Mumbai: The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), an R&D institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Toshniwal Hyvac Pvt. Ltd. and Sir Automation Industries. The agreement aims to facilitate the large-scale manufacturing of a state-of-the-art Microwave-Based Brix Measurement System. The signing took place today in Mumbai in the presence of MeitY Secretary, S. Krishnan.
The innovative technology, known as the Sugar Content Measurement (SCORE) system, has been developed by SAMEER to provide a rapid, non-destructive, and highly accurate method for measuring in-situ sugar concentration (Brix) in sugar mills during sugar production. This breakthrough eliminates the need for manual sampling, thereby reducing production time and increasing efficiency.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan,” emphasizing the development of indigenous technologies that support sugarcane farmers and the broader sugar production industry in India.
Speaking at the event, S. Krishnan highlighted the significance of this microwave-based Brix measurement technology, stating that it would help sugarcane farmers produce sugar cane syrup more accurately and efficiently. He emphasized MeitY’s commitment to developing indigenous technologies across all sectors, including agriculture, and praised SAMEER’s scientists for creating a compact, cost-effective Brix meter specifically designed for the Indian sugar industry.
Director General of SAMEER, Dr. P. Hanumantha Rao, described the technology transfer as a milestone achievement in SAMEER’s ongoing efforts to apply microwave technology to the agricultural and industrial food processing sectors in India. He noted that the developed technology, part of the “Make in India” initiative, would significantly enhance production efficiency and accuracy for sugarcane farmers. Dr. Rao also expressed optimism about the potential impact of this cutting-edge technology on revolutionizing the sugar industry.
The Brix measurement system underwent extensive testing and trials at Sant Tukaram Sugar Factory in Pune and was validated by the Vasant Dada Sugar Institute, also located in Pune.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Prof. R. Prakash from Anna University, Chennai, who chaired the Project Review and Steering Group for the technology; Dr. R. V. Dani, Technical Adviser and Head of the Sugar Technology Division at VSI; Smt. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, R&D, MeitY; representatives from the two private manufacturing firms; and senior scientists from SAMEER.