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Recently launched PROJECT O2 for INDIA to play a significant role in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19.
What is it?
‘Project O2’ caters to meeting the rising demand for medical oxygen by supporting government hospitals to procure oxygen and related high priority equipment from approved manufacturers and start-ups, supporting manufacturers and start-ups to scale up capacity, addressing logistics challenges, enabling supplies to extended/make-shift hospitals and strengthening R&D and innovation for future pandemics
More about PROJECT O2 for INDIA
- ‘Project O2 for India’ is to enable stakeholders working to augment the country’s ability to meet this rise in demand for medical oxygen.
- Under this project, a National Consortium of Oxygen is enabling the national level supply of critical raw materials related to medical oxygen
- Raw materials include zeolites, setting up of small oxygen plants, manufacturing compressors, final products, i.e.,oxygen plants, concentrators, and ventilators.
Role of Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser
- Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India (O/o PSA, GoI) is involved in an effort aimed at raising COVID-19 response funds from private sector companies, donor organizations, and individuals to strengthen India’s fight against COVID-19.
- These funds will be used for producing medical oxygen for various health facilities in India through an initiative called ‘Project O2’
- To execute this project, O/o PSA, GoI is facilitating at the national level, supply of quality oxygen cylinders, concentrators, and ventilators through four reputable national technology incubators
National Consortium of Oxygen
- The consortium is looking forward to providing immediate to short-term relief
- It is also working to strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem for long-term preparedness.
- A committee of experts has been evaluating critical equipment such as oxygen plants, concentrators, and ventilators,from a pool of India-based manufacturers, start-ups, and MSMEs (in partnership with FICCI,MESA, etc.).
- The Manufacturing and supply consortium also includes Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL); TataConsulting Engineers (TCE); C-CAMP, Bengaluru; IIT Kanpur (IIT-K); IIT Delhi (IIT-D);IIT Bombay (IIT-B), IIT Hyderabad (IIT-H); IISER, Bhopal;Venture Center, Pune; and more than 40 MSMEs.
Grants and support to the consortium
- The consortium has started to secure CSR/philanthropic grants from organizations like USAID, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Climate Works Foundation, etc.
- Hope Foundation, American Indian Foundation, Walmart, Hitachi, BNP Paribas, and eInfo Chips are procuring oxygen concentrators and VPSA/PSA plants as part of their CSR efforts to aid the consortium’s work.
- NMDC Ltd has agreed to fund the procurement of raw materials like zeolite for the manufacturers in the consortium.
Source: PIB
