IF YOU are planning to set up a new industrial project, you can get a quick overview of its technological and business potential in your office itself. The computerised information service that will make this possible was on display at the recent Indian Engineering Trade Fair in New Delhi.

The system, developed by the Department of Science and Technology, is called Technology Application Forecasting and Assessment Control (TIFACLINE). It aims at providing information on technology and its status, raw materials and their possible sources, specialised machinery and names of institutions and experts who can be contacted for further exploration of the project idea. It also provides the names of competitors and identifies threats of technological obsolescence.

Information about technologies is presently scattered across a number of institutions. These same institutions are now being asked to compile databases in their assigned fields. The databases will then be stored in regional computer centres to be located in Delhi, Bangalore, Bombay and Calcutta and will be accessible through a telephone line.

The service being marketed by the Computer Maintenance Corp Ltd will have databases on composite materials, experts and standards. The databases would be on non-ferrous materials, renewable energy, food technology, environmental technology, manufacturing technology, electronic materials, ferrous material and coal technology patents.

Radhika Ramnath of the Confederation of Indian Industries believes the service has a vast potential because it would also make it possible to access international databases.