Hyderabad, Aug 31 - US aerospace major Lockheed Martin's India Innovation Growth Programme achieved another milestone Monday with the signing of 22 commercialization deals by the winners of this unique nation-wide initiative.

The deals, signed at the Hyderabad Technology Expo included six inked with international companies, placing the winners on a global platform.

Many winners of the programme, being run in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and those signing the commercialization deals had technologies that dealt with medical and environmental initiatives.

These included a chemical catalyst based process that converts hydrocarbon based material into fuels; technology to convert algae into diesel fuel; nano polymer coating on coronary stents; heart sound analyzer; and technology to create more efficient and reliable blades for generating wind power.

Inaugurating the Technology Expo, where programme winners of the earlier years had showcased their innovative technologies, Kanna Lakshmi Narayana, Andhra Pradesh's minister of major industries, commerce and export promotion and food processing, said: 'India has a number of innovative technologies and ideas but there is lack of structure to take minds to the market.

'Today, mind-to-market initiatives such as the India Innovation Growth Programme are imperative to ensure a win-win situation for both-the innovators and the industry. We have to transform India into a knowledge society with innovation as the thrust area,' Narayana added.

Speaking on the occasion, Ray O. Johnson, Lockheed Martin's senior vice president and chief technology officer, said: 'This programme, now in its third year, continues to mature and stand out for its uniqueness in helping rising entrepreneurs identify markets and partnerships for their innovation and develop business strategies.