NPCI Unveils Agentic AI-Powered IoT Payments via UPI, Signaling India’s Next Leap in Intelligent Commerce

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) today showcased a live demonstration of Agentic AI-based IoT Payments powered by UPI, highlighting the next phase of seamless, intelligent digital transactions.

Image - X/Kushal Jasani

The demonstration was presented in the presence of Shri Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder & Chairman, Infosys and Hon. Advisor to NPCI on Innovations & Public Policy. The feature, which is currently in the pilot stage, showcased how users can discover and order items seamlessly from merchants through AI platforms such as Gemini, bringing greater convenience and personalization to digital commerce.

The solution is enabled by user-authorized AI chatbots, agents, and applications capable of initiating UPI payments based on contextual triggers, voice or text commands, and user-defined routines. These AI-powered systems can operate across devices, ensuring secure, efficient, and intuitive payment experiences.

Shri Nandan Nilekani

This demonstration marks a significant step toward the convergence of AI, and digital payments, underscoring NPCI’s commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of India’s digital economy.

The demonstration was attended by Shri Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder & Chairman of Infosys and Hon. Advisor to NPCI on Innovations & Public Policy, underscoring the strategic importance of this innovation in India’s fintech roadmap.

From Discovery to Payment: AI Agents Take the Lead

The pilot illustrated how user-authorized AI chatbots and applications—such as those powered by Gemini—can autonomously discover products, place orders, and initiate payments via UPI. These agents respond to contextual triggers, voice or text commands, and user-defined routines, offering a frictionless and personalized commerce experience.

“Agentic AI is redefining digital payments by making them intuitive, secure, and context-aware,” said an NPCI spokesperson. “This is not just a technical upgrade—it’s a shift toward intelligent commerce.”

A New Era of Seamless Transactions

The solution enables payments across IoT devices, allowing users to interact with smart platforms—from wearables to home assistants—without manual intervention. By integrating AI with UPI’s robust infrastructure, NPCI aims to simplify everyday transactions while enhancing security and personalization.

This initiative complements NPCI’s broader push toward biometric authentication and risk-based models, including recent rollouts of fingerprint and facial recognition for UPI payments.

Strategic Vision for India’s Digital Economy

The demonstration reflects NPCI’s commitment to shaping the future of India’s digital economy through innovation. Speaking at the event, Nilekani emphasized the convergence of AI and payments as a critical frontier for financial inclusion and user empowerment.

As the pilot progresses, NPCI plans to expand the capabilities of Agentic AI across sectors, potentially transforming retail, mobility, and public services.

New Tata–Cisco Partnership Sets Global Benchmark for eSIM-Powered IoT Connectivity

Tata Communications and Cisco have teamed up to supercharge global IoT deployments, with a strategic partnership that blends Tata’s intelligent eSIM orchestration with Cisco’s robust device management platform.

Key Highlights of the Collaboration

• Tata Communications MOVE™: A global eSIM orchestration solution managing over 350 million eSIM OS across 200+ countries and territories.
• Cisco IoT Control Center: A cloud-based platform supporting 270+ million SIM-enabled IoT devices, including 100 million connected cars.
• Unified Connectivity: Enterprises can now activate, monitor, and scale devices seamlessly across private/public networks and multiple SIM providers.
• Industries Benefiting: Transportation, logistics, and manufacturing stand to gain the most, with simplified provisioning and reduced integration costs.

Strategic Impact

• Tackles long-standing IoT challenges like fragmented SIM hardware, complex provisioning, and vendor lock-ins.
• Enables faster rollouts, greater visibility, and scalable operations for global enterprises.
• Positions eSIM as a foundational technology for managing connected ecosystems—from vehicles to industrial sensors.

Marco Bijvelds of Tata Communications summed it up:

This partnership empowers global businesses to unlock new opportunities, streamline operations, and accelerate digital transformation.

The collaboration will significantly benefit industries like transportation, logistics, and manufacturing, where reliable IoT connectivity is critical, be it a trucking company that instantly activates trailers across borders without local SIM cards or a utility provider seeking to monitor infrastructure on private and public networks without reconfiguring devices.

Engineers Use Raspberry Pi for Finding Holes in Railway Tunnel Construction

An IoT system recently developed by Chinese engineers for monitoring railway tunnels is quite innovative. This Raspberry Pi-Based IoT System for Grouting Void Detection in Tunnel Construction is an innovative solution designed to ensure the structural integrity of tunnels during the grouting process.

The system uses a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, embedded electrical wires, and a cloud platform for data storage and access.

With this, Chinese engineers have found a novel use for the Raspberry Pi: detecting voids/holes in the linings of railway tunnels. This innovative approach was detailed in a paper published in the journal Buildings.

The system aims to detect voids in the secondary lining of railway tunnels, which can compromise structural integrity.

The proposed grouting void detection system

Engineers embedded wires in the secondary lining of a 600-meter tunnel and connected them to the Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins. The Raspberry Pi measures the conductivity of concrete, with dips indicating possible voids or holes.

Unlike traditional methods like ground penetrating radar, the Raspberry Pi system provides continuous monitoring. Readings from the sensors are uploaded to Alibaba Cloud over a 5G connection and stored in a MySQL database for real-time monitoring and historical analysis.

Data is uploaded to a cloud platform, allowing engineers to access it via smartphones.

System Components:

• Raspberry Pi: The core of the system, connected to GPIO pins to measure the conductivity of concrete.
• Sensors: Embedded wires in the tunnel lining act as sensors to detect changes in conductivity.
• Data Transmission: Data from the sensors is uploaded to Alibaba Cloud over a 5G connection.
• Database: The data is stored in a MySQL database for real-time monitoring and historical analysis.

For an uninitiated, the Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable computer that has gained widespread popularity in recent years due to its versatility and ease of use. Initially developed as an educational tool, the Raspberry Pi has since been adopted for a variety of industrial applications, including environmental monitoring, home automation, and IoT systems.

One of the Raspberry Pi's key strengths is its general-purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, which allow it to interface with sensors, motors, and other devices, making it an ideal platform for real- time monitoring system. 

TCS Launches New IoT Engineering Lab in Ohio

• The lab will carry the full suite of TCS’ IoT solutions including TCS Clever EnergyTM, TCS DMPTM, and TCS DigifleetTM, and industry solutions for the manufacturing, energy, consumer, and life sciences sectors
• The lab will also support the local community to embrace sustainability with TCS Grow+, a smart gardening technology that has helped harvest over 3,500 pounds of fruits and vegetables, benefitting 500+ families

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has launched the Bringing Life to Things™ Lab in Cincinnati, Ohio. The lab is designed to support the rapid prototyping, experimentation, and large-scale implementation of AI, GenAI, and IoT engineering solutions, enabling TCS to assist clients in bringing innovative solutions to life faster and more efficiently.

Spanning across 3,000-square feet, this lab will advance the deployment of TCS’ comprehensive suite of IoT solutions, including TCS Clever EnergyTM, TCS Digital Manufacturing PlatformTM (DMP) and TCS DigifleetTM, among others. These solutions cater to various industries including health care and life sciences, manufacturing, energy and resources, consumer packaged goods, and more. The lab will also help businesses collaborate and co-innovate, integrating physical assets, partner technologies, and customer challenges to create new offerings and solutions.

Amit Bajaj, President-North America, TCS, said, “On the demand side, structural shifts such as energy transition, supply chain relocation and AI are requiring significant new production capacity in the United States that is connected, intelligent and autonomous by design. On the supply side, Intelligent Edge, powered by advances in connectivity, sensor and AI technology, is reinventing customer experience, personalized products and connected manufacturing. TCS’ investment in the Bringing Life to Things Lab in Ohio will help our clients bridge the traditional divide between operational and digital technology by rapidly turning their ideas into minimum viable products that reimagine their value chain at scale. With its strategic location in Cincinnati, home of TCS’ largest American delivery center, the lab is well positioned to tap into the area’s tech talent to help our customers across North America.”

Regu Ayyaswamy, Global Head of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Engineering, Tata Consultancy Services, said, “With the inauguration of the Bringing Life to Things Lab, TCS reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and digital excellence in an era defined by Artificial Intelligence and GenAI. This lab will spark co-innovation, enabling clients to brainstorm and collaborate through design thinking workshops, and unlock the full potential of IoT, AI, and GenAI technologies.”

The lab also offers TCS’ innovative solutions, including the TCS Neural Manufacturing solution, which provides autonomous and intelligent capabilities for factories, and the TCS connected healthcare platform, providing solutions for personalized medicine. Some key TCS initiatives that are anchored at the Bringing Life to Things Lab include:

1. Digital Twin of the Heart: TCS announced the creation of the first-ever digital heart of a professional runner in 2023, unveiling a virtual replica of Boston Marathon champion and two-time Olympian Des Linden’s heart. Through this partnership, TCS aims to demonstrate how AI-powered digital twin technology can transform athlete training by measuring and monitoring the heart’s performance in real time. Beyond athletics, this technology has the potential to transform healthcare. In concert with wearable devices and sensors, it can gather and deploy patient data to perform real-time analyses, preventing the development or progression of medical conditions.
2. Building Software-Defined Vehicles: IoT technology is at the heart of digital transformation in the automotive sector. TCS helps automakers and OEMs navigate and accelerate their journey toward building Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). The TCS Auto Gen AI Suite at the Bringing Life to Things Lab expedites the design, development, and validation of SDVs, leveraging GenAI and object detection to track people, vehicles, and other hazards in a car’s path.

In addition to serving clients, the lab engages with the local community through TCS’ smart gardening technology, TCS Grow+. Over 50 employees collaborated to develop a 3,500 square foot smart garden, leveraging sensor fusion based IoT technology to monitor plant environments, optimizing growth conditions like watering. Since its inception, TCS has harvested over 3,500 pounds of fruit and vegetables, benefitting more than 500 families through various charitable organizations.

Aligned with TCS' flagship digital innovation and career readiness program, goIT (go Innovate Together), the Lab also serves as a hub for researching, designing, and testing emerging learning concepts with experts in the field before taking them into classrooms all over the world. The opening of this lab underscores TCS’ strong presence in the U.S., where it has a 50-year legacy of driving growth and transforming the businesses of leading companies in every sector.

Vodafone and Sony Originated Companies To Combine Blockchain & IoT To Combat Supply Chain Frauds

Pairpoint, a blockchain-based trading venture owned by Vodafone and Sumitomo Corporation, has announced a strategic partnership with Sensos, a leading supply chain solution company founded by Sony Semiconductors, to address the growing issue of supply chain fraud. This collaboration aims to leverage Sensos' expertise in smart label technology, which originated from Sony Semiconductor Israel, to enhance the security and transparency of supply chains.

The partnership is expected to integrate Sensos' supply chain management solutions with Pairpoint's Economy of Things (EoT) platform. This will enable logistics companies to securely track their goods at every stage of the supply chain. The use of Sensos' cellular tracking labels and AI-powered control tower, combined with Pairpoint's digital identity, trust, and transactional platform, will allow for the secure and immutable recording of all goods' movements, from port departures to final deliveries.

This initiative is particularly significant as it not only aims to combat fraud but also to improve operational efficiency and cost savings for businesses across multiple industries. The solution is currently being piloted in cooperation with global logistics operator Unilog, part of the ICL Group, at several sites in the US and Europe.

Pairpoint’s secure technology overlays Sensos’ highly reliable, real-time supply chain management solution through the Pairpoint-enabled iSIM and device agent software embedded into a smart label. Every logistic transaction is then verifiable, transparent, and resistant to tampering, effectively combatting fraud, and enhancing trust across the supply chain ecosystem.

The CEOs of both Pairpoint and Sensos have expressed their enthusiasm for the potential impact of this partnership on the supply chain sector, highlighting the importance of intelligent and globally connected cellular labels and the Pairpoint platform.

About Sensos:

Sensos is a real-time supply chain management company with offices in US, Germany and Israel. Sensos’ AI-based solution empowers logistics teams to transition from reactive firefighting to proactive decision making, driving faster shipments, smaller inventories and more efficient production planning- resulting in bottom line savings and more sustainable operations. Learn more about Sensos at: https://sensos.io/

About Pairpoint:

Pairpoint (the brand name of DABCo Limited) is a pioneering blockchain technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the industry with decentrialized solutions. Based in the United Kingdom, with offices in London (UK) and Lisbon (Portugal), it is supported by an investment of 60 million euros from Vodafone Group and Sumitomo Group and employs 50 people with specialist skills and experience in IoT and financial technology. Learn more about Pairpoint at https://pairpoint.io

LTIMindtree and IBM Collaborate on watsonx CoE for Generative AI

LTIMindtree and IBM have joined forces to establish a Generative AI Center of Excellence (CoE) in India. This collaborative initiative combines the power of IBM's watsonx AI and data platform with the engineering skills of LTIMindtree, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company.

The CoE aims to drive open innovation and accelerate the adoption of generative AI solutions by organizations. The joint Generative AI Center of Excellence (CoE) in India, a co-innovation center combining the power of the IBM watsonx AI and data platform and the engineering skills of LTIMindtree.

LTIMindtree brings its expertise in data and machine learning model customization, along with full-stack engineering capabilities. The CoE leverages IBM's watsonx technology suite, including watsonx.ai, watsonx.data, and watsonx.governance, as well as AI assistants.

The center, located in India, will focus on building point solutions that help clients adopt generative AI more effectively.

Benefits to Clients

LTIMindtree offers watsonx.governance integration with the Canvas.AI platform. This collaborative toolkit enables organizations to strategically incorporate AI governance frameworks throughout the entire AI lifecycle, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and responsible AI practices.

The CoE provides an enterprise data modernization and warehouse augmentation service powered by watsonx.data. This service enhances existing data warehouse capabilities using IBM's technology and LTIMindtree's tailored solutions.

This collaboration represents a significant step toward advancing AI technologies and empowering businesses to achieve success with robust governance. By funneling the latest AI research andsolutions innovations into real-world , LTIMindtree and IBM are poised to make a meaningful impact in the field of generative AI.

Chennai Startup Mindgrove Launches India's 1st Commercial System on Chip (SoC)

Chennai headquartered Mindgrove Technologies, a semiconductor startup backed by Peak XV Partners, has introduced Secure IoT, India's first commercial System on Chip (SoC) designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Named as Secure IoT, this high-performance SoC is tailored for controlling applications on a wide range of connected smart devices. It offers programmability, flexibility, security, and superior computing power. Notably, it operates at a clock speed of 700 MHz.

Secure IoT is expected to be priced approximately 30% lower than other chips in similar segments. By using this chip, local Indian companies can reduce the cost of their devices without compromising on high-end features.

Under its applications, the SoC can control various devices, including wearables like smartwatches, smart city devices (such as connected electricity, water, and gas meters), connected home devices (like smart locks, fans, and speakers), as well as electric vehicle (EV) battery management systems and control systems.

The company said it is the only Indian chip that is commercially available in this segment. Mindgrove is now looking for all Indian OEMs and ODMs who might be interested.

Availability: The chip has successfully undergone an MPW tape-out (prototyping) at the 28nm node, and reference boards will be available for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to test in the coming weeks.

Mindgrove Technologies not only sells the chip but also offers design support to Indian brands, helping accelerate innovation and production scale within India. It also designs specialized Al accelerators for edge computing. These chips are optimized for running machine learning models directly on devices, reducing latency and enhancing privacy. Applications include smart cameras, robotics, and industrial automation.

Backed by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and incubated in the IIT-Madras Incubation Cell, Mindgrove aims to put India on the map for semiconductor design. Leveraging the SHAKTI open-source processor program, the startup create new possibilities and keep the world on the edge

India's growing demand for microchips, coupled with the need for cost-effective solutions, makes Secure IoT a significant milestone in the country's semiconductor industry. Global buyers may also find this new option from India appealing.

LTIMindtree and Vodafone Collab To Offer Connected and Smart IoT Solutions

LTIMindtree, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, has announced a collaboration with Vodafone, a leader in managed Internet of Things (IoT) with over 175 million connections worldwide.

This partnership aims to deliver connected and smart IoT solutions that will enable Industry X.0 and digital transformation across multiple sectors.

The collaboration will leverage LTIMindtree's Insight NXT platform (iNXT) and Vodafone’s IoT Managed Connectivity to offer advanced capabilities in AI, machine learning, predictive maintenance, digital twin, supply chain visibility, sustainability, energy management, worker safety, sensorization of assets, augmented reality, and virtual reality training.

Gemma Barsby, UK Head of IoT at Vodafone, expressed enthusiasm about supporting the real-time delivery of IoT managed services to clients, which will drive cost efficiencies and greater productivity. Monish Mishra, Chief Business Officer- iNXT at LTIMindtree, highlighted the importance of continuous innovation and connected ecosystems for growth and differentiation.

This strategic partnership is set to design highly scalable, end-to-end solutions by harnessing IoT, Metaverse, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning, delivering secure, connected ecosystems and outcomes over Vodafone’s Managed IoT Connectivity Network.

About Industry X.0, it is the leap into the future of manufacturing, where technology not only supports operations but actively enhances and transforms them. It's a significant shift from simply automating processes to using data and analytics to drive intelligent action.

Qualcomm Unveils Breakthrough in Wi-Fi Tech and New AI-Ready IoT and Industrial Platforms

At the Embedded World 2024 exhibition and conference in Nuremberg, Qualcomm made significant announcements related to IoT and Wi-Fi Technology.

The company unveils the Qualcomm® QCC730, a disruptive micro-power Wi-Fi system for IoT connectivity. This technological breakthrough provides up to 88% lower power than previous generations and can revolutionize products in battery powered industrial, commercial and consumer applications.

Qualcomm also introduced the new Qualcomm RB3 Gen 2 Platform — a comprehensive hardware and software solution designed for IoT and embedded applications. Utilizing the Qualcomm® QCS6490 processor, the RB3 Gen 2 offers a combination of high-performance processing, 10x increase in on-device AI processing, support for quadruple 8MP+ camera sensors, computer vision, and integrated Wi-Fi 6E.

The two technologies unveiled are —

1. Breakthrough Wi-Fi Technology

The Qualcomm QCC730 is a groundbreaking micro-power Wi-Fi system tailored for IoT connectivity. Here are its key features:

Unprecedented Low Power Consumption for Extended Battery Life

• The QCC730 delivers up to 88% lower power consumption compared to previous generations, potentially revolutionizing battery-powered industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. 
• Its selectable power modes and innovative power management maximize savings for extremely long battery life.

Flexibility to Operate in Hostless or Hosted Mode

• Developers can choose between hostless or hosted mode, providing extreme flexibility for different use cases.
• It supports internal or external power amplifiers and has integrated, non-volatile memory (RRAM) for ease of design.

Versatile System Integration for Ease of Design

• QCC730 fully integrates the on-chip microcontroller, non-volatile memory (NVM), and SRAM, making it versatile and easy to design with.
• Developers can replace or integrate it with traditionally Bluetooth-only applications.

Complete Cloud Connectivity Stack with Open-Source Software SDK:

QCC730 comes with an open-source software SDK available on CodeLinaro, allowing cloud connectivity offloading.

It empowers developers with an alternative to traditionally Bluetooth-only applications and enables direct cloud connectivity.

In summary, the Qualcomm QCC730 offers ultra-low micro-power Wi-Fi, scalability, and versatility for IoT applications, making it a powerful choice for connected devices.

2. AI Ready IoT & Industrial Platform

The Qualcomm RB3 Gen 2 Platform is designed to empower developers in creating a broad range of IoT products across various segments, including consumer, enterprise, industrial robotics, and automation.

High-Performance Processing

• The RB3 Gen 2 Platform is powered by the Qualcomm QCS6490 processor, offering advanced performance capabilities.
• It combines powerful AI processing, computer vision, and blazing-fast wireless connectivity.

On-Device AI Capabilities

• Developers can leverage the platform's AI acceleration for tasks such as image and video capture, enhancing overall functionality.
• This opens up possibilities for applications in workplace security, automation, and more.

Support for Multiple Camera Sensors

• The platform supports multiple 8MP+ camera sensors, enabling robust computer vision capabilities.
• This feature is essential for applications in robotics, industrial automation, and other visual tasks.

Integrated Wi-Fi 6E

• With built-in Wi-Fi 6E, the RB3 Gen 2 Platform ensures high-speed wireless connectivity.
• This connectivity is crucial for seamless communication in IoT devices.

Bluetooth 5.2 and LE Audio

• Enhanced Bluetooth 5.2 support allows for wireless accessories and efficient communication.
• LE Audio ensures improved audio quality for connected devices.

Expandability and Versatility

• The platform offers expandability through interfaces such as GPIOs, I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, USB, MIPI CSI/DSI, and SDIO.
• Developers can easily integrate additional components and customize their solutions.

In summary, the Qualcomm RB3 Gen 2 Platform provides a powerful foundation for creating innovative IoT products, combining performance, AI capabilities, and connectivity. 

Airtel Business to Power 20 Mn Smart Meters for Adani Energy Solutions with Its Smart IoT solutions

Airtel Business – the B2B arm of Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers – today announced that it will power over 20 million smart meters for Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL).

Airtel, through its robust nationwide communications network will deliver reliable and secure connectivity for all AESL’s smart meter deployments. In addition, Airtel’s transformative smart metering solutions that are powered by NB-IoT, 4G and 2G, will help AESL to ensure real-time connectivity and uninterrupted transfer of critical data between smart meters and headend applications. The solution will also come powered with Airtel’s IoT platform - ‘Airtel IoT Hub,’ which enables smart meter tracking and monitoring with advanced analytics and diagnostic capabilities in addition to real-time insights and services that empower customers with enhanced control over their energy consumption. Adani Energy Solutions has an order book of over 20 million smart meters from the power utilities of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.

Ganesh Lakshminarayanan, CEO - Airtel Business (India), said, “India’s smart metering programme is one of the most significant policy reform measures undertaken by the Government. These meters are critical building blocks for smart grids and fundamental enablers for the digitalization of the power sector. Airtel expects its NB-IoT technology to play a significant role in the Utilities space to connect and manage smart meters at scale with enhanced coverage, high reliability and security. We look forward to a long and fruitful association with the Adani Group, supporting them in their endeavours to digitize utilities”.

Kandarp Patel, CEO - Adani Energy Solutions Ltd., said, “India’s ambitious Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) is transforming the way we deliver power, and AESL is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution. Our partnership with Airtel marks a critical step towards realising the vision of a smarter, more efficient grid for all. This strategic tie-up leverages the best of both worlds: our deep domain expertise in the T&D sector and Airtel's robust nationwide network and comprehensive suite of IoT offerings, including NB-IoT and 4G LTE. This powerful combination will enable us to seamlessly deploy our current order book of over 20 million smart meters across India, empowering millions of consumers with real-time consumption data and control, while simultaneously driving down inefficiencies in the distribution network”.

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 500 million customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high-speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data center services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud-based communication. For more details, visit www.airtel.com/

Airtel Forays Into Smart Metering, Partners IntelliSmart for End-to-End IoT Solution for Smart Metering

Airtel Business enters into strategic partnership with IntelliSmart for powering up to 20 million smart meters

To offer end-to-end IoT solution for smart metering, including Cloud, Head End System and Analytics

Indian teleco giant Bharti Airtel has announced that it has formed a strategic partnership to power up to 20 million smart meters with IntelliSmart Infrastructure Private Limited, a leading smart metering and digital solutions provider. This marks Airtel’s foray into smart metering applications such as Head End System, Meter Data Management Systems along with Cloud and Analytics.

This is one of the largest such deal in the smart metering space in the country. It will significantly contribute towards Airtel’s fast-growing IoT deployment across sectors.

Airtel’s IoT proposition includes its proprietary platform the “Airtel IoT Hub” which will help the utility track and monitor these smart meters with advanced analytics while maintaining extremely high reliability augmented with telco grade security. Housed on Airtel’s own cloud network, the IoT hub will allow enterprise users the capability to connect and manage billions of devices and applications in a highly secure and seamless fashion.

Ganesh Lakshminarayanan – CEO, Airtel Business (India) said about the venture, “We have further strengthened our market leadership as the largest IoT enabler in the country. IoT is one of the fastest-growing business segments for Airtel Business and, with this deal, we are now strategically positioned to play a pivotal role in driving the Govt. of India’s vision of digitising 250 million conventional meters to smart meters. As we connect the devices across the country on our platform, we will exponentially grow our current IoT market share of 55.4% (as on Q1 FY23-24).”

Anil Rawal – MD & CEO, Intellismart Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. had this to say, “India’s smart metering programme is one of the significant steps taken by the government to modernise the power distribution sector. Smart meters are critical building blocks for smart grids and a fundamental enabler of the digitalisation efforts of the power system. As we set forward to implement one of India’s largest portfolios of smart meters, we are relying on some of the most able and potent partners in the sector for various solution elements to support the successful deployment of our Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions. We are confident that the on-boarding of Airtel as a strategic partner will be a significant step towards our goal of creating strong associations to strengthen our infrastructure solution with a resilient and secure cloud-hosted cellular communication network.”

The Government of India has the ambitious vision of replacing 250 million conventional meters with Smart Meters in the next five years as part of the AMI initiative. Airtel IoT aims to play a pivotal role in enabling this vision of the government with its unique capabilities. Power sector digitisation aided by the Government of India's push to usher in transparency and consumer friendly measures in this sector will see innovation such as Smart Meters become commonplace.

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 500 Mn customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high-speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data center services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud-based communication. For more details visit www.airtel.com/

IntelliSmart Infrastructure Private Limited is India’s leading smart metering and digital solutions provider. It is a joint venture of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), established with the core purpose of becoming the most preferred digital partner of the utilities. Our organisational culture is built on the core values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Sustainability, which influence our everyday endeavours and collective practices.

Intel and Siemens to Collaborate on Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing

• Siemens and Intel to collaborate to advance semiconductor manufacturing production efficiency and sustainability across Scopes 1 to 3 of the value chain.
• Semiconductors are crucial for the global economy and for lowering carbon footprints across economies by enabling sustainable solutions.
• Intel and Siemens will leverage their respective portfolios of cutting-edge IoT solutions, along with Siemens automation solutions to enhance semiconductor manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.

Siemens AG, a leading technology company, and Intel Corporation, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. The companies will focus on advancing future manufacturing efforts, evolving factory operations and cybersecurity, and supporting a resilient global industry ecosystem.

Cedrik Neike (left), CEO of Digital Industries and member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, and Keyvan Esfarjani, executive vice president and chief global operations officer at Intel Corp., pose for a photo outside Intel’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, in December 2023. The photo followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Intel and Siemens to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. advance global manufacturing efforts. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

“Semiconductors are the lifeblood of our modern economies. Few things run without chips. Therefore, we’re proud to collaborate with Intel to quickly advance semiconductor production. Siemens will bring its entire cutting-edge portfolio of IoT-enabled hardware and software and electrical equipment to this collaboration,” said Cedrik Neike, CEO of Digital Industries and member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. “Our joint efforts will contribute to achieving global sustainability goals.”

The MoU identifies key areas of collaboration to explore a variety of initiatives, including optimizing energy management and addressing carbon footprints across the value chain. For instance, the collaboration will explore use of “digital twins” of complex, highly capital-intensive manufacturing facilities to standardize solutions where every percentage of efficiency gained is meaningful.

The collaboration will also explore minimizing energy use through advanced modeling of natural resources and environmental footprints across the value chain. To gain more information on product-related emissions, Intel will explore product- and supply chain-related modeling solutions with Siemens that drive data-based insights and help the industry accelerate progress in reducing its collective footprint.

“The world needs a more globally balanced, sustainable and resilient semiconductor supply chain to meet the increasing demand for chips,” said Keyvan Esfarjani, Intel Executive Vice President and Chief Global Operations Officer. “We are excited to build upon Intel’s advanced manufacturing capabilities by expanding our collaboration with Siemens to explore new areas where we can utilize Siemens’ portfolio of automation solutions to enhance efficiency and sustainability in semiconductor infrastructure, facilities, and factory operations. This MOU will benefit regional and global industry value chains.”

Sustainable practices across the entire semiconductor lifecycle, including design, manufacturing, operation, efficiency, and recycling, are critical for meeting growing demand for powerful, sustainable chips. Technology has the power to accelerate solutions to reduce computing-related climate impacts across the technology industry and the rest of the global economy. Automation and digitalization hold the key to addressing the challenges as the industry drives toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. By combining their strengths and expertise, Siemens and Intel are poised to lead the way in driving positive

change. 

An Investigative Study of 120 Mn IoT Devices Revealed that IoT Devices Globally Generating Whopping 3.6 Bn Security Events

NETGEAR’s “2023 IOT SECURITY LANDSCAPE REPORT” BRINGS IoT SECURITY CONCERNS INTO SHARP FOCUS

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items that use sensors, software, and network connectivity to collect and exchange data. These connected devices are changing the way we live, work, and communicate. Along with their myriad blessings, they are also opening up new avenues for crime. As a result, IoT devices have emerged as the most vulnerable equipment in the world today.

As manufacturers increasingly scrap “dumb” devices in favor of smart Internet-connected versions, smart homes are growing around their owners, enveloping the humans that own them without them being aware of it. The once romanticized notions of the smart house, often portrayed on TV as a cheery aide to a seamless life, have given way to privacy invasions, data breaches, and ruthless ransomware attacks targeting network-attached storage. If improperly configured, or shipped with vulnerabilities and security hazards that were overlooked during quality assurance, these devices can spell catastrophes for privacy and data integrity. They can even jeopardize the integrity of the Internet itself.

2023 IoT Security Landscape Report: Key Findings

As per a recently released report “2023 IoT Security Landscape Report” brings into sharp focus the immense security concerns involving IoT devices. Based on threat intelligence sampled by 2.6 million smart homes around the world, the NETGEAR Study investigated nearly 120 million IoT devices. The study revealed that IoT devices are generating a whopping 3.6 billion security events around the world every day. This translates into 20 connected devices per household, with 8 cyber attacks occurring every 24 hrs.

The report, no doubt, makes shocking revelations about the vulnerabilities of Smart Homes. To get a clear understanding of these Smart Homes, let’s take look at the most popular devices and the top vulnerabilities affecting them:

• SMARTPHONES - Almost 41% of the devices connected to home routers are smartphones. This number includes guest devices that can be temporarily associated with the network.
• COMPUTERS - Computers and laptops are the most common devices found in connected homes. While they have lost to mobile devices in popularity, they still witness steady growth worldwide.
• STREAMING DEVICES - Streaming devices are popular means of turning a “dumb” TV into an Internet connected device.
• TABLET - Tablets have gained significant traction during the COVID-19 outbreak as schools have started issuing tablets for online education.
• CONSOLE - Game consoles also double as entertainment centers. They come with dedicated hardware and software for playing games and typically connect to a TV or monitor to display the game.

Common Vulnerabilities of IoT Devices

Going by the security incidents of 2022, most attacks spotted last year rely on already known common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) included in automated attack toolkits. Although these common vulnerabilities are known to both IoT vendors and attackers, firmware vendors may take significant time to assess, patch, and deliver fixes for the devices already deployed in smart homes. This potentially provides cybercriminals a window of opportunity. Blocking these attacks, calls for layered technologies to stop them cold before they reach the vulnerable IoT device in your network.

The exploitation of IoT devices targets different outcomes, depending on device type and purpose, connectivity options, and monetization opportunities. Vulnerability outcomes range from undermining the systems' capacity to perform expected functions to executing code on the device and hijacking its functions.

IoT RISKS TO CONSIDER

• CYBERSECURITY RISKS: Smart homes are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as many IoT devices have weak security measures. This can allow hackers to gain access to personal information, such as passwords and financial data, and even take control of smart devices.
• PRIVACY CONCERNS: Many smart devices are equipped with cameras, microphones, and other sensors that can collect data about users without their knowledge or consent. This can result in a violation of privacy, which is of particular concern for in-house deployment.
• PHYSICAL SAFETY RISKS: Smart plugs, door locks, and cameras are becoming increasingly popular. These devices control physical security aspects such as lighting, access control, and surveillance. Any disruption in operation or loss of control can impact physical security.

PREDICTIONS 2023

• Privacy concerns will demand change - IoT devices thrive on big data. An FTC study in 2015 estimated that “fewer than 10,000 households can “generate 150 million discrete data points a day” or approximately, one data point every six seconds for each household. Today, things are even worse. The 2022 Connectivity and Mobile Trends Survey by Deloitte outlines that one in two IoT users expressed concerns over the security vulnerabilities in smart home devices that might expose the troves of collected information, while 40% of respondents fear that they might be spied on.
• Botnets will continue to grow - IoT devices will increasingly become targets for botnets, which can launch large-scale distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Cybercriminals will continue to invest significant efforts in exploitation and persistence mechanisms to help them grow their infected device base.
• IoT security will get worse before it gets better - Vendors' slow reaction to vulnerability disclosure and patching will persist into 2023. Although new regulations - such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act -are anticipated to provide some relief by imposing mandatory cyber-security standards for products sold within the bloc, their enforcement is not expected until at least 2025.

TOP SIX BEST PRACTICES TO SECURE YOUR IOT DEVICES

• Both home users and employees should be aware of active IoT devices in their networks and keep them up to date. If some devices are past their life, replace them immediately with newer models.
• Move all smart devices to a dedicated guest network to isolate them from the main network
• Patch devices as soon as a new firmware version becomes available.
• Use routers or gateways with built-in security.
• Probe the home network for vulnerable devices with a smart home scanner
• Avoid exposing LAN devices to the Internet unless necessary

Swiss-based TE Connectivity Launches Its 1st Start-Up Accelerator Program in India in Collab with Bengaluru's BCIC

Ralf Klädtke, vice president and chief technology officer at TE

TE Connectivity launches its first start-up accelerator program in India

The program, in association with BCIC Start-up Hub, is designed to promote and accelerate start-ups in energy, electrification, smart cities, IoT

TE Connectivity (TE), a world leader in connectivity and sensors, has collaborated with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) Start-up Hub to launch its first accelerator program in India. The program is designed to promote and accelerate start-ups initially in the energy and electrification, smart cities and IoT domains, by providing them with mentorship support, access to resources and a global network.

The program was launched at a recent event conducted by TE and BCIC with the support of TiE Bangalore (Indus Ventures) on "Future of Mobility and Emerging Opportunities.” Attendees were addressed by Ralf Klädtke, vice president and chief technology officer at TE and Dr. S. Devarajan, senior vice president, BCIC, and senior vice president, TVS Motors Company Limited, and Ravikiran Annaswamy, CEO & co-founder of Numocity, who shared their insights on the future of mobility and best manufacturing practices.

Ralf Klädtke, vice president and chief technology officer at TE

Rahul Mathur, director at TE, said, “We look at India as an opportunity to not just innovate in India for India but also for the globe. We are excited to continue building our capabilities at our innovation hubs in Bangalore and Pune, where we currently have more than 1,200 product engineers, co-located at state-of-the-art labs and working on some of the most exciting technologies. We believe launching an accelerator in Bangalore’s entrepreneurial ecosystem will help develop capabilities and drive innovation. In collaboration with BCIC Start-up Hub, the program includes specific models to provide guidance and mentorship support for the start-ups and will also help them to discover possible support for global exposure through our network. We aim to share our experience and success with the start-ups, helping to fuel the next stage of their entrepreneur journey.”

“The future of mobility will create a completely new ecosystem of electrified mobility with autonomous shuttles/trucks, software-defined vehicles, autonomous safety, seamless vehicle to everything, V2X communication, mobility pods, electrified air taxis, micro-mobility and many others,” Klädtke said. “The speed of technological change is very high and electric vehicles were just the first of many technology disruptions. For one to thrive in this new normal, innovation and speed are essential. As a result, growing our collaboration with start-ups and developing win-win partnerships is a top focus for us at TE.”

“Mobility is life,” Devarajan said. “India is taking a multi-focus approach on net zero through the Panchamrit principle. A combined co-opted approach toward net zero by manufacturers, suppliers and start-ups that involves improving product and process technologies like light weighting will enable our next steps. We must draw out strategies and action plans for the coming years to ensure a better environment for our next generation.”

TE Connectivity India will offer innovative solutions to help start-ups to optimize designs, reduce costs, improve performance, and enhance the user experience. TE’s technical mentors will provide guidance to design new components to meet customer needs. BCIC Start-up Hub will be fostering collaboration between start-ups, subject-matter experts, technology firms and research institutions to overcome market challenges faced by entrepreneurs. They will be facilitating collaboration with research institutions to leverage innovative research in creating market-ready products.

If you are interested to participate in the accelerator program, connect with Rahul Mathur at rkmathur@te.com or Ravi Challu at ravi@bulletproofyourstartup.com

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY

TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With more than 85,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 140 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS.

Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat, and Twitter.

About BCIC –

The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) is the apex Chamber of Industry and Commerce representing large and medium industry in the State of Karnataka. BCIC plays an active and important role in promoting trade and investment in the State and has an excellent domestic and international network with MoUs with the leading Chambers of Commerce across the globe. The Chamber represents all segments of industry which includes Manufacturing, Aerospace and Aviation, IT, Bio-tech, Pharma, Engineering, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Garments, Food Processing, Steel and Services (www.bcic.in).

Nurturing Innovation Ecosystem: Continental Organized the 2nd Edition of the #Fiction2Science Hackathon

• Participation from over 50 universities across India, more than 130 idea submissions, and 10 finalists
• Ideation theme was based on the automotive megatrend CASE Mobility – Connected, Automotive, Shared, Electrified
• The team from Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management was adjudged as the winner, awarded Rs. 1 Lakh cash prize and a job offer

The technology company Continental organized the 2nd edition of the #Fiction2Science student Hackathon in Bengaluru, India, as part of its initiative to build an innovative ecosystem. Over 50 universities from across India participated, submitting more than 130 ideas on the theme of CASE - Connected, Automotive, Shared, and Electrified.

Out of these, ten teams were shortlisted to be part of the finale. The finale was a day-long competition comprising activities such as building a working model of a car on the fundamentals of CASE, competing on a race track with obstacles, and finally pitching a mobility solution idea.

The winning team Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management represented by Nidhish Kottari, Nikhil Shetty, and Nishanth Gowda

The team from Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management showcased their idea of Smart Vehicle Health Management using IoT and emerged as the winner of the hackathon. They were awarded Rs. 1 Lakh in prize money and received a job offer to work with Continental.

Sharing her thoughts on #Fiction2Sciecne Latha Chembrakalam, Head of Technical Centre India, Continental Automotive added, “At Continental, we believe in the power of student and industry collaboration. Hence we are often taking opportunities to connect with university students in various forms ranging from funded research projects, seminars, internships, and hackathons. Our flagship event #Fiction2Science is designed in a way that students are motivated to apply their learnings in a practical sense with contemporary industry standards. The best participants are even given opportunities in form of job or internship offers. We will continue our quest to build a strong student-industry ecosystem.”

#Fiction2Science is a flagship hackathon event at Continental, aimed at connecting with universities in India to generate new ideas, fund research topics, and facilitate recruitment opportunities. The event begins with idea submission and shortlisting of top ones followed by a grand finale at Continental‘s Tech Center India, where the students undergo day-long competitions and idea pitching. #Fiction2Science opens opportunities for universities across India to participate in the hackathon event.

Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management presented the idea of Smart Vehicle Health Management using IoT

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2022, Continental generated sales of €39.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 57 countries and markets.

Continental has been present in India for close to 50 years through technology partnerships (Continental Tires since 1974) and joint ventures for its various businesses. Today, the tier 1 automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner operate across India – with about 9000 employees across 12 locations, including seven plants that cater to the Indian market and a Technical Centre that supports Continental's global R&D activities.

Krish-e, a Mahindra’s AgTech Business Launches IoT Based Smart Kit for Farm Equipment

With the Krish-e Smart Kit, Mahindra aims to track & digitise every acre & kilometre of rental activity carried out in the country

Krish-e Mahindra’s AgTech business launched the Krish-e Smart Kit (KSK).

An after-market device, the Krish-e Smart Kit is the first-of-its-kind smart device that provides equipment owners with detailed insights of their tractors and farm equipment, through GPS enabled time tracking and remote monitoring of various parameters from the comfort of a smart phone.

Krish-e Smart Kit

Easy tracking of all brands of tractors, harvesters & rice transplanters via a smart phone or desktop  Increases operator revenue with accurate acreage measurement   Reduces fuel cost by monitoring fuel levels and alerting for fuel theft  Tracks total fleet expenses and reduces fleet maintenance cost Increases equipment security through geofencing alerts Offers advanced trip replay features Retails at an introductory price of INR 4,995

A cutting-edge offering, the Krish-e Smart Kit is developed by Carnot Technologies, an Ag-Tech start-up, founded in 2015 by four alumni from IIT Bombay in their mid-20s, who as part of the IITB racing team, developed solutions to monitor the performance of race vehicles from the pit. Today Carnot Technologies is engaged in manufacturing and retailing products and services related to internet-connected devices for monitoring performance of vehicles and equipment, with M&M Ltd. having acquired a significant stake in the company.

The Krish-e Smart Kit enables equipment owners and rental entrepreneurs to sustainably improve fleet performance, improve incomes and manage maintenance costs, while reducing tractor downtime and preventing unauthorised usage of their tractors. The Smart Kit also includes an advanced trip replay feature for tracking commercial transportation and trolley activity.

The kit is brand agnostic and can be installed on any new or old brand of tractor or farm equipment, such as harvesters, rice transplanters and self-propelled sprayers. The kit is paired with an app called the Krish-e Rental Partner App and is available on the Google Play Store. In addition to tracking and monitoring, the app also offers users access to an inventory of high-end farm machinery on a pay per use basis

Ramesh Ramachandran – Senior Vice President and Head Krish-e – Farm Equipment Sector, M&M Ltd. said, “An industry first aftermarket IoT solution, the Krish-e Smart Kit presents the smartest, most affordable and sustainable way for farmers and businesses to connect and monitor their farm equipment on the go. In its scale-up phase, with over 25,000 active users we will officially launch the Krish-e Smart Kit. Besides farmers, we invite institutions, FPO’s, government bodies and start-ups in the state to partner with us on this connected journey as we aim to digitise every acre and kilometre of rental activity. Going forward we aim to become the leading provider of connectivity for farm equipment in India.”

Pushkar Limaye – CTO, Carnot Technologies commented, “With a vision of building world-class products out of India, we came up with a small plug-and-play device for tractors to help improve their productivity using IoT, with real-time updates on smartphones. And today we are glad to see over 25,000 kits having already helped farmers digitise their businesses and adding real value on ground. And today with the official launch of the Krish-e Smart Kit, together with Mahindra, we aim to digitise Indian farming with an India-based solution, while reaching a larger audience of tractor owners and rental business owners."

So far Krish-e has over 25,000 active subscribers, 85% DAU (daily active users), spending about 55 minutes per day on the app (in season), with 70% resubscriptions post expiry of the free subscription period.

Individual farmers, institutional buyers, FPOs, and start-ups can purchase the Krish-e Smart Kit from the nearest Krish-e center, the Krish-e website, or Krish-e Sahayaks by calling 1800-266-1555 at an early bird price of INR 4,995 (including taxes and a six-month subscription package for the aforementioned services).

Launched in 2020, Krish-e is a new business vertical from Mahindra. Krish-e offers technology driven services, to minimise income potential of farmers and other value chain players sustainably. Carrying the tag line – ‘Expert Takneek. Naye Upay. Parinaam Dikhaye’, Krish-e services currently focus on the areas of Farm Advisory, Equipment Rental & Used Equipment through an omni channel presence which includes 150 Krish-e centers and app-based touch points.

Krish-e efforts have been recognised and included in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) January 2023 White Paper on “Accelerating Business Action on Climate Change Adaptation” as an example on how businesses can collaborate with communities to ensure the sustainability of critical natural resources.

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

First Students' Batch of ‘Samsung Innovation Campus’ in Delhi Graduate with Certificates in Coding, Programming & IoT; Flagship CSR Program Aims to Make Students Job-Ready with Future Tech Skills

First batch of Coding & Programming course culminated with a Hackathon in Delhi NCR

Total 3,000 students will be imparted skills in AI, IoT, big Data and Coding & Programming in 8 cities across India in 2023

Samsung India’s flagship CSR program Samsung Innovation Campus concluded the Coding & Programming and IoT courses for its first batch of 78 students in New Delhi, reiterating Samsung’s commitment to being a strong partner of India and working alongside the Government in its mission to empowering the country’s youth and #PoweringDigitalIndia.

The students, who were mentored and trained at National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), New Delhi were presented with certificates at a ceremony held on Friday.

ESSCI, which is a National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) approved entity, is executing the program through its nationwide network of approved training and education partners.

Student teams who are part of the Coding & Programming course took part in a 3-day Hackathon in which they developed codes based on problem statements given to them.

The problem statements included topics such as developing a citizen feedback on road maintenance, creating a knowledge management portal, automation of reforestation efforts, a GST calculator, chat support for e-governance and an early warning system for farmers to protect crops from pests. The teams presented their prototypes to a jury consisting of engineers from Samsung R&D Institute, Noida and Samsung R&D Institute, Delhi.

Samsung India had launched its Samsung Innovation Campus program at eight campuses across the country with the aim of upskilling 3,000 less-privileged youth in future tech domains such as AI, IoT, Big Data and Coding & Programming and helping them get relevant job placements.

Samsung Innovation Campus aims to upskill youth aged 18-25 years in future technologies and enhance their employability. These are key technology skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

During the course of the program, participants receive instructor-led blended classroom and online training through approved training and education partners of ESSCI across the country.

Youth enrolled for the program are undergoing classroom and online training and complete their hands-on capstone project work in their selected technology areas from among Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data and Coding & Programming. They will also be imparted soft skills training to enhance their employability and provided job placements in relevant organizations.

Those opting for the AI course will undergo 270 hours of theory training and complete 80 hours of project work while those doing the IoT or the Big Data course will undergo 160 hours of training and complete 80 hours of project work. Participants opting for the Coding & Programming course will do 80 hours of training and be part of a Hackathon.

Samsung Newsroom: First Batch of Students of ‘Samsung Innovation Campus’ in Delhi Graduate with Certificates in Coding & Programming & IoT; Flagship CSR Program Aims to Make Students Job-Ready with Future Tech Skills

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems and memory, system LSI, foundry, and LED solutions. For latest news on Samsung India, please visit Samsung India Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com/in. For Hindi, log on to Samsung Newsroom Bharat at https://news.samsung.com/bharat. You can also follow us on Twitter @SamsungNewsIN

In An Industry's First, ICICI Lombard Risk Management Gets Patent for An IoT System

ICICI Lombard risk management receives a patent for IoT-enabled System to avert fire-hazards

In an industry-first move, ICICI Lombard to offer this product to SME and Corporate institutions

In recent years, the evolution and development of IoT (Internet of Things) devices have provided exciting capabilities and services to the end user. IoT devices have also been introduced in different areas to prevent unexpected mishaps caused by human error or malfunctioning of devices. One such mishap that can happen due to malfunctioning of devices is a fire disaster. ICICI Lombard, India’s leading private non-life insurance company, has identified this area to innovate an IoT-based device that protects properties from various electrical hazards. The company has been awarded a patent to offer this product to its customers.

This is an industry-first initiative undertaken by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company, and this patented electrical IoT solution is a B2B device geared towards SMEs and corporates. The solution monitors electrical hazards to notify and control if necessary on real time basis. Using this patent, the company aims to strengthen its resources to provide technologically robust and quality customer solutions.

Speaking about the recently approved patent, Sanjay Datta, Chief of Underwriting, Claims and Reinsurance, ICICI Lombard, said, “We have been able to see a high rise in the number of fire incidents in commercial as well as residential buildings, which only goes to show that a lot of infrastructure across our nation, especially in densely populated metros, are vulnerable to fire. However, there is an essential need for advanced technology to plan, manage, monitor, and control electricity delivery to enable a safe and reliable system. Technology has always been a major driving force for us at ICICI Lombard to provide cutting-edge risk solutions to millions of customers."

"With this patent approval of an IoT-based - system, we aim to provide not just insurance covers to our customers but also ensure their safety and prevent hazards. This device will serve as a new-risk solution for customers and having introduced several innovative, tech-enabled insurance solutions in the past years gives ICICI Lombard an edge over his peers.”

Majority of fires in India are caused due to electrical installations. Maximum number of disasters in industries are due to electrical problems such as voltage fluctuations, overheating, and ageing of the material and electrical gadgets. Further, causing huge losses and burdens on small industries. Therefore, the launch of such a solution is more relevant.

At ICICI Lombard we work with customers to develop best in class risk management and mitigation practices. Understanding of risk is fundamental to our business. Today, we have made it a key component of risk management and identified ways to view the risk landscape qualitatively and quantitatively. Our risk management cell has been instrumental in enhancing the overall safety culture for several clients. Risk solutions such as Safety Studies, Risk assessments, Sector wise Solutions, etc. have been developed to create awareness among customers. On the technological front, we have started introducing IoT solutions for key components. We have specifically focused on the problems plaguing the MSME and SME segment and their lack of access to quality risk management services. Accordingly, we have reinvented our offerings to include hard data on the electrical, fire and process safety. It is interesting to see how safety and efficiency go together especially with respect to electrical safety. We are starting to see increased awareness as customers and elevate their risk preparedness.

In the past, ICICI Lombard has developed various technological advancements that have ensured a seamless customer experience. The Company is leveraging natural language processing and robotic process automation technology to automate the quote generation process and policy booking for corporate and SME customers. Under SME segment which is close to 90% of the business sourcing is done through digital solutions. Approximetly 97% of ICICI Lombard’s policies today are issued electronically. With the use of AI-based motor break-in solutions for lapsed policy renewal, drones for motor video surveillance, and agent hiring and on boarding moving digital, the use of AI as well as ML in underwriting and risk management has significantly increased for the Company making it the most tech-enabled companies in the sector.

About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd

ICICI Lombard is one of the leading general insurance companies and the leading motor insurer in the country. The Company offers a comprehensive and well-diversified range of products through multiple distribution channels, including motor, health, crop, fire, personal accident, marine, engineering, and liability insurance. With a legacy of over 20 years, ICICI Lombard is committed to customer centricity with its brand philosophy of ‘Nibhaaye Vaade'. The Company has issued over 29.3 million policies, settled 2.3 million claims and has a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of ₹185.62 billion for the year ended March 31, 2022. ICICI Lombard has 283 branches and 11,085 employees as on March 31, 2022.

ICICI Lombard has been a pioneer in the industry and migrated its entire core systems 100% to the cloud. With a strong focus on being digital led and agile, it has launched a plethora of tech-driven innovations, including Face Scan and Cal Scan on its signature insurance and wellness App - IL TakeCare, with over 3.0 million downloads. The Company has won several laurels including the 'Emerging Company of the Year at ET Corporate Excellence Awards, 'Best General Insurance Company at Annual Best & Emerging Insurance Company Awards, 'ACEF Asian Leadership' for 'Combatting COVID 19' initiatives, Guinness World Record for its CSR initiatives and many more. The awards are a testament to the trust reposed in the Company by its customers, partners, and other stakeholders. For more details log on to www.icicilombard.com