Article Posted on : - Sep 13, 2010

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): US defence major Lockheed Martin Monday announced a two-year extension of its support to the Indian Innovation Growth Programme, which helps innovators commercialise their technologies.

"In collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology, Lockheed Martin is extending support for the programme through 2012," company officials said here.

The India Innovation Growth Programme was launched in March 2007 and aims at helping Indian innovators to transition their technologies to both the Indian and global markets.

Speaking on the occasion, Lockheed's Chief Technology Officer Ray Johnson said, "Innovation is a key driver to solving these global challenges, and this program will nurture the new ideas that will become these solutions."

Department of Science and Technology, the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas, FICCI and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum are the other partners in the programme.

So far, 240 innovators have received training on commercialisation strategies and advanced training in areas such as technology commercialisation strategies, venture formation and finance, and marketing has been provided to 120 innovators, officials said.