“Girls Leading Change” honorees include Indian American Gitanjali Rao

Gitanjali Rao. PHOTO: @gitanjalirao.net

In celebration of International Day of the Girl, First Lady Jill Biden announced the name of 15 young women October 11, 2023, who are leading change and shaping a brighter future in communities across the United States, a White House press release said. Among them is Gitanjali Rao, 17, of Colorado, a scientist and inventor.

The young leaders were selected by the White House Gender Policy Council, and a celebration was held on Oct. 11, at the White “to recognize the profound impact young women are having on their communities and their efforts (at) strengthening our country for generations to come,” the White House said.

“These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope,” the First Lady is quoted saying.

Seventeen -year old Rao, who is from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rao’s groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool won her an EPA Presidential Award and America’s Top Young Scientist by Discovery Education/3M.

Her book Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM, which offers a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used as a STEM curriculum globally in selected schools, noted the White House in the brief biography provided.

Time Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year, “Gitanjali is committed to not only continuing her career as a scientist and inventor, but expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already touched more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students.”

On her eponymous website gitanjalirao.net, bio, it says she has been involved over the past few years in research at the University of Colorado, Denver in the Department of Cell Biology to find a solution for prescription opioid addiction using the latest in genetic engineering and created a colorimetry based app and device. This initiative received a world finalist’s recognition in a Technovation Girl Challenge and a Health Pillar award by TCS Ignite Innovation challenge nationally. She introduced the device in TEDtalksNayibaat India.She also recently launched an anti-cyberbullying service based on AI/Machine Learning using Natural Language Processing in the community called “KINDLY” under Microsoft’s guidance. She was awarded the eCYBERMISSION STEM in Action grant to implement the solution, the biography says. “Girls Leading Change” honorees include Indian American Gitanjali Rao

Read More........ → October 14, 2023

India Community Center in California partnering with TiE to host 2023 business conference

Poster showing keynote speakers at TiE Con 2023 May 3-5. Photo: courtesy ICC

The India Community Center started in February 2003 by successful entrepreneurs in California with the mission to “Unite. Serve. Celebrate” is partnering with the global non-profit, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) to TiEcon 2023. The TiE Silicon Valley chapter (one of the 61 chapters across 14 countries) is hosting their annual flagship event, TiEcon 2023, in-person at the Santa Clara Convention Center on May 3-5, with 200+ prominent tech speakers, a press release from ICC said. “With 1000’s of attendees, this is your best opportunity to network, learn, and grow in your field,” notes the press release. TiEcon 2023 has the goal of highlighting well-known industry thought leaders in areas such as AI/ML, Cloud/Edge, Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Web 3 & Metaverse, Climate Tech, Global Connect, Rocketship India, and GenAI tracks, through engaging in stage conversations. Organizers said an added bonus was the opportunity for startup founders to separately apply for value-priced entrepreneurship programs and Expo at TiEcon 2023 “to substantially accelerate their startup journey.” These are TiE50 Awards, Expo, Startup Bootcamp, Mentor Connect, AI/ML Bootcamp, and VC Connect. The India Community Center was started by Silicon Valley’s Gadhwani brothers, Anil and Gautam, first generation successful Indian American entrepreneurs. The ICC describes itself as a Broad-based and inclusive Community Center with the mission to preserve the culture, values, and heritage of India for future generations based on the vision and ideals of the Founding Fathers of India. The ICC, located in Milpitas, California, is funded by membership fees and community donations and holds events year-round. It had some 150 volunteers by 2021, according to the website.The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) was founded in 1992, in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region of India. TiE Global is a nonprofit organization devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation, throughout the entrepreneurial lifecycle. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE efforts lies in its five foundational programs, – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation, the organization website says. With 15,000 members currently, TiE is among the largest entrepreneurial organizations and according to the organization, TiEcon “is the is the largest professional and networking conference for entrepreneurs.” (tie.org/about/) India Community Center in California partnering with TiE to host 2023 business conference

Read More........ → October 10, 2023

Foxconn to invest $600 million in India’s Karnataka to make iPhone components, chip equipment

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past the logo of Foxconn outside the company’s building in Taipei, Taiwan November 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

BENGALURU (Reuters) -Foxconn will invest $600 million in two projects in India’s Karnataka to make casing components for iPhones and chip-making equipment, signaling its growing interest in the south Asian nation as it spreads bets beyond China. Some $350 million will go towards setting up the iPhone component facility, which will generate 12,000 jobs, while Foxconn will tie up with Applied Materials in a $250 million project to make chip-making tools, Karnataka state said in a statement. Reuters was first to report the investment plans on Wednesday. The state government said both projects were signed via so-called letters of intent, meaning final modalities could change. Foxconn, which assembles around 70% of iPhones and is world’s largest contract manufacturer, has been diversifying production away from China amid COVID disruptions and geopolitical tensions. The investment decisions follow a meeting between Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, Karnataka’s IT minister Priyank Kharge, and Industries Minister MB Patil. “We are excited about the possibilities that Karnataka offers for our expansion plans in India,” Liu said in the statement. Foxconn’s expansion in India is also the latest in a string of foreign companies – from Micron to Amazon – that are expanding and committing billions of dollars worth of investment in the coming years, placing a bet on growing consumption and demand in the world’s most-populous nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also attracting investors for semiconductor manufacturing, which is his key business agenda currently. In Karnataka, Foxconn will collaborate with Applied Materials on a project for making semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and create jobs for around 1,000 people. Foxconn also has plans to apply for incentives under a $10 billion scheme by India’s government to promote chip manufacturing, and is in talks with Gujarat to set up a chipmaking facility in the western state. Foxconn chairman Liu has been in India and been meeting officials in several states after attending the federal government’s flagship semiconductor conference.India’s Tamil Nadu state has also announced that Foxconn will invest $194 million in a new electronic components manufacturing facility that will create 6,000 jobs. Foxconn to invest $600 million in India’s Karnataka to make iPhone components, chip equipment

Read More........ → October 09, 2023