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The purpose of the paper is to present an update and the latest results from work on a project which could be useful for maskless printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing.

Copper is plated and etched using a novel electrochemical technique, electrochemical patterning by flow and chemistry, using a masked tool and fully exposed substrate. The micro patterns on the tool are replicated on the substrate via optimum design of the apparatus, choice of electrolyte chemistry and fluid flow.

Linear and square shapes ranging from 5 to 200 μm are transferred using the technique by electrochemical plating and etching. Up to 25 substrates could be processed using a single tool, which indicates that photolithography requirements can be greatly minimised.

The copper lines are transferred to relatively small substrates. The process needs to be scaled up to accommodate larger substrates in order to fully exploit its potential for PCBs.

The paper presents a fundamentally different approach to transfer micron scale pattern using a maskless technology. The platform technology involves using a mask to pattern each substrate; this work shows that micron scale patterns can be transferred without masking by optimising electrochemical reactor technology.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) in India were caught completely unawares by the Covid-19 pandemic and necessitated lockdown. Despite almost two decades of experimentation with online and distance learning by top-tier and private institutions, the vast majority were unprepared and looked for standalone solutions for different components of teaching and learning. Valuable lessons have been learned based on which a more comprehensive solution must be sought for the post-Covid-19 environment. The lockdown has provided the much-needed impetus to reshape higher education in India. Calls for the adoption of blended learning (BL) have been made on prior occasions; this chapter renews that call and stresses its urgency. It is imperative that educational institutions amplify the momentum gained during the lockdown and transition to a BL model supported by the adoption and use of learning management systems (LMSs). Government should support this initiative by providing a centralized LMS. Corporations must “adopt an HEI,” channeling their unused corporate social responsibility funds to support information and communication technology needs at educational institutions. All stakeholders must work together to transform the country to a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020.

Purpose – This chapter outlines and describes a number of case studies detailing the experiences and activities of individual women scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs who have made substantial contributions to particular fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) activities.

Methodology/approach – The chapter employs a qualitative case approach to offer detailed insight into the experiences of successful women entrepreneurs.

Findings: These case study reports describe the tactics, strategies and achievements of successful female innovators within the STEM sector.

Research limitations/implications – Although offering rich descriptions of the achievements of women innovators, these cases cannot be generalised. However, they do illustrate that woman have a notable and meaningful presence within the field of entrepreneurial STEM innovation.

Practical implications – These cases can act as role model illustrations to encourage other women to act as STEM innovators and entrepreneurs.

Social implications – Indicative that despite gendered ascriptions which limit women's engagement with STEM subjects they can, and do, offer a critical contribution to innovation and entrepreneurial activity within the field.

Originality/value of chapter – A relatively rare celebration of women's achievement within the STEM sector.