Vadodara: Navrachana University, the region’s premier multi-disciplinary private university, has added another feather to its cap. A startup founded by Kashyap Raval, an alumnus of the University, has been selected by the Union MSME Ministry for Rs. 15 lakh funding.

Navrachana University supports student innovations and helps them convert their ideas into sustainable startups. The University has been proactively supporting innovators through various government grants and schemes, one of which is the Msme Innovative Scheme. The University is one of the host institutes under the scheme.

Kashyap Raval’s innovation, Infratorch, has been awarded a grant of Rs. 15 lakh by the central government under the MSME Innovative Scheme.

Infratorch is an auxiliary handheld screening device designed to aid in the early detection and screening of breast cancer and abnormalities. The product utilises infrared lights with wavelengths of 540-645 NM, penetrating the skin tissue and illuminating any concerning areas within the breast. The device employs skin-visual sensing technology, providing women with a safe and convenient tool for regular breast cancer check-ups and abnormalities screening. The device is completely safe and does not cause any damage to the skin or breast tissue.

“Infratorch addresses a pressing healthcare concern, as breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in India. However, awareness and proactive treatment remain low, with few women undergoing regular check-ups and tests. Infratorch aims to bridge this gap by empowering women to take charge of their health through regular self-breast examinations facilitated by the device’s user-friendly interface,” said Kashyap Raval.

More than 4,000 ideas were submitted for grants under the MSME Innovative Scheme, of which 276 were approved. Of these eight were from Gujarat, and Navrachana University was the only entry from the entire central Gujarat.

The MSME incubation scheme is open to all women innovators across the nation. Any women with new ideas in agriculture, rivers & ocean produce-based industries, fertilizers, agricultural & agro-processing and any related sub-sector, healthcare & life sciences, medical devices, pharma, biotech, AYUSH and related sub-sector, power, renewables, electric, services, education, hospitality, media, publishing, entertainment, design, wellness, logistics, sports, miscellaneous sector (environment, forests, water & sanitation, foods, beverages, FMCG, consumer goods, infra, construction, housing, IT, ITES, electronics, white goods, telecom, metals, engineering, machinery, automation and transportation, automotive, electric vehicles, railways, aviation, UAV and other sub-sectors) can apply before July 11, 2023 at https://my.msme.gov.in/inc/Hackathon_Reg.aspx.