Expected Deliverables and Outputs of Small Industry Cluster Development Programme

In overall terms, the programme is expected to promote and fund a series of projects to deliver technology from technology producer to the end user The deliverables of the project are indicated as follows:-

  1. Skills training in the nature of familiarisation to the end users. This shall be the capacity building component of the project. The programme is based on the premise that innate skills already exist with the local entrepreneurs. What is required is only a process of deepening of the skills and familiarisation with newer ways of doing things or utilising better methods.

  2. Technology status and technology needs studies.

  3. Kits for demonstration in the nature of benign catalysts. These may be simple tools and simple testing

  4. equipment that are cheap and have little or no maintenance charges.

  5. Common facility center/demonstration plants to be set up by the technology producer for the duration of the project.

  6. Escort services to the end users for availing loans and arranging funds.

  7. User manuals and guides where the technology intervention is in the nature of process changes.

  8. Project documentation for purposes of sharing with industry and replication.

  9. Auxiliary benefits in the nature of market assessment and product assessment.

The two streams of activities that thus emerge are: -

  1. Study of processes wherein modernization can be brought about in the existing level of technology by mere tinkering in the process. This will not involve replacement of Plant and machinery. This is likely to benefit the units at the lower end of investment the most.

  2. As a parallel activity, there can be a study for further modifications in the existing plant and machinery, keeping the long term market and product assessment in view, which may necessitate a completely new approach to production, though not necessarily entailing a total change in plant and machinery.

The latter part would involve a proper market and product assessment in the long term, taking into consideration the trends worldwide and hence such study may stretch over a period of 6-8 month, during which an idea of the new machinery to be introduced should be firmed up. At the end of the study, or after approximately 8 months, the technology provider should be able to have the demonstration plant manufactured and set up the same during the next 2-3 months. During the period, he is expected to have won the confidence of an individual firm/association, which would facilitate the demonstration and subsequent absorption of new technology.

While executing essentially technology transfer operations, related benefits arise in the nature of providing services and support to recognizing and arranging marketing channels and opportunities and enabling linkages with markets and consumers.