Friday, November 18, 2011:
The National Fair finale of the India Innovation Initiative (i3) saw around 50 best-in-class innovation entries battling it out for top honours.
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The finalists were shortlisted after participating and winning in the Regional Fairs organized at NOIDA, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kharagpur.
Overall, i3 2011 saw nearly 800 entries for innovation this year. i3 is the successful partnership between Agilent Technologies, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to create and sustain an ecosystem of innovation and encourage innovators of all ages and backgrounds.
A jury panel comprising eminent industrialists, scientists, business management experts and government representatives came together to evaluate each of the finalists’ entries. The initiative is being supported by government and non-government incubator and investor associations for incubation, entrepreneurship and marketability. There will be other awards, recognition and support to winners.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Parmeet S. Ahuja, President and Country General Manager, Agilent Technologies India said, “This is the third year of i3. We continue to be heartened by the strong response we receive from across the country; it highlights the importance of avenues like i3 to bring out the hidden talent India possesses, not just in large metros, but in far-flung rural areas as well. It makes us proud that Agilent can play a small role in this.”
“In order to bring true value to the winning innovators, we have partnered with prestigious government and private institutes like TIFAC-TREMAP, CII-TDPC, the TBI at BITS Pilani, and Amity among others. These partnerships will mentor and incubate the winners and provide them the necessary support to make their ideas a marketable reality. In this way, i3 will truly become a benchmark for innovation,” he added.
“India has emerged as an economic superpower during the last two decades and is well placed to become the most powerful country in the world in the next 20 years. Innovation is the root for this change to happen, we need to be innovative in all spheres of activity starting from technology to services and all levels. Through joint collaboration with Agilent, CII and Yi, DST is determined to make Indian Innovation Initiative - i3 a flagship initiative to foster innovation at the grassroot level. Our aim is to harness the creativity of the fertile minds of India and to address the innovative zeal at all levels, that would eventually contribute to Innovation eco-system of the country in the Decade of Innovation (2010-2020) and take India to the position of world dominance,” said B. P. Singh, Head NCSTC, Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
Anjan Das, Senior Director, CII highlighted, “CII is happy that our partnership with DST and Agilent for the India Innovation Initiative – i3 has grown multifold over the past 3 years. As one of the apex bodies representing industries in India, CII has taken a leap forward to bring forth the agenda of Innovation awareness and promotion within its members and society at large, with the objective of building a sustainable innovation ecosystem in the country. i3 is the perfect forum where innovators above 18 years, from all over the country and across all backgrounds, could participate and get a chance to showcase their creativity. The top innovators will be recognized and facilitated and will be further supported by our partner organisations and incubator partners to translate their innovation into active commercial ventures. This would create business, jobs and an overall awareness among masses, in line with the CII theme of “Business for Livelihood” for sustainable and inclusive growth. I am confident that such initiatives would facilitate some finest innovators from all backgrounds and regions of India.”
The top five cash award winners selected by the national jury were
Mr. Gurmit Singh , awarded cash prize worth Rs. 1,00,000
Ms. Fardaus Jahan, was awarded cash prize worth Rs. 75,000
Mr. Bijoy Chakraborty, was awarded cash prize worth Rs. 50,000
Mr. Mahesh Atale, was awarded cash prize worth Rs. 25,000
Dr. A B Sastry, was awarded cash prize worth Rs. 25,000
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