SWEDISH INNOVATIONSINDIAN INTERPRETATIONS

the energy of innovation - co-creating the future

SWEDISH INNOVATIONS - INDIAN INTERPRETATIONS

a selection of photographs by

Aanchal Malhotra I Abdullah Qureshi I Abhijit Chakraborty I Amitava Chandra I Anunay Arora I Apoorv Tomar I Chandan Dey I Hari Kumar I Joydeep Mukherjee I Kanchan Dhankani I Manas Kumar Panda I Mihir Misra I Mohit Kansal I Prachi Singh I Priyanka Parkar I Radha Ganesan I Samrat Mukhopadhyay I Sanjit Das I Sanyam Bajaj I Somennath Mukhopadhyay I Souveek Bhattacharjee I Sreejith Jeevan I Sudipto Das I Supriya Biswas I Swati Dayani I Vinita Agarwal I Vishal Arora

First Published 2012

As part of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week

Produced by

Embassy of Sweden4-5 Nyaya Marg, ChanakyapuriNew Delhi - 110021

Printed by

Concept Solution India57-A, First Floor, KhizrabadNew Friends ColonyNew Delhi - 110065www.cs-india.net

The book that you are about to read contains a selection of creative – and beautifully executed – photographs of Swedish innovations, as they have been interpreted by independent Indian photographers. The product is truly Indo-Swedish and a symbol of the importance that our societies attach to innovations and cooperation for the co-creation of a better future.

For a favorable innovation climate, we need to be able to imagine not what is, but what could be, and this takes courage and creativity as well as openness to different perspectives.

Sweden and India are very different. Yet, we have prominent complementarities and, equally important, we share the will to work together to identify and make use of these. This kind of cooperation is already for the development of new life- and productivity enhancing products and solutions, and it will be even more so in the future, in a strongly inter-connected, inter-dependent world. Our cooperation for innovations will help us, together, lead the way to a future that is better for all.

Harald SandbergAmbassador of Sweden to India

FOREWORD

3 FOREWORD

7 INTRODUCTION

9 PHOTO COMPETITION

10 ADJUSTABLE WRENCH

12 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

14 BALL BEARING

16 BICYCLE

18 BLOWTORCH

20 BLUETOOTH

22 CELSIUS TEMPERATURE SCALE

24 COATED ELECTRODE

26 COCA COLA BOTTLE DESIGN

28 COMPUTER GRAPHICS

30 DYNAMITE

32 ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

34 FIKA

36 FOAM PLASTIC

38 GREEN NANO

40 HVDC

42 MALAISE TRAP

44 MOBILE CALLING SYSTEM

46 NUMBER DIALING BUTTON

48 OMBUDSMAN

50 PACEMAKER

52 PAPER BLEACHING PROCESS

54 POLHEM KNOT

56 POSITION INDICATING SYSTEM– GP&C

58 PROPELLER

60 SAFETY MATCH

62 SKYPE

64 SOLAR WATER PURIFICATION

66 SOOTLESS KEROSENE STOVE

68 SPOTIFY

70 STEEL ALLOY

72 SUN VALVE/LIGHT HOUSE

74 TETRA PAK

76 THE MILK CREAM SEPARATOR

78 THE VOLVO BUS

80 THREE-PHASE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

82 THREE-POINT SEAT BELT

84 ZIPPER

87 JURY

88 WINNER

90 PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Millions of hearts around the world beat with the help of a pacemaker. Candles are lit with the help of safety matches. And innumerable lives have been saved with the help of the three-point seat belt. These are just a few examples of Swedish innovations that have made a difference.

Despite being home to only 10 million people, Sweden ranks as one of the most innovative countries in the world and there are more than 42000 patented Swedish innovations. Many things can explain this: A tradition of inventors, the country’s wealth largely being built on finding and exploiting better ways for industrial production. A commitment to gender equality, allowing the full creativity and brain capacity of the population to be taken into account and heterogeneous solutions to be developed. A belief in empowering the individual, strengthening the sense of responsibility. And a strong linkage between the higher education, society and companies, including large investments in R&D.

Another factor is international openness. Sweden has a tradition of exploring complementarities and collaborating with others for mutually beneficial solutions. It is no coincidence that the theme for the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week 2012 is “The Energy of Innovation – co-creating the future”. Cooperation has always been conducive of innovations, but as the world grows smaller, the relevance of working together grows larger.

10

11

The images in this book are the product of a photo contest which was organized as part of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week 2012. The task, to which anyone carrying an Indian passport was invited, was to capture and artistically interpret a Swedish innovation, through the lens of the camera. Over 450 fantastic photos were submitted by established, as well as aspiring, photographers from all over the country. As there were so many strong candidates, the jury had an equally pleasant as difficult task to select the finalists.

The Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week is an annual celebration of innovations, creativity and Indo-Swedish relations. It is organized by the Embassy of Sweden together with a number of Swedish organizations and companies in India.

PHOTO COMPETITION

12

Each year, about 40 million adjustable wrenches are produced around the world using the design developed by Swede Johan Petter Johansson (1853-1943). As a professional fitter, Johansson reacted to the large number of wrenches required for the different screws and nuts he had to work with. In 1888 he invented the “universal wrench” (an adjustable pipe wrench), and in 1892 he constructed and patented the first adjustable nut wrench. In his lifetime, J.P. Johansson fathered close to 120 innovations, many of which are still manufactured and used around the world today.

Johan Petter Johansson

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH

13

For my Grandma

Supriya Biswas

14

AiR CoNDiTioNiNg SySTEmCarl Munters

The innovation – a development of an earlier air conditioner version – was patented by the Swedish inventor Carl Munters (1897-1989), who at the time of his death held over one thousand patents. Munter developed an air conditioning system based on the use of evaporative cooling and dehumidification. Today, Munters AB is a world leading manufacturer in the field of air conditioning and dehumidification. All the company’s products are founded in Carl Munter’s research of thermo dynamics.

15

Cooling Old Delhi

Samrat Mukhopadhyay

16

BALL BEARiNgSven Wingquist

While ball bearings have been used since the Middle Ages, Swedish inventor and industrialist Sven Wingquist (1876-1953) is considered the father of the modern ball bearing. Inspired to create a more effective production in industry, he invented the spherical ball bearing in 1907. Svenska Kullager Fabriken, or as it is known internationally, SKF, was founded by Sven Wingquist, and is still the world leader in the area.

17

Peep Show

Sudipto Das

18

BiCyCLE WiTH A FREE WHEEL AND A REAR WHEEL BREAKBirger Ljungström

The first bicycle with a free wheel and a rear wheel brake was invented by the Swedish teenager Birger Ljungström (1872-1948), at the age of 16. With financial help from Alfred Nobel (Yes! The man behind the Nobel Prizes), Birger Ljungström and his brother Fredrik made further developments to the bicycle and in 1894, they sold the first one. Till today, the rear-wheel brake is the most common bike-type in Sweden.

19

Cycle for Life

Somennath Mukhopadhyay

20

BLoWToRCHCarl Richard Nyberg

The inventor and industrialist Carl Richard Nyberg (1858-1939), based on his experiences in goldsmithing, and eager to increase efficiency at his work in a petroleum stove factory, invented the blowtorch in 1881. The Nyberg blowtorch operated on kerosene in much the same manner as a kerosene stove. His blowtorch was small and convenient and provided high heat for many different purposes. For tradesmen all over the world, the blowtorch remained an important daily tool for a full century, only being outperformed by liquid-gas torches in the last 20 years.

21

Elephant God

Chandan Dey

22

BLUETooTHSven Mattisson & Jaap Haartsen

The Bluetooth was developed as a cable replacement in 1994 by Sven Mattisson and Jaap Haartsen, who were both working for Ericsson in Lund, Sweden. The specification is based on frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. The revolutionizing innovation, today used by billions of people, is built into a wide range of products, from cars and mobile phones to medical devices and computers, and allows users to exchange data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices.

23

Prayer

Abhijit Chakraborty

24

CELSiUS TEmPERATURE SCALEAnders Celsius

Anders Celsius (1701-44), a Swedish astronomer and mathematician, developed the widely used 100-degree thermometer, the scale on which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 (at sea level air pressure). Uppsala-born Anders Celsius started his career as a science student at Uppsala University, where he later also became a professor in astronomy. He also took part in the establishment of the first astronomical observatory in Sweden.

25

99+

Sudipto Das

26

CoATED ELECTRoDEOscar Kjellberg

The Coated electrode was invented by the Swedish inventor and industrialist Oscar Kjellberg (1870-1931). In 1904 he produced a coated electrode that substantially improved the quality of weld metal, and his pioneering work paved the way for the next twenty years of research of reliable flux coated electrodes. Kjellberg also founded the Swedish company ESAB, which still today is a leading welding industry in engineering.

27

Indian Industry

Supriya Biswas

28

CoCA CoLA BoTTLE DESigNAlexander Samuelson

At the end of the 19th century, young Alexander Samuelson left Sweden for America. After joining Root Glass Company, Samuelson was assigned to create a bottle for the Coca Cola Company. The iconic design of the original Coca-Cola bottle, which stood out for its cocoa-bean-inspired shape and easy grip, is still being revered. Samuelson’s work has become a symbol of one of the most well-known brands in the world.

29

Secret Pleasures

Anunay Arora

30

ComPUTER gRAPHiCSHåkan Lans

When Swedish multi-inventor Håkan Lans (b. 1947), first introduced his colour graphics for computers in 1981, black and white screens were generally perceived to be sufficient for all computer needs. As times changed, Lans’ color graphics became a standard used by almost all computer manufacturers. Yet, the invention has been less than a blessing for Lans, who has had to fight several legal battles over the right to the technique.

31

Digital Indian Architecture

Apoorv Tomar

32

DyNAmiTEAlfred Nobel

The dynamite, invented by Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), was the first safely manageable explosive stronger than black powder. Nobel obtained patents for his invention in 1867 and originally, he sold the product under the name “Nobel’s Blasting Powder”. Dynamite rapidly gained popularity after its introduction, as a safe alternative to gunpowder and nitroglycerin. The blasting of the St. Gotthard Tunnel, the New York City subways, the Panama Canal – to mention but a few projects – made the Nobel world-famous. Dynamite is mainly used in the mining, quarrying, and construction industries and has had historical use in warfare, but the unstable nature of nitroglycerin, especially if subjected to freezing, has rendered it obsolete for modern military use.

33

Workers in the Stone Mine

Joydeep Mukherjee

34

ECHoCARDiogRAPHyInge Edler & Carl Hellmuth Hertz

Echocardiography is a non-invasive method for examining the heart. It was developed in 1954 by the Swedish cardiologist Inge Edler (1911-2001) and the Austrian physicist Carl Hellmuth Hertz (1915-1980), both students of Lund University in Sweden. The innovation revolutionized the cardiovascular diagnostics, and in 1977 Hertz and Edler received the American equivalent of the Nobel Prize in medicine, the Lasker Prize.

35

Lifeline

Sudipto Das

36

FiKA – CoFFEE iNSTiTUTioN FoR oRgANizATioNAL EFFECTivENESS

Fika is a Swedish social institution, implying a pause from an activity to have coffee or tea, often together with a cinnamon roll or cookies. Knowing that informal contacts between colleagues in a workplace tends to enhance information exchange, employee morale and the perception of a common goal, and thereby the organizational productivity, most workplaces in Sweden systematically encourage daily or even twice-daily fika among their employees. It is in this context viewed less as a break and more as an informal meeting venue. The fika concept has increasingly been embraced by organizations outside the Swedish borders, and Swedes still belong to the biggest coffee drinkers in the world.

37

Cinnamon Rolls Pattern for IKEA

Designer: Sreejith Jeevan

38

FoAm PLASTiCCarl Munters

In the early 1930s, Swedish inventor Carl Munters (1897-1989) started exploring isolations material. Munters, who also invented the air conditioning system and by the time of his death held over one thousand patents, found a method of making foam plastic, plastic with cells, which was later rediscovered and used for making Styrofoam. The use of foam plastic had a breakthrough during the Second World War and was mostly used in life vests and life-saving rafts. Foam plastic is today most commonly used in isolation and packing material.

39

Amalgamated Bliss

Priyanka Parkar

40

gREEN NANo - ENERgy SAviNg TECHNoLogy

Sweden has world-leading research in solar technology and artificial photosynthesis. The green Nano research is aimed at mastering controlled manipulation of structures and adaption on a molecular and atomic level, as well as to make the Nano technology widely accessible for safe and eco-friendly energy saving applications. In 2005, Lund University Professor in Solid State Physics, Lars Samuelson (b. 1948), and his colleague Ph.D. Jonas Ohlsson, started the company Glõ with the objective to develop and commercialize energy-efficient and low-cost nanowire light-emitting diodes (nLED) based on its proprietary heterostructured semiconductor nanowire epitaxial growth and process technologies. The initiative has attracted vast venture capital and the product is expected to revolutionize the world’s energy efficient lighting technology and market.

Lars Samuelson

41

Makes my Work Easier

Sanjit Das

42

HvDC - TRANSmiSSioN oF HigH voLTAgE DiRECT CURRENT

ASEA (Later ABB)

The High Voltage Direct Current system (HVDC) is an innovation for transmitting bulk power over long distances and interconnecting incompatible power grids. The development of the technology was for a long time hurdled by the difficulty of finding reliable and economically viable valves that could convert high voltage currents (direct to alternating and vice-versa). In the 1930s, the Swedish company ASEA (later ABB) made breakthroughs in this area and the technology was commercialized in the 1950s. Today there are over 120 HVDC systems in operation all over the world.

43

HVDC Electrical System

Swati Dayani

44

mALAiSE TRAPRené Malaise

The malaise trap was invented 1934 by René Malaise (1892-1978), a Swedish entomologist, explorer and art collector who is also known for his systematic collection of thousands of insects. The design of a malaise trap is based on the shape of an old-fashioned two-man tent and is made from fine netting, ribbon loops, guy ropes and tent pegs. When a flying insect hits a vertical sheet of netting it instinctively flies up towards the light and thereafter a hole in the netting allows it to pass into the collecting bottle.

45

Sunny Side Up

Mohit Kansal

46

moBiLE CALLiNg SySTEmÖsten Mäkitalo

The basis for the mobile (cellular) telephony was developed in the 1950s. As electronic components shrank in size and microchips were developed, an intense worldwide race began to create a first-generation wireless telephone system. In 1976, the Swedish telephone systems company Ericsson, and their research department headed by Östen Mäkitalo (1938-2011), drew up guidelines for Network Management Technologies (NMT), a wireless telephone system for everyone. The idea was based on technology that was yet to be developed. The tactic was a success. In the beginning of the 1980s, NMT made its breakthrough in modern mobile telephony. When NMT was introduced, the media made the claim that “Portable telephones have finally become portable.”

47

Age of Communication

Chandan Dey

48

NUmBER DiALiNg BUTToNLaila Ohlgren

The practical use of the mobile telephone was enabled by an innovation developed by Laila Ohlgren (b. 1937), a Swedish engineer. Ohlgren revolutionized the mobile telephony with her introduction of a technique to store the dialed number on the phone and connect the full number at once to the grid, thereby enabling effective browsing between different base stations and mobile towers. Ohlgren started her career at the Swedish Telephony Authority and worked with the development of the NMT system. She is the only woman so far to have received the prestigious Polhem Prize, which she did for her number storing innovation.

49

Connecting People

Amitava Chandra

50

omBUDSmAN

An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between the state or an organization, and some internal or external constituency. The term originates from old Swedish and means “representative”. The modern meaning of the word came about when Sweden instigated the Parliamentary Ombudsman in year 1809. Commonly known as the Ombudsmen for Justice, these are elected by the Swedish Parliament to ensure that public authorities and their staff comply with the laws and other statutes governing their actions. Sweden today has some ten different official ombudsman functions, representing broader groups and interests of society, for example an ombudsman against discrimination, one for gender equality, one for the interest of children, etc. The term is sometimes used for representatives from the trade unions and of legal representatives from organizations and companies.

51

Representatives of the Future

Sanyam Bajaj

52

PACEmAKERRune Elmqvist

As early as the beginning of the 1800s, physicians had dreamt of increasing the frequency of the heartbeat through electrical impulses. The idea was realized in 1958, when the Swedish doctor Rune Elmqvist (1906-1996) built his first pacemaker, a device so small that it could be surgically implanted. The same year, the world´s first pacemaker operation was performed by the Swedish professor Åke Senning (1915-2000) at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. Today, millions of people have had pacemakers implanted.

53

Pacemaker Makes Me Walk, Not the Stick

Abdullah Qureshi

54

PAPER BLEACHiNg PRoCESSJohan Richter

The continuous bleaching process for paper was invented by Johan Richter (1901-1997) in the 1930s. Richter, born in Norway, was recruited to Sweden by a Swedish industrialist to develop his bleaching process ideas. Today, virtually all paper in the world is produced with processes developed by Richter, who at the time of his death held more than 750 patents.

55

Flora Making Paper

Aanchal Malhotra

56

PoLHEm KNoTChristopher Polhem

The Polhem knot is a universal joint on a cardan shaft, consisting of a pair of hinges, oriented at 90° of each other and connected by a cross shaft, which lets the shaft alter its orientation. Christopher Polhem (1661-1751), a Swedish inventor, scientist and industrialist often dubbed the “mechanical father of Sweden”, reinvented the cardan joint, giving it the name the Polhem knot. The Polhem knot is used extensively in automobiles, but also in propellers.

57

Knots of Belief

Hari Kumar

58

PoSiTioN iNDiCATiNg SySTEm – gP&CHåkan Lans

The Position Indicating System “GP&C” is a development of the Global Positioning System GPS, by Swedish multi-inventor Håkan Lans (b. 1947). The navigation system is based on satellites for position determination, and used for monitoring of traffic at sea, air and land. The GP&C allows navigators to see the movements of other aircrafts, ships and cars. Lans’ system was accepted as the international standard for ocean traffic in 1999, and in 2000 as the international standard for air traffic. This has minimized the risk for air collisions and allowed traffic routes to be drawn closer together, thereby reducing flying time and fuel consumption.

59

Connected

Abhijit Chakraborty

60

PRoPELLERJohn Ericsson

John Ericsson (1803-1889) was a Swedish 19th century multi-inventor. Many of Ericsson’s inventions included hot-air, steam engines and solar heaters, but his most important work as an inventor was in the area of propellers for ships. Ericsson was not the first one to construct a propeller, but his design for driving ships was the first practical one. Since the introduction of Ericsson’s design, the appearance of ship propellers has barely changed.

61

Catch the Wind

Somennath Mukhopadhyay

62

SAFETy mATCHGustaf Erik Pasch

Before the introduction of the safety match, lighting devices typically contained deadly white phosphorus. Gustaf Erik Pasch (1788-1862) came up with the idea of separating the phosphorus from the match head and applying it in a non-poisonous and less inflammable form (red phosphorus) on a special striking surface. In 1844 Pasch received a patent on his innovation. Johan Edvard Lundström (1815-1888) and his brother, Carl Frans Lundström (1823-1917), who established the Jönköping Match Factory in 1844-1845, adopted Pasch’s invention and improved it. In 1855 J.E. Lundström was granted a patent for a completely phosphorus-free match. This, in combination with the first automatic match machine, developed by Alexander Lagerman (1836-1904), an employee at the match factory, formed the basis for a hugely successful mass production of high quality safety matches.

63

Safety Mismatch

Apoorv Tomar

64

SKyPENiclas Zennström

Skype is an IP-telephony service that allows free voice and video calls over the Internet. The company was founded by the Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennström (b. 1966) and Danish-born Janus Friis (b. 1976), whose creation has come to dominate the Internet calling scene, with hundreds of millions of people using the company’s services. The name Skype is often being used as a verb, when people “skype” one another. Zennström has subsequently founded Atomico – a venture capital firm focused on consumer technologies with the potential to transform markets.

65

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Mihir Misra

66

SoLAR WATER PURiFiCATioNPetra Wadström

Solvatten, is a low-cost household water treatment unit that cleans organically contaminated water with the help of sunlight. Solvatten was invented by the Swedish designer, artist and inventor Petra Wadström (b. 1952) and the technology combines filtration, UV-disinfection and heat-pasteurization, making water drinkable within 2-6 hours of sun exposure. Solvatten is one of several Swedish innovations in the area of water purification.

67

Source of Life

Manas Kumar Panda

68

SooTLESS KERoSENE STovEFrans Wilhelm Lindqvist

The sootless kerosene stove was invented in year 1892 by the Swedish engineer Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist (1862-1931). The stove is operated on compressed air, with the kerosene, when pushed into the warm carburetor gasifies and mixes with the air and starts burning as a blue, very hot, sootless flame. The sootless kerosene stove got the name Primus and has been exported all over the world.

69

Lighting

Chandan Dey

70

SPoTiFyDaniel Ek & Martin Lorentzon

In 2006, Swedish entrepreneurs Daniel Ek (b. 1983) and Martin Lorentzon (b. 1969) founded the streaming music service Spotify. The innovation has given tens of millions of users easy online access to large parts of the world’s musical treasure. Spotify was developed as a response to illegal streaming and Internet piracy, granting artists reimbursement as their music is played. The photo of Spotify earned its creator, Abhijit Chakraborty, the first prize in the photo contest Swedish Innovations – Indian Interpretations 2012.

71

Sharing the Music

Abhijit Chakraborty

72

STEEL ALLoyHans von Kantzow

The patented steel alloy Kanthal was invented by the Swedish mining engineer Hans von Kantzow (1887-1979). The steel alloy is mostly a mixture between chrome (20-30 %) and aluminum (4-7.5 %), and also contains small amounts of cobalt and iron. The steel alloy Kanthal is characterized by its tolerance for high temperature and electric resistance. Kanthal can be used as heating elements in electric ovens and the wire of Kanthal is an excellent cutting tool for processing styrofoam.

73

Steel Alive

Abhijit Chakraborty

74

SUN vALvE/LigHT HoUSEGustaf Dalén

The sun valve is a type of flow control valve, which earned its Swedish inventor Gustaf Dalén (1869-1937) the Nobel Prize in physics in 1912 (the same year which Dalén lost his eyesight in a laboratory accident). The valve formed part of the Dalén Light which was used in lighthouses from the early 1900s through the 1960s, by which time electric lighting came to dominate. Despite being blind on both eyes, Dalén continued working for another 25 years after having received the Nobel Prize and he was during, his lifetime granted, patents for a total of 99 innovations.

75

Spreading the Light

Abhijit Chakraborty

76

TETRA PAKRuben Rausing & Erik Wallenberg

Until Tetra Pak was introduced in the early 1950s, the market for storage of non-carbonated drinks was still dominated by glass bottles. Ruben Rausing (1895-1983), inspired by having seen wax-covered paper containers of milk in the US, wanted to find a less expensive and more durable and hygienic storage solution. Together with Erik Wallenberg (1915-1999), he introduced the disposable plastic-coated paper container which still today dominates the market for non-carbonated drink storage, offering consumers a simpler and more hygienic way to handle milk (and other drinks) for home use.

77

Intermission

Prachi Singh

78

THE miLK CREAm SEPARAToRGustaf de Laval

The Swedish engineer and inventor Gustaf de Laval (1845-1913) made two crucial contributions to the dairy industry: his milking machine (1896), which rationalized a time-consuming everyday chore on the farms and reduced demand for farm laborers, and the milk cream separator (1877), a devise tailored, to through centrifugal forces, effectively separate the cream from the milk. Thanks to de Laval, most milking is today done my milking machines rather than by hand, which has improved the hygiene and safety of dairy products all over the world.

79

Milk is Good for Life

Vinita Agarwal

80

THE voLvo BUS

In large parts of the world, a Volvo bus is simply a high-quality bus manufactured by the Swedish company Volvo. In India, however, a Volvo Bus has a more complex meaning, being synonymous with a vehicle for comfortable and luxurious long-haul road travel rather than the actual manufacturing. Volvo being the primary choice for travelers, it is not uncommon to see buses of other manufacturing decorated with hand-painted “Volvo” logos. This says a lot about the impact Volvo has had since their arrival on the Indian bus market, altering the expectations of long-haul road travels. Gradually, the Volvo Bus is also making its way into the expectations of city transports.

81

Standing Royale

Vishal Arora

82

THREE-PHASE ELECTRiCAL SySTEmJonas Wenström

The Swedish engineer and inventor Jonas Wenström (1855-1893) developed the three phase electrical system in 1890, combining the strengths of alternating current (to be transformed from low to high voltage and distribution over distances) and direct current (to drive motors). His invention was used in Sweden for the first time in 1893 and it was with his invention, the company ASEA (today ABB) was founded. (Curiosity: In 1879, Wenström, who regularly exchanged letters with Thomas Edison, wrote to his father: “Edison’s new invention of electric light, a glowing carbon strip, is the same thing I invented a year ago.”)

83

Blown Away With the City of Lights

Kanchan Dhankani

84

THREE-PoiNT SEAT BELTNils Bohlin

The three-point seat belt was developed by Nils Bohlin (1920-2002), during his time as chief safety engineer at the Swedish automotive company Volvo. The innovation was introduced 1959 and became standard in all Volvo Cars in 1969. The three-point seat belt, for which the design has remained the same since its first introduction, is estimated to have saved one human life every six minutes since its first introduction!

85

Bless You

Souveek Bhattacharjee

86

ziPPERGideon Sundbäck

The first functioning zipper was designed in year 1900 by Sweden-born inventor and industrialist Gideon Sundbäck (1880-1954). Sundbäck was granted a patent for his design (two woven cotton bands with metal teeth and a pull which could join or separate the teeth) in year 1914. By that time, Sundbäck had migrated to the USA, where he established a factory for the production of his invention. The only alteration of the zipper that has taken place since was in the 1970s, when the metal teeth were replaced by plastic. However, the newer version does not match the qualities of the original design in terms of durability, and still today, the majority of zippers are made of cotton and metal.

87

Swedish Mastery Zips an Indian Attire

Radha Ganesan

88

89

JURY

The photo contest “Swedish Innovations - Indian Interpretations”, which was organized as part of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week 2012, attracted over 450 entries from all around India. The ones represented in this book, as well as the winner of the competition, have been selected by an independent jury, composed of talented artists, photographers and curators, accompanied by representatives from the Embassy of Sweden. Ensuring the perspectives of women and men, Indians and Swedes, people of different ages, professions and backgrounds, the collective input of the jury has helped ensure the quality and integrity of the selection of photos.

The members of the jury were the following:

Ajay Rajgarhia Fine art photographer

Anushka menon Commercial photographer

Atul Bakshi Glass artist

Pratiksha Apurv Artist

Rajeev Lochan Director National Gallery Of Modern Arts, New Delhi

Saloni zaveri-Ahluwalia Embassy of Sweden

Sara Aulin Embassy of Sweden

Åke Peterson Embassy of Sweden

90

WINNER

The winner of the photo contest “Swedish Innovations – Indian Interpretations” is the Kolkata based photo artist Abhijit Chakraborty. The jury’s motivation is that the photograph “Sharing the Music”, which is an interpretation of the Swedish Internet music sharing service Spotify, is an exquisite combination of composition and creativity. Working with the rudimentary, Abhijit Chakraborty has captured the spirit and essence of a high-tech phenomenon and in many ways raised the bar, redefined and deepened the concept of interpretations. And this, without compromising the balance and beauty.

Abhijit describes himself as a believer in truth, talent, realism and love. In his works, he often portrays the people, culture and beauty of India, choosing titles that add additional artistic layers and stir the audience to think. Abhijit, who works as a graphic designer, has had exhibitions both in India and abroad and has had photo series published in national and international journals.

91

Innovation: SpotifyTitle: Sharing the Music

92

AAnchAl MAlhoTrA is born and raised in New Delhi but moved to Canada in 2007. Currently she lives in Montreal, Quebec where she’s working on her MFA in Studio Arts at Concordia University. She works mainly with traditional printmaking, as well as with photography and writing/poetry.

AbdullAh Qureshi is a student at Delhi University. He is an amateur photographer who wants to pursue photography professionally. He believes in hard work and always gives his utmost to achieve good results. This applies to all areas of his life.

AbhijiT chAkrAborTy is a graphic designer from West Bengal. A student from the National Academy of Photography who loves to work on different photo stories. The current photograph interests are all about India, her people, culture and religion. He has exhibited his work around the world and earned several national and international awards.

AMiTAvA chAndrA is employed with the Government of India, in the Revenue department. He is passionate about photography, and through his camera lens he explores the reality to abstract, from tangible to intangible.

AnunAy ArorA is a business graduate from the University of Delhi, specializing in finance. He is a hobbyist photographer with an interest in theatre, sports and social change. He believes that photography is a strong medium for storytelling, and building empathy, cohesiveness and driving change across the world.

Apoorv ToMAr is an Architect and Communication Designer. He currently works as a cross-disciplinary designer where he mainly deals with projects merging between graphic design and spaces. Apoorv is always passionate to communicate ideas through still / moving images.

chAndAn dey has through his photographs earned lots of awards around the world. Since 1999 he has been receiving recognitions from various national and international salons and competitions. In 2008 he was honored with EFIAP distinction by the Federation International Art Photography.

hAri kuMAr is currently working as a creative head at his own independent ad agency. He is interested in storytelling, which he expresses through his photographs. He has also written four screenplays and directed four short films, one of which was selected for an international film fest.

joydeep Mukherjee stepped into the world of photography in 2002. He believes that an artist’s work must consistently be good to be considered as art. Besides photography, Joydeep is interested in various kinds of sports, trekking and travelling.

kAnchAn dhAnkAni is a person full of thoughts and enthusiasm. She is working as a graphic designer and has earned awards for her work in the field. Kanchan believes that design is thinking made visual. She also thinks that design is about observing the world around us.

MAnAs kuMAr pAndA is a free-lance Photographer specializing in still photography, shooting videos at events and for documentaries. He works with a studio in Bhubaneshwar. He hails from a small district 60 kms from Bhubaneshwar.

Mihir MisrA first picked up the camera during school but gave it up that time because of the analog technology. The advent of the digital technology gave Mihir a new chance with photography. His schooling as an architect enabled an eye for graphic simplicity which has become his signature style. Mihir calls his work a mission towards making the ordinary, look extraordinary.

MohiT kAnsAl is an architect by profession, and photographer by passion. In his photographs, he tries to capture the beautiful details of nature and mankind and portray mundane life in an interesting manner.

prAchi singh is a newly graduated knitwear designer from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. She loves all creative things and specially photography, which is a feeling for her, an expression of how she sees the world.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

93

priyAnkA pArkAr is a graduate with a master in chemical engineering, working as a research analyst in Mumbai. In her spare time, she experiments with photography and film, with the objective of at one point merging her professional career with her free time passion.

rAdhA gAnesAn is working as an educator for an NGO in Bangalore. Photography is her passionate hobby.

sAMrAT MukhopAdhyAy is a faculty with IIT Delhi. As an engineering teacher he always tries to communicate the importance of innovations. Photography is Samrat´s passion and he loves to capture the story of human life.

sAnjiT dAs is a self-taught photographer based in New Delhi. His photos document India’s rapid transformation with a focus on the people, especially on the women and children, who are living through the changes. In 2007, Sanjit was featured in a book showcasing contemporary Indian artists.

sAnyAM bAjAj is a final year Bachelor student in Business Economics at Delhi University. He loves to play football and is passionate about photography, especially street photography. Some of his works have been exhibited abroad.

soMennATh MukhopAdhyAy is an amateur photographer and a teacher by profession. He prefers to capture people and culture, environment issues, etc. His photos have earned him several international photography awards.

souveek bhATTAchArjee views visuals as his best friend. He has been working with TV and film production for over a decade. At present, he is on an independent and meaningful journey creating audio-visuals with the plan to contribute a little to the social sector.

sreejiTh jeevAn is an alumnus of the NID, Ahmedabad, specialized in textile design. Currently he works for IKEA and he has also been part of various design and teaching projects with

designers, organizations and institutions. Sreejith claims to have a modern eclectic style that brings together the best of Indian with modern design.

sudipTo dAs is a self-taught photographer working as a senior photojournalist. He has been working for national and international organizations and newspapers. Sudipto has received several international awards and has portrayed his works in exhibitions around the world.

supriyA biswAs is trying to portrait honest depiction of human life through his camera lens. His images have been are shown around the world and Supriya has contributed photos to many magazines and won several national and international awards.

swATi dAyAni is a last year MBA student of the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, who in her spare time explores the world of photography.

viniTA AgArwAl works as a branch manager for Thomas Cook travel company. She expresses multiple reasons for loving Sweden, one of them being family ties.

vishAl ArorA works as a solution architect for wireless networking. Photography is his passion which he carries along with his profession.

94

95

96

4-5 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 021

Telephone: +91 11 441 971 00 Prin

ted

by C

once

pt S

olut

ion

Indi

a