05-21-2010, 06:39 AM
An article by Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar, about Innovation and an award function that honored some of the best innovations in India. Innovation Led Growth, Innovation Led Recovery, Innovation Led Competitiveness are not mere slogans, they are a hard reality. The power of innovation to create social and economic transformation has been well recognized all around the world. India is no exception.
On 3 January 2010, during his Science Congress address, Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh declared 2010-20 as the decade of innovation for India. Soon thereafter the National Innovation Council was set up under the unique leadership of Sam Pitroda. We are fortunate that Sam Pitroda is gracing the Innovation for India Awards 2010 function.
Whereas the nation is embracing innovation in a serious way now, it is a matter of pride that Marico Innovation Foundation set up an agenda of fuelling innovation in India in as early as 2003 itself. The Foundation has come a long way through its several initiatives. First, the Foundation decided to see innovation not as a narrow technocratic discipline but as embracing cultural and social issues as well. Second, it recognized the unique characteristics of innovation in India, which has thrived on the backdrop of Indiaââ¬â¢s challenges of scarcity, poverty, diversity and scale ââ¬â but tampered with huge aspirations.
As an example, the brilliant research made it possible to bring out a unique book ââ¬ËMaking Breakthrough Innovation Happen : 11 Indians who pulled off the impossibleââ¬â¢. It is a best seller today with over 25,000 copies sold. Several other initiatives like Challenger Research, Institute Alliances, scholarly studies on subjects ranging from product innovation to social innovations have constituted the essence of an exciting journey for the Foundation.
However, the pioneering Innovation for India Awards tops Foundationââ¬â¢s activities in terms of importance and impact. The intent of the awards is to salute those Indian innovators, who have made a real difference to the nation.
ââ¬ËInclusive globalizationââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëinclusive growthââ¬â¢ will not take place without ââ¬Ëinclusive innovationââ¬â¢. This yearââ¬â¢s selection of awardees shows the very best face of Indian inclusive innovation. This year the awardees range from Innovative Indian companies, the large-scale social Innovations to the big impact innovations in public service. There is a strong common thread of Innovation for Inclusive Growth among these awardees which cover innovations focused on environment conservation, to radical breakthroughs in education and energy sectors. The magnitude of impact of some innovations has been felt across India, and will continue to influence society at large scale. There are others which have strategically made a niche in unchartered territories, by working in a unique space, with one initiative of turning uncultivable land into crop- growing soil. Some of these initiatives are first to world which makes these innovations even more commendable.
Over the past couple of years, new buzz words are emerging in the innovation landscape, such as ââ¬Ëinclusive innovationââ¬â¢,ââ¬â¢ reverse innovationââ¬â¢, ââ¬Ëfrugal engineeringââ¬â¢, ââ¬ËGandhian engineeringââ¬â¢, etc. All of them represent a unique way of getting ââ¬Ëmore from less for more and more peopleââ¬â¢ rather than just getting ââ¬Ëmore from less for more and more profit and more and more value to the shareholdersââ¬â¢.
It is a matter of pride that Innovation for India Awards 2010 presents a strong echo of the leadership that India is creating in this space as we march into our exciting journey into the 21st century.
R.A. Mashelkar
On 3 January 2010, during his Science Congress address, Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh declared 2010-20 as the decade of innovation for India. Soon thereafter the National Innovation Council was set up under the unique leadership of Sam Pitroda. We are fortunate that Sam Pitroda is gracing the Innovation for India Awards 2010 function.
Whereas the nation is embracing innovation in a serious way now, it is a matter of pride that Marico Innovation Foundation set up an agenda of fuelling innovation in India in as early as 2003 itself. The Foundation has come a long way through its several initiatives. First, the Foundation decided to see innovation not as a narrow technocratic discipline but as embracing cultural and social issues as well. Second, it recognized the unique characteristics of innovation in India, which has thrived on the backdrop of Indiaââ¬â¢s challenges of scarcity, poverty, diversity and scale ââ¬â but tampered with huge aspirations.
As an example, the brilliant research made it possible to bring out a unique book ââ¬ËMaking Breakthrough Innovation Happen : 11 Indians who pulled off the impossibleââ¬â¢. It is a best seller today with over 25,000 copies sold. Several other initiatives like Challenger Research, Institute Alliances, scholarly studies on subjects ranging from product innovation to social innovations have constituted the essence of an exciting journey for the Foundation.
However, the pioneering Innovation for India Awards tops Foundationââ¬â¢s activities in terms of importance and impact. The intent of the awards is to salute those Indian innovators, who have made a real difference to the nation.
ââ¬ËInclusive globalizationââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëinclusive growthââ¬â¢ will not take place without ââ¬Ëinclusive innovationââ¬â¢. This yearââ¬â¢s selection of awardees shows the very best face of Indian inclusive innovation. This year the awardees range from Innovative Indian companies, the large-scale social Innovations to the big impact innovations in public service. There is a strong common thread of Innovation for Inclusive Growth among these awardees which cover innovations focused on environment conservation, to radical breakthroughs in education and energy sectors. The magnitude of impact of some innovations has been felt across India, and will continue to influence society at large scale. There are others which have strategically made a niche in unchartered territories, by working in a unique space, with one initiative of turning uncultivable land into crop- growing soil. Some of these initiatives are first to world which makes these innovations even more commendable.
Over the past couple of years, new buzz words are emerging in the innovation landscape, such as ââ¬Ëinclusive innovationââ¬â¢,ââ¬â¢ reverse innovationââ¬â¢, ââ¬Ëfrugal engineeringââ¬â¢, ââ¬ËGandhian engineeringââ¬â¢, etc. All of them represent a unique way of getting ââ¬Ëmore from less for more and more peopleââ¬â¢ rather than just getting ââ¬Ëmore from less for more and more profit and more and more value to the shareholdersââ¬â¢.
It is a matter of pride that Innovation for India Awards 2010 presents a strong echo of the leadership that India is creating in this space as we march into our exciting journey into the 21st century.
R.A. Mashelkar