Zomato to support the training of 10,000 women for roles in logistics

New Delhi, 30th September 2024: Zomato today announced a target to support training of 10,000 women to empower them to participate in logistics in collaboration with non-profit and skilling sectors. The target was shared at a closed door roundtable conference event today titled, “Women in Logistics” at Le Meridien, New Delhi. The event brought together key industry stakeholders, including representatives from NGOs including Pratham, Azad Foundation, impact consulting firms such as FSG, Give Grants, and logistics companies such as Porter and Mahindra Logistics, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in India’s growing hyper local and quick commerce economy.

The target announced today is a part of Zomato’s broader commitment to gender inclusion reflected in its flagship initiative, Project Arya. Started in 2021, the project aims to break gender barriers and provide women with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in logistics. As part of this initiative, Zomato has already successfully onboarded more than 2500 women in the delivery fleet. In addition to onboarding women in last-mile delivery, Zomato has also begun onboarding women in Hyperpure and Blinkit warehouses and dark stores with a target of 20% representation of women across the day-time shift in warehouses by the end of 2024.

The discussions at the event focused on the hurdles women face in gig work, such as safety concerns, access to infrastructure and training. Stakeholders shared their insights and innovative solutions to enhance women’s participation in the last-mile logistics.

Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Zomato, said, Women today account for less than 10% of the overall delivery workforce despite the fact that ordering and delivery platforms offer a better balance of flexibility and earning potential than many other opportunities available to them. Zomato is eager to lead the change in this sector in collaboration with both government and non-governmental organizations that are working with women seeking to become self-reliant. Together, we believe we can create the right conditions for women to participate and benefit from the huge growth in the food ordering and delivery space and quick commerce.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Zomato towards the vision of making logistics more inclusive. Zomato’s Project Arya, which is designed to develop the ecosystem to support onboarding of more women as delivery partners, aligns with Give Grants’ mission of advising on social and environmental issues while creating shared value for both the business and society”, Sumit Tayal, CEO Give Grants

Vikram Jain, Managing Director at FSG said, “FSG’s GLOW (‘Growing Livelihood Opportunities for Women’) program has collaborated with Zomato to improve gender diversity in logistics roles, with a special focus on warehousing. At this roundtable conference, it’s been heartening to see the progress in terms of the increase in the number of women employed in warehouses. We’re convinced that, with supportive policies and corporate practices to make warehouses women-friendly, the sector can be a major driver in improving women’s labour workforce participation in India.”

In the last few years, Zomato has taken multiple steps to combat entry barriers for women in logistics. The company provides benefits like shorter distance deliveries, period rest leaves and maternity benefits to its female delivery partners. Zomato continues to launch initiatives with an objective of enabling greater participation of women in logistics.

AMD Instinct MI300X Accelerators Available on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure for Demanding AI Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept 30, 2024: AMD announced that Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) has chosen AMD Instinct™ MI300X accelerators with ROCm™ open software to power its newest OCI Compute Supercluster instance called BM.GPU.MI300X.8. For AI models that can comprise hundreds of billions of parameters, the OCI Supercluster with AMD MI300X supports up to 16,384 GPUs in a single cluster by harnessing the same ultrafast network fabric technology used by other accelerators on OCI. Designed to run demanding AI workloads including large language model (LLM) inference and training that requires high throughput with leading memory capacity and bandwidth, these OCI bare metal instances have already been adopted by companies including Fireworks AI.

“AMD Instinct MI300X and ROCm open software continue to gain momentum as trusted solutions for powering the most critical OCI AI workloads,” said Andrew Dieckmann, corporate vice president and general manager, Data Center GPU Business, AMD. “As these solutions expand further into growing AI-intensive markets, the combination will benefit OCI customers with high performance, efficiency, and greater system design flexibility.”

“The inference capabilities of AMD Instinct MI300X accelerators add to OCI’s extensive selection of high-performance bare metal instances to remove the overhead of virtualized compute commonly used for AI infrastructure,” said Donald Lu, senior vice president, software development, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. “We are excited to offer more choice for customers seeking to accelerate AI workloads at a competitive price point.”

Bringing Trusted Performance and Open Choice for AI Training and Inference

The AMD Instinct MI300X underwent extensive testing which was validated by OCI that underscored its AI inferencing and training capabilities for serving latency-optimal use cases, even with larger batch sizes, and the ability to fit the largest LLM models in a single node. These Instinct MI300X performance results have garnered the attention of AI model developers.

Fireworks AI offers a fast platform designed to build and deploy generative AI. With over 100+ models, Fireworks AI is leveraging the benefits of performance found in OCI using AMD Instinct MI300X.

“Fireworks AI helps enterprises build and deploy compound AI systems across a wide range of industries and use cases,” said Lin Qiao, CEO of Fireworks AI. “The amount of memory capacity available on the AMD Instinct MI300X and ROCm open software allows us to scale services to our customers as models continue to grow.”

Manipal Hospitals launches visionary campaign on World Heart Day

New Delhi, 30 thSeptember 2024: In a major step towards building a heart-healthy city, Manipal Hospitals, among the top healthcare service providers of India, introduced its Hridoye Jurey Kolkata initiative today. The event was organized as a prelude to the World Heart Day, observed globally every year on September 29th. The engaging sessions included leading cardiac specialists from all units of Manipal Hospitals in Kolkata, who shared their varied experiences in cardiovascular health and innovative surgeries that are transforming medical discourse around patient outcomes.

The event was attended by Chief Guest, Mr. Barun Chanda, prominent actor and author. It also witnessed experts in cardiology, including Dr Prakash Kumar Hazra, Director & HoD, Cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, Dr Rabin Chakraborty, Senior Vice Chairman & Head of Cardiology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital (a part of Manipal Hospitals), and Dr Kunal Sarkar, Senior Vice Chairman & Head of Cardiac Surgery, Medica Superspecialty Hospital (a part of Manipal Hospitals), along with Mr Ayanabh DebGupta, Regional COO, Manipal Hospitals (East), addressed the noble healthcare initiative.

The event also saw the launch of two groundbreaking awareness initiatives. ‘One Scan Can Save a Life’, in which boards with a QR code will be fixed at traffic signals. By scanning the code, citizens can get instant access to MARS (Manipal Ambulance Response Service), promoting both 24×7 Emergency Service, along with informative video tutorials on learning how to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Procedure). As part of the initiative, traffic lights across the jurisdiction of Bidhan Nagar Police Commissionerate will be displaying heart-shapes, instead of the usual round shape, from 25th September night till 30th September, at important crossroads. The unique traffic signals are expected to constantly instill awareness of heart health amongst the people of Kolkata.

The ‘Hridoye Jurey Kolkata’ campaign aims to ensure at least 3 percent of Indians know how to administer CPR. Manipal Hospitals conducted an extensive CPR training program for community members, including Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), school students, staff and principals, security guards, police personnel, HR heads, and corporate employees. The initiative, called ‘Heart Smart Kolkata’ aims to develop a database of people trained in CPR all over the city.

This was followed by two panel discussions — Heart Problems in Women, and Cardiac Surgery: Myths Vs Facts — where top cardiologists and cardiac surgeons from Manipal Hospitals provided valuable insights.

Mr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Hospitals East, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Hridoye Jurey Kolkata aims to build communities of heroes and survivors by improving action and response to cardiac arrest through training, preparation and response protocols. We intend to create a heart safe community through training citizens in CPR and we are actively taking this initiative across all Manipal group hospitals in the East. We want the message to be spread across schools, colleges, corporates, clubs and all other associations so that those who are trained in CPR can train their near and dear ones. This way we can create a huge pool of CPR trained resources around us, which will help us to save many a lives.”

Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Senior Vice Chairman & Head of Cardiac Surgery, Medica Superspecialty Hospital (a part of Manipal Hospitals), further highlighted Manipal Hospitals’ commitment to the initiative, stating, “At Manipal Hospitals, our vision is to revolutionize the cardiac care system of Kolkata while offering the best and latest treatments.”

“Cardiovascular diseases are ranked as the leading causes of death, affecting one-third of all global deaths; it therefore becomes crucial to address prevention, early intervention, and effective management of these conditions. ‘Hridoye Jurey Kolkata’ is a proof of our commitment to make the city a heart smart one. Another significant achievement of our work includes the swift solution to the method of using a Quick Response Code (QR) to access emergency assistance or a CPR demonstration and the reminder through the heart-shaped traffic signs that make the community aware of cardiovascular diseases. We seek to make a lasting change and create a force of people capable of making life-saving CPR actions that can cover minimum 3% population of India. As a team, we are hopeful to action against premature mortality and provide efficient care for heart health risks for the populace of Kolkata,” Dr Sarkar added.

Dr. Rabin Chakraborty, Senior Vice Chairman & Head of Cardiology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital (a part of Manipal Hospitals), commented, “The rising incidences of cardiovascular diseases especially among patients between 25-40 years is a matter of grave concern. The percentage of heart attacks before the age of 50 has gone up to 50% over last decade. More than 25% suffer heart attacks before their 40th birthday. Even women are succumbing to heart failures at a much younger age. As per research by the American Heart Association, in the last decade, there has been a 20% increase in heart attacks in women under 55. Keeping these critical factors in mind, as doctors, we feel there is a need to focus on preventive measures, early diagnosis, and timely treatment. The ‘Hridoye Jurey Kolkata’ initiative by Manipal Hospitals is a timely initiative in making Kolkata a heart-healthy city. We need to educate the community, society at large and change specific behaviors for prevention of heart diseases, improving the health of individuals.”

Dr. Prakash Kumar Hazra, Director & HoD, Cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, said, “This initiative that we have taken up this World Heart Day, will make people of Kolkata more aware about their heart health. Moreover, training common people in CPR techniques is not only unique, it is also crucial. Knowing CPR can help save thousands of lives because even the basic effort to resuscitate the heart till a heart attack patient is brought to a hospital can help. This World Heart Day we have also taken the pledge of ‘Mission 2 to 3’ meaning that while two percent Indians already know CPR, we want to train the general public and take up the percentage to three, so that more and more people are encouraged to learn this technique.”

During the panel discussions important facets were highlighted by the doctors (refer to annexure below) and the specialists exchanged views and presented various aspects regarding cardiac health, liberal medical preventative measures, and contemporary trends in cardiac treatment.

According to World Heart Federation, 1 in 3 deaths across the globe are caused by cardiovascular diseases, and majority of premature heart disease and stroke are preventable and treatable, if the patient is brought to a hospital within the golden hour. With this heart smart program being run in Kolkata, Manipal Hospitals is confident that there will be an improvement in the heart health status of every Kolkatan.

Indian Workers Report Highest Satisfaction with Hybrid Working, Outpacing Global Average, says Unispace Study

Bengaluru, 30 September, 2024 – Indian employees and employers state the highest satisfaction with their current hybrid work environment, even as Indian employees are least likely to spend time at their desks in office, reveals the latest Global Workspace Insights report from one of the world’s leading workplace creation companies.

97% of employees and 98% employers in India surveyed by Unispace for the report expressed their satisfaction with the hybrid working arrangement, as compared to a global average of 87% employees and 95% employers. This marks a significant shift from last year’s statistics that showed that employees in India are far more likely than any other country globally to be willing to take a pay reduction in order to work from home, with almost a third (31%) indicating that they have already done so, which is almost double the global average of 16%.

The report titled ‘From Restrictions to Resilience’, part of Unispace’s Global Workplace Insights 2024-25, reveals trends and insights, based on surveys of 10,700 employees and employers across 13 countries globally, to guide organizations in creating resilient workplaces. 500 employees and 250 employers from India were surveyed for the report.

The third edition of the annual Unispace report found that employees worldwide are spending nearly half a day more per week in 2024 on average (3.7 days vs 3.4 days last year) in the office as compared to a year ago.

“Even as people are now spending nearly half a day more in the office compared to a year ago, our research shows that both employees and employers yearn for workspaces that inspire innovation and promote productivity. If they’re to endure long commutes and arrange childcare, the destination must be an environment where ideas soar,” says Swatasiddha Majumdar, Principal, Strategy at Unispace India. “There’s also been a noticeable change this year where employees are actively seeking workplaces that enable individual focus, rather than reserving concentration for work from home.”

Time spent in office

While face-to-face collaboration remains a top incentive for coming to the office, in reality, employees worldwide report spending 64% of their time in the office at their desks. Interestingly, Indian employees with 50% average reported time are least likely to spend time at their desks while working from the office.

The report further reveals that Indian employees’ inability to work productively at the office is hampered most by noise, or problems with temperature and air quality. Finding no time to exercise or staying active during the workday is an additional challenge that can cause physical and mental exhaustion.

To mitigate these challenges, the Unispace report recommends a combination of furniture and workplace configurations that cater to various tasks and working styles. “People now seek quiet areas for focused work and flexible spaces for various activities and collaboration. By addressing these needs, companies can better support their workforce, supporting both productivity and employee wellbeing,” Majumdar added.

The Unispace report also reveals that Indian employers’ confidence in their workplace’s capacity to foster innovation shows a downward trend. While 96% of employers in India believed that their workplace enables employees to be innovative in 2023, the number has dropped to 85% in 2024.

The report further reveals the biggest motivators for Indian employees to work from office, noting that paid-for or subsidized travel (parking or public transportation), access to more training or development programs, or free drinks, coffee and snacks are the top three reasons for them to feel happier to spend more time in office. Additionally, technology infrastructure, wellbeing areas for relaxation or stress relief, and hygiene facilities make up the top three essential reasons for Indian employees to work from the office.

Amorepacific Makes a Glamorous Debut as IIFA’s Official Gifting Partner

New Delhi, 30th September 2024Amorepacific, a global leader in Korean Skincare & Cosmetics has been announced as the official gifting partner for the International Indian Film Academy Awards 2024 (IIFA Awards). The prestigious awards ceremony, celebrating the brilliance of Indian Cinema will take place in Abu Dhabi from September 27th to 29th. This collaboration with IIFA highlights Amorepacific’s continued commitment to expanding its global presence and engaging with diverse audiences.

Known for its iconic brands – Innisfree, Laneige, Etude, and Sulwhasoo, Amorepacific will present specially curated gift hampers to esteemed guests attending the IIFA Awards. The hamper will include a range of skincare essentials and makeup products, all designed to enhance natural beauty and boost confidence. These carefully selected items will reflect the brand’s commitment to beauty, wellness and personal expression.

Commenting upon the partnership Paul Lee, Country Head, Amorepacific said, “We’re thrilled to be a part of The International Indian Film Academy Awards 2024. With IIFA’s illustrious 23-year history of elevating Bollywood to a global stage, we’re honored to contribute to this cultural phenomenon through our curated gift offerings.Our partnership with IIFA for this prestigious awards will showcase the best of Korean beauty, allowing us to connect with a wider audience and forge meaningful relationships.

Mini Sood Banerjee, Assistant Director & Marketing Head, Amorepacific said, “We’re excited to partner with IIFA Awards, a celebration of Indian Cinema. We believe that through this collaboration, we are bridging the best of Korean beauty with Bollywood glamour. This collaboration showcases Amorepacific’s commitment to spreading Korean beauty trends globally and connecting with diverse audiences.”

By sharing the renowned Korean beauty expertise with esteemed celebrities and influencers, Amorepacific aims to foster brand awareness and loyalty among India’s most discerning audiences. This introduction of the brands to a wider circle of influential names is poised to pave the way for Amorepacific’s sustained growth in the dynamic Indian beauty market.

Galaxy Tab S10 Series is Samsung’s AI-Ready Tablet

GURUGRAM, India – September 30, 2024 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, Samsung’s first tablets purposefully built for AI. The premium hardware includes 14.6-inch and 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays — the ideal canvas for the intuitive S Pen bundled with both models. Performance upgrades for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra include an 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU compared to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
This improved processing power enables faster and more responsive AI features, which are now easily accessible with written prompts using the new Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboards to customize AI assistant. Cutting-edge software includes features such as Note Assist and Drawing Assist, optimized for the tablet form factor. The Galaxy Tab S10 series also acts as a home AI device, with a that gives a visual overview of the home and all connected devices to streamline device management across the SmartThings ecosystem. Robust Samsung Knox security ensures data privacy and control, while innovative materials underscore Samsung’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
“The Galaxy Tab S10 series is Samsung’s first tablet built with AI enhancements available right out of the box, and it’s the latest addition to the Galaxy AI family,” said MC Lee, VP, Head of Galaxy Ecosystems Business Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re proud to add to our seamless ecosystem of connected devices, bringing versatile experiences that only an AI tablet can offer through the Galaxy Tab S10 series’ blend of power and portability.”
Peak Performance on the Go
Built on Samsung’s legacy of providing powerful experiences, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ harness significant leaps in AI processing power to deliver a supercharged, lag-free experience. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra includes a more than 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU compared to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Coupled with long-lasting battery life and Super-Fast Charging, the Galaxy Tab S10 series allows the device to be used for longer, with less time spent waiting for it to charge.
Elegant Build Quality, Mesmerizing Display
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s 14.6-inch display and Galaxy Tab S10+’s 12.4-inch display both feature cutting-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology and offer a vibrant yet natural viewing experience, even outdoors. Every detail remains clear from any angle and in any environment with advanced anti-reflective technology, minimizing distracting glare and reducing reflection rate. The series’ quad speaker setup is further enhanced with AI-powered Dialogue Boost, which amplifies voices over unwanted noise to create ultra-clear audio. And for use on the go, the Galaxy Tab S10 series offers uncompromised durability with an IP68 rating further protected by enhanced Armor Aluminum — built to handle bumps and scrapes to use anytime, anywhere.
Work Smarter, Achieve True Creativity
The Galaxy Tab S10 series offers an efficient experience — enhancing productivity —and serves as the ideal canvas to let out your creative side.
  • With Note Assist and the intuitive S Pen, notetaking is a breeze on the tablet‘s large display. Schoolwork, note-taking, and personal journaling become more efficient with automated transcriptions and summaries provided by AI. With PDF Overlay Translation, the Galaxy Tab S10 series can also seamlessly translate PDFs via an on-screen overlay. Handwriting Help cleans up untidy handwritten notes, too.
  • Galaxy AI’s Sketch to Image makes the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra perfect for turning imagination into reality, acting as the ideal creative assistant for overcoming mental roadblocks.
  • With Circle to Search with Google on the Galaxy Tab S10 series, you can Circle to search anything without switching apps. Instantly translate anything you see on your tablet with Google. Without switching apps, you can translate any image, video or text in two taps. Quickly get the info you need, then get right back to what you’re doing. Circle to Search can even recognize and outline steps for solving physics and math problems.
  • The Galaxy S Pen’s Air Command with AI provides instant access to Galaxy AI Assistant features without toggling between menus. AI Assistant apps can also be easily launched by the Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboard with written prompts, making it easier for users to choose between Samsung’s Bixby and Google’s Gemini for a customized AI experience.
Intelligent Home Device
Galaxy Tab S10 doubles as a Galaxy home AI device, simplifying device management. With large screen-optimized features such as  it’s easy to see status of SmartThings-enabled devices via the SmartThings widget. Users can also enable SmartThings Energy and AI Energy Mode to easily monitor their devices’ energy consumption. Galaxy AI doesn’t just enhance life on the go, it also takes the stress out of home life.
 The Galaxy Ecosystem, Secure and Expanded
The Galaxy Tab S10 series expands Galaxy’s unique connected experience and third-party app ecosystem, offering new and enhanced apps. The Tab S10 series provides access to leading third-party apps including Goodnotes, LumaFusion, Noteshelf 3, Clip Studio Paint, Picsart and Sketchbook. Users can easily control speeds and add dramatic visual effects when editing videos on LumaFusion or seamlessly create content for social media with Picsart’s AI design tools. With the Galaxy Tab S10 series’ extensive third-party app ecosystem, there’s something for everyone.
Samsung is committed to providing users with choice and control over their devices and their data. With Advanced Intelligence settings, users can choose to disable online data processing to ensure their data remain

5 Key Considerations When Choosing an AI Cloud Platform

Choosing the right AI cloud platform is a critical decision for organizations looking to leverage artificial intelligence effectively. As AI technologies continue to evolve and integrate into various business processes, the demand for robust, scalable, and efficient cloud solutions has never been higher. Selecting an appropriate platform can significantly impact the success of AI initiatives, influencing everything from performance and cost to security and collaboration. To make an informed choice, organizations should consider several key factors that align with their specific needs and objectives.

1. Performance and Scalability

Performance and scalability are paramount when selecting an AI cloud platform. AI workloads can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful computing capabilities to handle tasks such as model training and inference. It’s essential to choose a platform that offers high-performance computing options, including GPU instances designed specifically for AI tasks. Additionally, the ability to scale resources dynamically based on your needs is vital, allowing your organization to manage fluctuating workloads without incurring unnecessary costs. Organizations can also partner with experienced cloud and AI consultants like Onix to achieve enhanced performance and workload optimization.

2. Data Management and AI-Ready Cloud Platform

Effective data management is crucial for the successful training and deployment of AI models. When evaluating cloud platforms for AI, organizations should focus on the cloud platforms that are AI-ready and provide strong capabilities for data ingestion, storage, and processing. An ideal platform will enable seamless integration with existing data sources and tools, ensuring efficient workflows throughout the AI lifecycle. An AI-ready cloud platform has the foundation ready to implement AI, supports a variety of data formats and manages both structured and unstructured data effectively. A well-structured data management strategy enhances accessibility and empowers organizations to fully leverage their data assets, which is vital for creating accurate and impactful AI solutions. By emphasizing comprehensive data management features, organizations can maximize the potential of their data in AI initiatives.

3. Cost Efficiency

Cost efficiency is another key consideration when selecting an AI cloud platform. While cloud services can reduce capital expenditures, they can lead to increased operational costs if not managed carefully. It’s important to analyze the pricing models of different platforms and understand how costs are structured based on usage. Look for platforms that offer cost management tools, providing insights into resource utilization and spending patterns. This will help you optimize your cloud strategy and ensure that your AI projects remain financially sustainable.

4. Security and Compliance

With the increasing importance of data privacy and security, evaluating a cloud platform’s security measures is essential. Protecting sensitive data is crucial in today’s regulatory environment, so ensure that the platform implements robust security features such as encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. Additionally, verify that the platform complies with industry-specific regulations relevant to your organization. This will help mitigate risks associated with data breaches and ensure that your organization adheres to necessary compliance standards.

5. Support for Collaboration and Development

Finally, consider how well the platform supports collaboration among diverse teams involved in AI projects. Successful AI initiatives often require input from data scientists, developers, and IT operations professionals working together effectively. Look for platforms that provide collaborative tools and environments conducive to teamwork, as well as support for popular development frameworks. A flexible development environment will empower your teams to innovate and streamline the deployment of AI solutions. By keeping these five key considerations in mind, you can choose an AI cloud platform like Onix that aligns with your organization’s goals and enhances your capabilities in artificial intelligence!

Surgical robotics pioneer Intuitive opens Global Capability Centre in Bengaluru

30th September, Bengaluru, India: Intuitive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), announced the opening of its Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru today. The new centre will drive innovation and enable the enhancement of operational efficiency across the global organisation. Gary S. Guthart, Intuitive CEO and Dr. Sharanprakash Rudrappa Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka inaugurated the centre today at its location at the Embassy Golf Links.

The GCC will serve as one of Intuitive’s core global hubs for functions including IT support, enterprise analytics, software quality, human resource management system (HRMS) and post-market surveillance, all of which strengthen the safety, performance and reliability of Intuitive’s systems and technologies. The GCC will be an important contributor to Intuitive’s operations, reflecting the company’s dedication to innovation, quality, and excellence.

While inaugurating the centre, Dr. Sharanprakash Rudrappa Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka said, “Today marks a significant step forward as we welcome the establishment of a Global Capability Center in Bangalore, a city known for its dynamic growth and future potential. We recognize the pivotal role of cutting-edge technologies like robotics in the future of surgery and are committed to supporting such innovations. This Global Capability Center will play a crucial role in training more doctors, a field where India has immense potential and already produces some of the finest medical professionals globally. With further collaboration, including public-private partnerships, we can expand these advancements to even the most remote areas. The government looks forward to working with medical technology leaders like Intuitive to bring modern healthcare technology to every corner of Karnataka.”

Announcing the opening of the GCC in Bengaluru, Gary S Guthart, CEO of Intuitive said, “Intuitive is committed to building a strong presence and contributing to the growth of the healthcare ecosystem in India. This Global Capability Centre will play an important role in helping us to advance minimally invasive healthcare technology, and the ecosystem of services, support and insight that ensure its successful use and adoption.”

Intuitive expects to have more than 250 full-time positions at the GCC, including functions that will add value to the overall product lifecycle, including product upgrades, quality improvement, and customer service. This expansion aligns with Intuitive’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive workplace culture, and the team at GCC will embody Intuitive’s core values of integrity, transparency, and flexibility.

“Opening the Global Capability Centre here in Bengaluru is about more than expanding our operations—it reinforces our commitment to innovation, safety, quality and performance. Bengaluru, known for its vibrant technology development and skilled talent pool, provides an ideal environment for our Global Capability Centre, and we believe it can help us drive our mission forward to improve patient outcomes through advanced robotic surgical technologies,” said Darla Hutton, Vice President Commercial Operations and Marketing Asia & Interim General Manager India, Intuitive

Intuitive has thoughtfully advanced minimally invasive care in India through advanced robotic technology, supported by an innovative ecosystem of learning, services, and solutions. Intuitive technology can be found in in leading private and government hospitals, Medical Institutes and State Government Medical Colleges across the country. To date, more than 850 surgeons have been trained on Intuitive’s da Vinci technology and more than 100,000 procedures performed in India.

Fortis Bannerghatta Road: Complex Bilateral Hip Replacement for 38-Year-Old Visually Impaired Man with Hip and Shoulder Fractures

Anantapur, 30 September 2024Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road successfully treated a 38-Year-Old visually impaired man who had sustained severe injuries, including multiple complex fractures in both hips and his shoulder, following a fall from chair while at his shop. The team of doctors’ led by Dr Mohan K. Puttaswamy, Senior Consultant Orthopaedics, Fortis Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru performed an intricate bilateral hip replacement surgery, and the patient was discharged in stable condition after a 12-day hospital stay.

The patient, Rakesh (name changed), was visually impaired and facing challenges in performing daily tasks, suffered additional complications following the accident. The fall resulted in bilateral hip fractures and a shoulder fracture, leaving him completely immobile. Initially admitted to a local hospital after the accident, he was transferred overnight to Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road for advanced treatment.

Thorough medical evaluation indicated that he had sustained severe injuries to his both hip joints and a fracture in his left shoulder. Given the patient’s multiple co-morbidities, including diabetes, renal failure, and visual impairment, a multidisciplinary team of doctors—including anaesthetists, intensivists, nephrologists, and orthopaedic surgeon—decided to proceed with a staged bilateral hip replacement surgery. The goal was to restore mobility, alleviate pain, and ensure a quicker recovery through meticulous management of his injuries.

Giving details of the surgery, Dr Mohan K Puttaswamy, Senior Consultant-Orthopaedics, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru said, “This case was highly complex owing to the multiple co-morbidities suffered by the patient. These factors significantly increased the surgical risks. The patient presented with fractures in both hips and the left shoulder, necessitating a carefully planned approach. To address the bilateral hip fractures, we opted for a staged bilateral hip replacement due to the complexity and inherent risks of performing both replacements simultaneously.”

“We first replaced one hip, allowing the patient to stabilize and regain some mobility. A week later, we performed the second hip replacement. This phased approach was critical to minimizing surgical stress and ensuring the patient’s stability throughout the process. After successfully addressing the hip fractures, we then treated the shoulder fracture. Given the patient’s renal failure, we employed a conservative blood management strategy during the surgeries to reduce transfusion needs and minimize strain on the kidneys, which was essential considering his potential need for a kidney transplant in the future.” Dr Puttaswamy added

Mr. Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru said“At Fortis Hospitals, we are committed to delivering personalized, high-quality medical care. We are proud to have achieved a significant milestone with Rakesh’s case, successfully performing a complex bilateral total hip replacement surgery using advanced techniques and state-of-the-art medical technology. This accomplishment highlights our team’s expertise and innovative approach, allowing us to provide transformative treatment and make a meaningful impact on our patients’ lives.”

India to Host the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in Delhi

Hyderabad, 26th September 2024: As India gears for hosting World Telecom Standardisation Assembly (WTSA2024), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has set the ball rolling by launching the WTSA2024 Outreach Sessions. Scheduled in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, the outreach sessions aim to provide a distinctive platform to students for learning and direct engagement with industry experts, fostering meaningful interactions and knowledge exchange. The WTSA 2024 is being held for the first time in ITU’s history of 150 yrs in India from 14th-24th October 2024.It will be attended by world leader and experts of Telecom field from 190+ countries.

The outreach sessions were today held at Delhi Technical University (Delhi), Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (Hyderabad). Prominent dignitaries from ITU, National Communication Academy, Telecom Engineering centre, senior professors and leading experts from the telecom industry engaged students in discussions about the WTSA, ITU, and the critical role of telecom standards in fostering global connectivity and innovation. The sessions emphasized how standardization supports the deployment of technologies like 5G and the upcoming 6G, ensuring interoperability and influencing the future of global telecommunications.

The event was attended by more than 500 students physically across the three institutes, in addition to more than 450 participants joining the event in online mode. The sessions were an opportunity for young minds to grasp the importance of telecom standards in shaping India’s leadership in the telecom sector. It also explained ways by which they contribute to shaping the future of telecom.

Shri Deb Kumar Chakrabarti, Director General, National Communication Academy; Shri. R.R. Mittar, WTSA-24 Chair Designate; Prof Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU; Prof. Bharadwaj Amrutur, Director, ArtPark, IISc; Shri. Atul Sinha, Shri Rajesh Gupta, Shri Avinash Agarwal Dy DG, and other senior officers from DoT and its field offices shared valuable inputs with the participants. On the side-lines of the event, interacting with Media, Shri Hemendra K Sharma, Spokesperson, DoT said that India’s hosting of WTSA-2024 is an opportunity to influence the global telecom agenda as we prepare for advancements like 6G and beyond.

Following the WTSA outreach session, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched the 5G-6G Hackathon 2024, designed to identify and promote innovations and applications tailored to India’s unique needs, fostering the development of next-generation telecom technologies. The hackathon attracted a diverse range of participants, including telecom stakeholders from government, academia, and industry.

The participants of Hackathon aim to develop India-specific use cases harnessing the capabilities of 5G,6G and its associated technologies.