NETWORKED INITIATIVES AND SUPPORT ,TILL SUSTENANCE LEVELS ARE REACHED WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO BE ATTAINED IN 4- 5 YERAS TIME WHEN PAY BACK WILL BE SUFFICIENT AND SELF- SUSTAINING.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: THE OUT COME OF THE PROJECT HAS HELPED TO BRING OUT INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS OF APPEAL TO INDUSTRY AND HAVING EVIDENCED MARKET VALUE IN THE BUILDING CERAMICS SECTOR. THIS HAS RESULTED IN DIVERSIFICATION AND QUALITY UPGRADATION IN TILE INDUSTRY IN KERALA THROUGH QUALITY LABS AND PERSONNEL TRINING AS WELL AS NEW PRODUCT ENGINEERING AND COMMERCIALISATION.CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SCHEMES UNDER INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE AND INVOLVEMENT FUELLED BY RESEARCH INNOVATION AND RESEARCH BASED BUSINESS HAS GENERATED FRUITFUL OUTCOME OF A SELF-SUSTAINING NATURE IN A DECLINING INDUSTRY WITH TECHNOLOGY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS MARKET POSSIBILITIES FOR A CREDIBLE PAYBACK. A BUSINES INCUBATOR FOR DEMONSRATION AND TRIAL MARKETING HAS BEEN SETUP AS PART OF CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT

          • Number of clients in past year: IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE 3 INDUSTRIES OF KERALA DIRECTLY AND MANY INDUSTIES AS PART OF THE TILE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN BENEFITTED. FLY ASH INDUSTRIES COULD HAVE A READY OUTLET FOR WASTE PRODUCTS DUMPED IN LARGE QUANTITIES IN THEIR CORTYARD CA

          • Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: 30-

          • Potential demand: THE POTENTIAL DEMAND MAY EXCEED 2-3 MILLION IN THE MEDIUM TERM GIVEN THE TRIPLE HELIX SUPPORT WITH INVOLVEMENT OF RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT IN THE ENTRPRENEURIAL PHASE AND DIFFUSION TRIAL PERIOD.THE TILE INDUSTRY HAS ASSESSED GOOD LOCAL MARKET AND EXPORT MARKET DEMAND IN THE MEDIUM -LONGER TERM GIVEN THE FEATURES OF THE PRODUCT LIKE INNOVATION,PROVEN TECHNOLOGY,ENTERPRISE SUPPORT FOR DIFFUSION IN THE START-UP AND SCALE-UP PHASE.A BURGEONING MARKET IS EMERGING WITH RESURGENCE IN ECONOMU WITH TRANSITION OF THE MARGINALISED SEGMENT NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT INITIATED COMMUNITY SCEMES BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUAL GROWTH POTENTIAL AND PROFILE GIVEN THE ECONOMIC TRANSITION AND DEMAND FOR INNOVATION OF A LOW COST NATURE TO SUPPLANT TRADITIONAL ATERIAL WITH TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS WHICH USE RENEWABLE OR LOCAL RESOURCES,AND ARE ECOSAFE.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS MORE AND MORE TILE INDUSTRIES WILL BE COVERED THROUGH THE CLUSTER EFFORT OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE TRIPLE HELIX AND THE SUPRAINSTITUTIONAL OR NETWORKED INITIATIVE OF CSIR .RRL,TRIVANDRUM WITH AN AMBIT OUTSIDE KERALA AS WELL AND AIMED AT SOCIETAL DIFFUSION AND PROMOTION OF THE PROVEN PROJECTS AND TECHNOLOGIES AS PART OF THE NETWORKED TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOCIEAL INITIATIVE,AS PART OF THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PLAN WHICH HAS AMPLE PROVISIONS FOR SOCIAL TECHNOLOGIES AS PART OF THE COMMON MINIMUM PROGRAM AND FACILITATED BY THE TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY AND DIFFUSION EFFORTS BEING HIGHLIGHTED BY THE PLAN APPROACH.

12) Origin of the initiative: THE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED BY DR. A.D. DAMODARAN ,IN THE MID 90`S WHEN HE WAS THE DIRECTOR AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE RRL,T CERAMICS GROUP UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.K.G.K. WARRIER AND COORDINATION BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT UNDER MY LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS IN THE START-UP PHASE. THE PROJECT LEADER`S ASSOCIATION WITH TNO,NETHERLANDS AND UNIDO AND RESEARCH,EXPERTISE AND PILOT- SCALE FACILITY SUPPORT GAVE A BOOST. THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITIES WERE FURTHWER SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT AND MISSIONODE/TASKFORCE NETWORKS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION TO ENABLE THE PROJECT TO BE SCALEDUP FOR A SUCCESSFUL TAKEOFF.

Contact Information:
suresh  kumar
scientist and head,planning and coordination,RRL,TRIVANDRUM,CSIR
REGIONAL RESEARCH LABORATORY,TRIVANDRUM
(GOVERNMENT-RESEARCH)
India
Website: http://w3rrlt.csir.res.in