Novozymes — a constituent company of the Denmark-based Novo Group, a major transnational engaged in production of enzymes, micro-organisms and biopharmaceuticals — and the Holck-Larsen Foundation (India), have joined with Danish universities to establish a scientists exchange programme, the first of its type, between India and Denmark. “With many excellent universities, India has a large population of talented scientists,” says Per Falholt, executive vice president and head of R&D at Novozymes. “At the same time Novozymes has a need for talented scientists with a global mindset. Denmark also educates excellent biotechnologists, who will benefit from international assignments providing them a global perspective. My dream is to connect Indian and Danish science in the field of biotechnology. This is why we’re establishing this scientists exchange programme to provide funds to send them on international education assignments. I’m sure the programme will benefit both our countries and Novozymes.” Novozymes has significant business operations in India with over 400 employees working in a state-of-the-art R&D facility in Bangalore. The objective of the new exchange programme is to attract scientists with international mindsets and project Novozymes as an attractive career opportunities provider to India’s scientific community. The new exchange programme is funded to the tune of DKK 2 million per year (Rs.1.87 crore) by Novozymes and Holck-Larsen Foundation. The programme will run from 2013 to 2019, and each year it will enable 25 scientists to participate in exchange visits between India and Denmark. The funds will be managed by the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University. Texas Instruments launches new genre scientific calculators Texas Instruments (TI, estb.1951), the US-based chipmaker and education solution provider, recently launched its new range of scientific calculators in India, to assist engineering, science and commerce students in learning and exploring mathematics and science concepts. The new genre scientific calculators were launched by Union minister of state for human resource development, Purandeswari, at an event titled ‘Promoting mathematics using technology’ organized by TI in Hyderabad on June 13. The highlight of the event was a panel discussion on the need to increase students’ engagement in the classroom learning process and build strong foundations in math and science. The panel featured eminent academicians who discussed pedagogical practices and the need for math and science teaching-learning to connect with real life. The domestic market for scientific calculators is estimated at Rs.250 crore. About 3 million units are sold annually with a compounded annual growth rate of 15 percent. Priced between Rs.490- 890, TI’s calculators can be used from basic calculations to advanced 2-variable statistics, conversions, regression analysis, etc. “The launch of TI scientific calculators in India is significant because of the government’s initiative of declaring 2012 as the Year of Mathematics. Students all over the world are leaning towards advanced technology enabled interactive methods for analysis and calculations. We are confident that through our calcularors we will help students expand their horizons in mathematics and allied subjects,” said Dr Peter Balyta, general manager, sales and marketing — education…
