Experimental modules of these tiny power packs have been put to trials with encouraging results by a consortium of national laboratories led by the Karaikudi-based Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI).

The other institutes involved in the project called "Fuel cells of the future", being funded under the New Millennium India Leadership Technology Initiative (NMILTI), are the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune and the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata.

The Director of CECRI, Prof. A.K. Shukla, told newspersons that the consortium has been given Rs 25 crore for the project up to 2007 under NMILTI. NMILTI, which funds projects at an interest of just 3 per cent, has attracted 222 public-private partnerships in the last four years. The idea was to attract more industries to participate in developing new technologies and products, which would give the country leadership globally, said Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Director-General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Earlier, delivering the keynote address at the two-day international conference on `Electrochemical power systems' here, Dr Mashelkar said lithium batteries have established a niche market in the cellular phone industry.

He said the global battery market is a whopping $55 billion, of which about $30 billion is the share for secondary batteries. Among the countries that would register the strongest gains in the battery market in the near future are Brazil, China, Czech Republic, India and South Korea.

The focus of the two-day conference, organised by the CECRI, Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, is batteries, fuel cells and super capacitors. About 250 participants, including 40 from abroad are taking part in the meet.