Collaborating with CIS countries is expected to reap economic benefits for the companes. “We have our eyes fixed on United States and Europe for technology . However, it is three times more expensive and sometimes, they may not want to part with the knowledge as well,” said V S Kilpadi, associate consultant, Mitcon Consultancy Services, which facilitated the process for the companies.

Delta Embedded Solutions Pvt Ltd, which is in the business of seismic sensors, is one such company — soon it will begin collaborating with a Russian company to detect earth vibrations. “We have signed a (MOU) with Poisk Ltd for high technology transfer. They have developed a part of the seismic equipment. We will develop the rest and together we will be able to compete with a product for Indian markets and abroad. This should be useful especially to those countries that were affected by the tsunami in 2005,” said Nikhil Joshi, director, Delta Embedded Solutions. After getting the necessary technology, it would be cheaper to re-design the products, Joshi said.

Other companies include Intellection Software and Technologies Pvt Ltd, RUMA, WYSE Biometrics, Uma Precision Ltd and Mango Group. The MoUs were signed from June to December last year with the help of Mitcon Consultancy Services Ltd that has separately entered into seven such MoUs with CIS consultancy firms on its own. Talks are in progress to fructify 13 other MoUs.

In March 2005, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) of the Government of India and the Department of Commerce assigned Mitcon to increase collaboration with the CIS countries. “We began by obtaining data on these countries on their industrial sector, development, technological upgradation, their government policy regarding exports, imports, tariffs, economic policy, WTO compliance etc. We put interested companies in touch with their with Indian counterparts,” said Rajendra Ghorpade, executive vice president of Mitcon Consultancy Services.