Archives December 2024

December 12, 2024 – Padma Shri Prof Dr Kamini Rao, well- known name in Bengaluru in the field of reproductive medicine and women’s healthcare inaugurated Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, a unit of Medline Aademics today at Kumara Park in Bengaluru. This hospital represents not just a new milestone but a heartfelt continuation of Dr. Kamini Rao’s unwavering dedication to women’s healthcare, spanning from menarche to menopause and beyond. For over 40 years, Dr. Kamini Rao has been a beacon of hope, touching countless lives and shaping the future of healthcare in India and beyond.

Honoring a Remarkable Journey

Women’s healthcare in India has undergone a transformative evolution, with the IVF industry alone now valued at $95 billion. Dr. Kamini Rao’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping this growth, alongside her broader efforts in addressing the holistic needs of women’s health. After completing her training in the UK, she returned to South India to pioneer reproductive medicine and holistic care, establishing milestones that continue to inspire.

Dr. Kamini Rao’s journey is defined by key milestones:

Founding BACC Healthcare, which later evolved into Milann through a partnership with HCG. With the responsibility of supporting over 300 employees and her young family, she chose to merge with HCG to provide stability and growth for all involved.
Recently selling her stake in Milann to HCG and launching Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, supported by her family’s vision to expand healthcare offerings beyond reproductive medicine.

Mentoring and training over 300 doctors annually through Medline Academics, nurturing the next generation of experts in reproductive and women’s health.

Authoring more than 150 books, contributing critical insights and knowledge to the global medical community.
Receiving numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2014, recognizing her exceptional contributions.
Championing education and welfare through the Kamini Kares Foundation, positively impacting over 500 lives by supporting children and rural teachers.

A Family-Driven Vision

Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals is more than a healthcare institution; it is a family’s commitment to a legacy. The next generation is carrying the torch forward:

Mrs. Pooja Sidharth Rao, Co-Founder and Managing Director, ensures seamless non-clinical operations while upholding the hospital’s vision of affordable, accessible care for all.
Dr. Vyshnavi Rao, Medical Director, brings clinical expertise and a fresh perspective to advance innovative treatments and compassionate care.

Together, they envision:Reaching underserved patients through the Kamini Kares Foundation, delivering world-class care to those in need.
Providing cutting-edge, yet affordable treatment options for all patients.
Expanding the scope of care to include all stages of women’s health, addressing needs from adolescence to post-menopause and beyond.
Ensuring Dr. Kamini Rao’s pioneering legacy endures for generations, blending expertise with a deep sense of responsibility.

A Message from Prof Dr. Kamini Rao

“This hospital is the embodiment of a dream—to ensure that high-quality women’s healthcare is not a privilege but a right. It is about creating a future where every challenge, whether in adolescence, fertility, or later years, is met with empathy, innovation, and expertise. My deepest gratitude goes to my family, colleagues, and countless individuals who have supported this journey,” shared Dr. Kamini Rao.

About Medline Academics

Medline Academics has been at the forefront of medical education, training over 1,000 professionals and cementing its place as a leader in women’s health and clinical excellence. Through Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, this legacy of blending education with healthcare delivery continues, ensuring transformative experiences for both patients and practitioners.

A New Chapter Begins

With a focus on healthcare from menarche to menopause and beyond, Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, launched by Prof. Dr. Kamini A. Rao, stands as a testament to her enduring commitment to excellence and compassion. This is not just a hospital; it is a promise to advance the field of women’s health while staying true to its core mission of serving humanity.

December 13, 2024: Bazel International Ltd, a BSE-listed Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), proudly announces its acquisition of SR Industries Ltd. through the corporate resolution process facilitated by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

With this acquisition, Bazel becomes the majority shareholder of SR Industries and takes full ownership of its advanced footwear manufacturing plant in Una, Himachal Pradesh. This strategic move was financed through equity sales and contributions from Bazel’s associates, underscoring the company’s financial strength.

Post-acquisition, Bazel has restructured the board of SR Industries, appointed new directors, and is currently reviewing the shareholding pattern to align with long-term strategic goals.

With SR Industries under its wing, Bazel aims to capitalize on the growing demand for stylish, comfortable, and sustainable footwear. Plans include launching a new footwear brand to capture significant market share in the evolving industry landscape.

The introduction of mandatory BIS certification for large and medium-sized manufacturers, coupled with promising growth prospects in the footwear sector, presents a unique opportunity. Bazel International Ltd is confident that SR Industries will emerge as a leading player in the market, driving sustainable growth and delivering exceptional value to stakeholders.

12 December, 2024: Consortium for Climate, Health and Air pollution Research in India (CHAIR-India), in a new study published in the Lancet Planetary Health, revealed that long term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution concentrations higher than the 5 μg/m³ annual average recommended by the WHO is potentially associated with 1.5 million deaths a year in India. According to the findings, the 1.4 billion people in India live in areas with PM2.5 concentrations above that recommended by the WHO guidelines.

CHAIR-India consortium comprises of leading Indian academic institutions such as the Centre for Health Analytics Research and Trends (CHART) at Ashoka University, the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) and global institutions like Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden), Harvard University, Boston University, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (USA), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel), and the Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service/ASL Roma 1 (Italy).

This is the first Indian study to use difference-in-difference method, a causal methodology to isolate the effect of long-term PM2.5 exposure (annual) and all-cause mortality. The study observed that the risk is high even at lower air pollution levels, indicating the need to reduce air pollution levels across the country. It included annual death data reported across all districts and PM2.5 exposure from a spatio-temporal model built for India.

Major findings:

Every 10 μg/m3 increase in annual PM2.5 exposure is associated with an 8.6% increased risk for mortality across India.
Unlike previous studies, this study used PM2.5 exposure from a fine spatio-temporal model built for India and annual mortality counts reported across all districts of India.
First Indian study to use difference-in-difference method, a causal methodology to isolate the effect of long-term PM2.5 exposure (annual) and all-cause mortality.
During the study period (2009 to 2019), 25% of all deaths (~1.5 million deaths a year) were attributed to annual PM2.5 exposure higher than the WHO guideline value of 5 μg/m3 across the country.
About 0.3 million annual deaths are attributed to annual exposure to PM2.5 above the Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
The exposure-response function revealed higher incremental risk for mortality at lower PM2.5 concentrations and levelling off at higher PM2.5 concentrations.

The evidence supporting the association between long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution and deaths in India is scarce and inconsistent with studies in other countries. The authors of this study thoroughly analysed the annual deaths from 2009 to 2019 at a district level in India and obtained annual PM2.5 concentrations by a machine learning based model using satellite data as well as ground-monitoring observations of air pollution levels across 1056 locations.

The results of the study highlight the extent of the mortality burden due to PM2.5 pollution in India, the world’s most highly populated country, and underpin the need for stricter air pollution guidelines to prevent the excess mortality due to air pollution. Implementing stronger air pollution guidelines is crucial to reducing this excess mortality and protecting the health of millions of people across the country.

The Centre for Health Analytics Research and Trends (CHART) at Ashoka University is an important part of the CHAIR-India consortium and played a crucial role in conducting the research. CHAIR-India is a global network of top academic institutions working together to study the health impacts of air pollution and climate change. Part of Ashoka University’s Trivedi School of Biosciences, CHART is focused on the establishment of a strong repository of evidence – based research on a range of issues impacting population health. The team comprises public health experts, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, social scientists, environmental epidemiologists and exposure science experts, geospatial analysts, health economists, health system specialists, amongst others.

Insights from Researchers:

Researchers emphasize the necessity of a comprehensive and systematic approach to addressing air pollution. Suganthi Jaganathan, doctoral researcher, Centre for Health Analytics Research and Trends (CHART), Ashoka University, CCDC and Karolinska Institutet said, “High levels of annual PM2.5 exposures are observed in India causing a huge mortality burden (not limited to cities that are highlighted during the extreme pollution episodes), signaling the need for systematic and not symptomatic approach.“

Commenting on the study, Poornima Prabhakaran, Director – CHART, Ashoka University and Deputy Director & Head – Environmental Health, Senior Research Scientist at the CCDC and principal investigator from India for the CHAIR-India consortium said, “This study used a new analytical approach to demonstrate the mortality associated with exposure to high annual levels of PM 2.5 beyond the recommended WHO levels. This signals yet again the need to mount stringent air quality management strategies across India.”

“Delhi may get the headlines, but this is a problem all over India, and nationwide efforts are needed. Coal burning electric plants need scrubbers, crop burning needs to be limited, and most importantly, we need urgent measures to protect population health.” said Joel Schwartz, Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and principal investigator from the US for the CHAIR-India consortium.

Highlighting the importance of the study, Petter Ljungman, Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institutet and principal investigator from Sweden for the CHAIR-India consortium said, “This nation-wide analysis of air pollution mortality using data from India brings important evidence to policy makers of the striking health impact of ambient air pollution all over the country. The fact that a significant level of mortality was evident for PM2.5 levels far below the current Indian standards is alarming.

The range of PM2.5 pollution exposure was quite large across the years, with the lowest annual PM2.5 concentration of 11.2 μg/m³ observed in Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh, in 2019 and the largest annual PM2.5 of 119.0 μg/m³ observed in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi in 2016. The model estimated an increase in annual all-cause death rates by 8·6% (6·4–10·8) per 10 μg/m³ in annual PM2.5 exposure.

The authors further highlighted some limitations of the study, including that – as with all models – there will be some uncertainty in the estimates, but say their results indicate previous estimates of deaths linked to chronic PM2.5 pollution exposure in India are considerably underestimated, stressing the need to progress rapidly and comprehensively towards reducing the levels of air pollution across India.

Established in 2019, CHAIR-India consortium serves as a platform to convene researchers working to address the research gaps in health effects of air pollution in India.

12th December 2024: Commbitz, a London-based tech startup known for its innovative eSIM technology and seamless global connectivity solutions, today officially launched its operations in India. The brand aims to empower Indian travelers and businesses by redefining connectivity and offering affordable, high-speed solutions to meet the rising demand for reliable, borderless communication.

Operating globally across continents, Commbitz delivers one of the most extensive eSIM offerings available worldwide. Its entry into the Indian market is a significant move towards bridging the digital divide, ensuring seamless connectivity for travelers, remote professionals, and enterprises navigating today’s increasingly interconnected/hyper-connected world.

Speaking about the India launch, Mr Harsh Jayesh Ruparel, Co-Founder & CEO of Commbitz, said: “We are thrilled to bring Commbitz to the Indian market. Given the sector’s diversity, rapid digital transformation, and growing appetite for innovative connectivity solutions, we believe the Indian landscape provides a perfect platform for us to innovate and empower travelers, businesses, and families with seamless, cost-effective and sustainable communication experience. This expansion represents our commitment to enabling borderless communication for a truly connected future, achieving our global mission to make connectivity simple, accessible, and truly borderless.”

The brand offers a wide-range of eSIM solutions tailored to the needs of travelers, families, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and enterprises. These solutions include seamless API integrations and white-label options, enabling partners to customize and scale their connectivity offerings. Beyond technology, Commbitz is strongly committed towards sustainability, reducing the reliance on physical SIM cards and contributing to a more eco-conscious approach to global connectivity.

Commbitz is also set to launch customizable plans, including one-day options, to cater to diverse customer needs, offering flexibility and convenience for users across different demographics. Additionally, the company is gearing up for the introduction of its B2C offerings, underscoring the brand’s focus on delivering customer-centric offerings that aligning with its global vision of accessible and borderless connectivity.

The company’s global operations have already proven highly successful, with Commbitz securing a revenue of over USD $4.75M (GBP) in the FY 2023-2024. The brand was able to upscale the revenue to approximately to USD $4.16M (GBP) in the FY24 till Oct’24, reflecting the growing demand for its innovative and sustainable solutions.

Commbitz entry into India comes at a crucial point, as the country is undergoing an unprecedented surge in demand for advanced digital services. With a rapidly growing population of digitally savvy users and an expanding travel and business ecosystem, India presents a unique opportunity for innovation. Commbitz is keen to collaborate with local businesses, technology partners, and the travel industry to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions that address the diverse and evolving connectivity needs of Indian users.

Delhi-NCR’s luxury housing segment is constantly evolving as the demand for upscale living spaces is high. With the constantly changing homebuyers’ preferences, the luxury housing segment is undergoing an impressive transformation. The real estate market in Delhi-NCR is witnessing projects that are focused and conceptualized on spacious interiors and high-end finishes along with an array of innovative features catering to the modern living style of new-age homebuyers.

Luxury homes in Delhi-NCR have extended beyond the basic metrics like size and location. While location and spacious size remain critical aspects in the homebuying search of buyers, styles, and interior specifications have taken center stage lately. Nowadays, more and more developers are adopting the innovative approach of facilitating holistic living experiences incorporating exquisite designs, cutting-edge technology, health & wellness amenities, sustainable approaches, etc.

The desire for exclusivity, upgraded living standards, and luxury homes are constantly fuelling the demand for luxury homes across key cities. Amongst all, Delhi-NCR is leading the growth of luxury housing. As per the JLL report, H1 2024 witnessed Delhi-NCR grabbing a significant share of 64 percent in the new launches of luxury homes amongst the top seven cities. Another industry report by CBRE shows that the luxury housing segment saw a 37.8 percent YoY jump during January – September 2024. The premium and luxury homes segment

Industry trends reflect that luxury living is no longer about opulence, it’s all about the quality of life and living standards. Nowadays, buyers look for homes reflecting their aspirational value and modern living convenience.

Emerging and new micro-markets in NCR like SPR corridor, Dwarka Expressway, New Gurgaon, Noida sec-150, Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, Indirapuram, Siddharth Vihar, etc. are in the spotlight and soon emerged as preferred locations for luxury homebuyers. Developers like Prateek Group who have played a significant role in Noida and Ghaziabad’s realty market stand tall in constantly evolving with new-age housing trends. The company is coming up with its new premium residences in Siddharth Vihar, Ghaziabad. Based on the theme of a fantasy world, and ‘Butterfly’ as its mascot, the new premium residences are likely to be an ideal living destination for people seeking calm and tranquil living surroundings.

Amidst new and evolving trends, smart home technologies, wellness-focused amenities, sustainability, green living, community living features, location and connectivity, open and green spaces, bespoke architecture, and interior are setting standards for homes going beyond basics.

The most influential factor in the luxury housing market is changing demographics and their evolving preferences. At present, the housing market attracts a mix of buyers across age groups coming from different backgrounds. The industry has observed a trend among them valuing convenience, ease of living, and quality of life above all.

With continuous upgrades in infrastructure, NCR’s luxury housing market is likely to witness unprecedented heights. The new project supply will bring iconic projects reflecting the perfect blend of innovation, sustainability, and exclusivity. As buyers look forward to owning more than physical assets, such homes will offer ideal choices to have an enhanced lifestyle beyond the basics.

12 December 2024: MediBuddy, India’s leading digital healthcare platform, has unveiled a new campaign titled WinOverWinter to highlight the importance of health and wellness during the winter season. The campaign is designed to raise awareness about the health challenges that accompany the winter season, and aims to empower families to prioritise their health during these colder months of the year.

Winter brings its own set of health risks, from seasonal illnesses such as cold and flu to aggravating chronic conditions such as asthma and arthritis. Statistics reveal an alarming 70% increase in respiratory illnesses during the winter months, emphasising the urgent need for cautionary measures against flu and viral infections. With these winter-related health concerns affecting individuals across all age groups across India, the campaign highlights the importance of readily available healthcare support. The campaign reinforces MediBuddy’s role as a trusted healthcare partner, ensuring that high quality medical care remains accessible despite seasonal challenges.

The campaign captures the essence of the winter, showcasing both the joys and challenges that come with it. The visuals portray winter healthcare needs from children dealing with seasonal flu to elderly patients managing arthritis ensuring the breadth of audience catered to by MediBuddy platform. The narrative weaves together the impact of MediBuddy’s platform in simplifying healthcare access—virtual consultations for timely care, managing chronic conditions with the guidance of trusted healthcare experts—ensuring that expert medical advice is always within reach, making the season more comfortable for everyone.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Saibal Biswas, SVP and Head of Marketing, Partnerships & PR at MediBuddy, said, “The onset of winter weather presents various short-term ailments as well as significant health issues. This campaign not just highlights these challenges but also demonstrates how MediBuddy’s digital healthcare ecosystem can provide immediate and effective solutions. At MediBuddy, our efforts are channelled to ensure that patients receive timely care 24*7, reducing the need for multiple hospital visits and enhancing treatment efficiency. Through our comprehensive healthcare services and a strong network of specialists available to address health concerns in person and remotely, we continue to bridge the access gaps in healthcare, ensuring that expert advice and high quality healthcare are just a click away.”

12 December, 2024: C3iHub, the Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub at IIT Kanpur has officially opened registrations for the much-anticipated Global Cybersecurity Hackathon, ‘Hack IITK 2024.’ Conceptualized by C3iHub and powered by Techkriti, this flagship event aims to bring together cybersecurity enthusiasts from across the globe to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges through innovation and competition. With esteemed partners such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), Saptang Labs, NTT DATA, SecureDApps, cloud partner Amazon Web Services (AWS), and platform partners Hack2Skill and Prutor, Hack IITK 2024 promises a world-class competitive experience for all participants.

Hack IITK, conceived by IIT Kanpur professors, is designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, aspiring startups, and professionals. Participants will engage with real-world problem statements, defined by experts at C3iHub, and develop robust solutions to combat critical cybersecurity threats. The hackathon is open to cybersecurity enthusiasts, including students, aspiring startups, and professionals, and will be conducted in a hybrid format, with the qualification and challenge rounds held online, and the Grand Finale taking place at the IIT Kanpur campus in February 2025. The event will feature a jury panel comprised of eminent cybersecurity leaders from academia and industry.

Prof. Sandeep Shukla, Project Director of C3iHub, said, “Hack IITK is more than just a competition; it’s a platform for fostering innovation, nurturing talent, and addressing real-world cybersecurity challenges. By bringing together students, professionals, and startups, we aim to create solutions that will shape the future of cybersecurity and drive entrepreneurial growth”

The hackathon will feature two dedicated tracks. The Solution Track is designed for UG/PG college students and focuses on IT Security, Cyber Crime, and Web3 Security. The Startup Track is tailored for aspiring startups, with focus areas including IT Security, Web 3.0 Security, Cyber Crime, Security of AI/ML, Automotive Security, Mobile Security, and Privileged Access Management (PAM).

The Solution Track will consist of three phases: Qualification Round, Challenge Round, and the Grand Finale at the IIT Kanpur campus. The Startup Track will involve proposal submissions and solution pitches before a jury panel comprising industry experts. Selected startups will also gain opportunities for incubation support at IIT Kanpur to bring their innovative cybersecurity solutions to market.

Hack IITK 2024 offers prize money worth over ₹30 lakhs, including ₹5 lakhs in cash prizes and AWS Cloud Credits for winners. Registrations are now open and will close on

12 December, 2024: C3iHub, the Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub at IIT Kanpur has officially opened registrations for the much-anticipated Global Cybersecurity Hackathon, ‘Hack IITK 2024.’ Conceptualized by C3iHub and powered by Techkriti, this flagship event aims to bring together cybersecurity enthusiasts from across the globe to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges through innovation and competition. With esteemed partners such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), Saptang Labs, NTT DATA, SecureDApps, cloud partner Amazon Web Services (AWS), and platform partners Hack2Skill and Prutor, Hack IITK 2024 promises a world-class competitive experience for all participants.

Hack IITK, conceived by IIT Kanpur professors, is designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, aspiring startups, and professionals. Participants will engage with real-world problem statements, defined by experts at C3iHub, and develop robust solutions to combat critical cybersecurity threats. The hackathon is open to cybersecurity enthusiasts, including students, aspiring startups, and professionals, and will be conducted in a hybrid format, with the qualification and challenge rounds held online, and the Grand Finale taking place at the IIT Kanpur campus in February 2025. The event will feature a jury panel comprised of eminent cybersecurity leaders from academia and industry.

Prof. Sandeep Shukla, Project Director of C3iHub, said, “Hack IITK is more than just a competition; it’s a platform for fostering innovation, nurturing talent, and addressing real-world cybersecurity challenges. By bringing together students, professionals, and startups, we aim to create solutions that will shape the future of cybersecurity and drive entrepreneurial growth”

The hackathon will feature two dedicated tracks. The Solution Track is designed for UG/PG college students and focuses on IT Security, Cyber Crime, and Web3 Security. The Startup Track is tailored for aspiring startups, with focus areas including IT Security, Web 3.0 Security, Cyber Crime, Security of AI/ML, Automotive Security, Mobile Security, and Privileged Access Management (PAM).

The Solution Track will consist of three phases: Qualification Round, Challenge Round, and the Grand Finale at the IIT Kanpur campus. The Startup Track will involve proposal submissions and solution pitches before a jury panel comprising industry experts. Selected startups will also gain opportunities for incubation support at IIT Kanpur to bring their innovative cybersecurity solutions to market.

Hack IITK 2024 offers prize money worth over ₹30 lakhs, including ₹5 lakhs in cash prizes and AWS Cloud Credits for winners. Registrations are now open and will close on January 09, 2025. .

December 12, 2024: RV University (RVU) and RV College of Engineering (RVCE) unveiled the “Library by Brigade”, a state–of–the–art Library and Information Centre at RVU’s Bengaluru campus. This advanced facility is an initiative supported by Brigade Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Brigade Group.

Brigade Foundation’s involvement also extends to supporting the upcoming Brigade School of Business at RVU’s new upcoming Mysuru campus. These initiatives underscore the shared commitment of RVU and Brigade Foundation to fostering educational excellence and creating environments conducive to transformative learning experiences.

The newly inaugurated library, spread across 60,000 square feet and four floors, blends digital and physical resources to support diverse academic disciplines.

The ‘Library by Brigade’ was inaugurated by Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, in the presence of Mr. M. R. Jaishankar, Executive Chairman of Brigade Group; Dr. M.P. Shyam, President of RSST; Dr. (h.c.) A.V.S. Murthy, Chancellor of RVU; Mr. D.P. Nagaraj, Pro Chancellor of RVU. Prof. (Dr.) K.N. Subramanya, Principal of RVCE; Prof. (Dr.) Dwarika Prasad Uniyal, Vice Chancellor (i/c) of RVU; Dr. Sahana D. Gowda, Registrar of RVU; Mr. Nikhil A. Murthy, Director of RVU along with senior leadership and staff from Brigade Group, RVCE and RVU.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. (h.c.) A.V.S. Murthy, Chancellor, RV University, remarked, “I wish to sincerely thank Mr. Jaishankar, Lifetime Trustee, Brigade Foundation for making a substantial contribution to RV University.  The Brigade Group’s visionary philanthropy aligns with our Trust’s deep commitment to delivering high-quality education and empowering students to reach their full potential. With their support, the ‘Library by Brigade‘ in our Bengaluru campus and the Brigade School of Business at the upcoming Mysuru campus will create spaces for intellectual endeavours and produce future leaders.”

Mr. M.R. Jaishankar, Lifetime Trustee, Brigade Foundation, said, “Education has been a cornerstone of our philanthropic endeavours for over 20 years, ever since we established three ‘The Brigade Schools’ in Bengaluru. This collaboration is a testament to our dedication to foster a vibrant educational ecosystem that benefits academia. These libraries provide a wealth of knowledge and resources, which will inspire future generations of leaders and innovators.”

Dr. M.P. Shyam, President, Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust (RSST is the sponsoring body of RV University), said: “I commend the Brigade Foundation and in particular, its Lifetime Trustee, Mr. M.R. Jaishankar for their support to RV University. Education requires significant investments and also funding by corporates under CSR. Universities exist in perpetuity. Thousands of students, parents, distinguished visitors to the campus will remember and applaud this extraordinary act of corporate philanthropy on the part of Brigade Group.”

The library’s contemporary design includes research labs, maker spaces, solo and group study pods, an amphitheatre, and interactive reading areas. Additionally, it offers an expansive digital repository with access to top academic databases like EBSCO, JSTOR, and IEEE, alongside e-books, journals, and multimedia resources.

This project symbolises RV University’s progressive approach to education, while highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in shaping the future of learning.

and RV College of Engineering (RVCE) unveiled the “Library by Brigade”, a state-of-the-art Library and Information Centre at RVU’s Bengaluru campus. This advanced facility is an initiative supported by Brigade Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Brigade Group.

Brigade Foundation’s involvement also extends to supporting the upcoming Brigade School of Business at RVU’s new upcoming Mysuru campus. These initiatives underscore the shared commitment of RVU and Brigade Foundation to fostering educational excellence and creating environments conducive to transformative learning experiences.

The newly inaugurated library, spread across 60,000 square feet and four floors, blends digital and physical resources to support diverse academic disciplines.

12th December 2024 – BT Group is transforming customer support through the integration of advanced AI and generative AI technologies, in collaboration with Sprinklr. The refreshed customer contact platform significantly enhances the EE and BT customer experience through conversational AI, and enhances support processes for the Group’s customer service guides across its Business, Consumer and internal contact channels.

BT Group has integrated Sprinklr’s unified customer experience platform, meaning when a customer is seeking support, the platform can draw on BT Group’s data to provide a personalised, accurate response. The customer contact platform, which powers EE’s virtual assistant Aimee, also provides the messaging capability for real-time online chat with customers.

The platform enables BT Group to use generative AI to support various customer experiences, for sales and support for both EE and BT customers. For example, the Gen AI-enhanced experience within Aimee which helps customers prepare for international travel has halved the need for online chat/messaging support, thanks to its ability to understand and respond to customer needs. This keeps guides free for more complex asks, and helps customers get what they need, faster.

Another place it is making a difference is in billing support, where generative AI provides detailed explanations of billing charges, enhancing transparency and customer satisfaction. Rich media within Aimee also means the chat experience isn’t just a text exchange; product cards and carousels are more engaging and valuable for customers. Over 30 separate customer experiences have been defined within Aimee so far, with more to follow. Aimee’s use has risen 51% year on year, demonstrating customer enthusiasm for the channel as its capabilities continue to be improved.

Looking ahead, BT Group plans to expand its use of generative AI to further improve customer support. Upcoming features are expected to include AI-driven summaries of customer interactions and real-time support and guidance. With this, Aimee will be able to act as a virtual AI assistant for our guides, helping to improve efficiency, effectiveness, colleague and customer experience.

BT Group has experienced an impressive growth in customer interactions facilitated by Aimee. ~60,000 conversations per week are now handled through Aimee compared to ~30,000 per week just two years ago. This frees time for guides to help customers with more complex issues and deliver an even more personal experience.

BT Group has implemented key ethical guardrails to ensure robust data privacy and security measures. AI capabilities are hosted on a private cloud instance, ensuring compliance with data and privacy regulations, and data policies are set by BT Group’s internal data management platform, Data Fabric. This allows BT Group to maintain control over its data while benefitting from Sprinklr’s AI capabilities. Working with Sprinklr has also enabled BT Group to put in safeguards to monitor for attempts to get the AI to misbehave.

BT Group remains agnostic about which Large Language Model (LLM) it uses in generative AI, continuing to draw on different LLMs. The architecture in the customer contact platform allows BT Group to select the optimal LLM for each use case, and will integrate with BT Group’s new GenAI Gateway in the future.

Harry Singh, MD of Consumer Digital at BT Group, commented: “The collaboration with Sprinklr marks a significant step forward in BT Group’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional customer experiences. With our customer contact platform, we have unlocked powerful AI-enhanced capabilities for our customer service, boosting satisfaction and creating exciting new opportunities for customer experience.”

Sprinklr President and CEO Rory Read, added: “We’re delighted to be working alongside the iconic brands within BT Group, at the forefront of innovative customer engagement through effective AI. AI has huge potential to enhance and elevate customer experiences, and it’s been fantastic to help BT Group achieve such brilliant results, so quickly.”

12th, December 2024: VergeCloud, an innovative startup in the cloud technology segment, announces its entry into the dynamic Indian market. After three years of dedicated product development, the company is poised to unveil its cutting-edge Content Delivery Network (CDN), advanced cloud security solutions, and powerful edge computing infrastructure. To support its go-to-market efforts, VergeCloud has secured an initial USD 3 million in funding dedicated primarily to sales and marketing initiatives.

This infusion of capital follows a substantial multi-year investment—amounting to several millions of dollars—made towards building out the company’s large-scale CDN and cloud security platform. With the core technology foundation now firmly in place, VergeCloud will concentrate on expanding its market presence, delivering exceptional performance, and simplifying complex adoption processes for Indian businesses entering the cloud realm.

“We’re thrilled to introduce VergeCloud to India’s rapidly evolving cloud-tech landscape,” shared Saurabh Bhardwaj, CEO of VergeCloud. “Over the last three years, we have invested heavily in developing a next-generation CDN and comprehensive security solutions designed to empower businesses to scale effortlessly, enhance website performance, and strengthen data protection. Our recent funding not only accelerates our market outreach but also supports our mission to simplify cloud adoption and democratize advanced technologies for businesses of all sizes.”

VergeCloud’s platform addresses core challenges in modern IT ecosystems, offering features like Cloud CDN, DNS management, DDoS mitigation, and advanced edge computing. By transforming complex cloud adoption and migration hurdles into seamless processes, VergeCloud enables businesses—from media and OTT services to e-commerce and EdTech—to deliver exceptional user experiences. As a trusted partner, VergeCloud stands ready to help enterprises navigate today’s data-driven environment and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.