11th edition of the biennial platform invites business and social innovators until 22 July 2026
Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) has invited applications for the 11th edition of Indian Innovation Icons, its biennial platform that recognises Indian innovations creating socio-economic and environmental impact.
Launched in 2006, Indian Innovation Icons aims to identify emerging innovations across business and social sectors. Applications for the 2027 edition are open from 22 June 2026 to 22 July 2026.
The platform will recognise innovations under two categories: Business (For-Profit) and Social (Not-For-Profit). Selected entries will undergo an eight-month evaluation process that includes two rounds of jury deliberations followed by on-ground due diligence conducted by Deloitte Monitor, the programme’s independent knowledge partner.
Jury Members Announced
The Business Category jury will be chaired by Amit Chandra, Chairperson, Bain Capital India and Co-Founder, ATE Capital. Other members include Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog; Dr. Ashish Lele, Director, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory; Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive India; Ravi Mariwala, Chairman and MD, Smaart Water; and Sanjiv Kaul, Senior Partner, ChrysCapital.
The Social Category jury, also chaired by Amit Chandra, includes Deepali Khanna, Senior Vice President and Head of Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation; Samarinita Shetty, Co-founder and CEO, IDR; Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder and Chairperson, Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation; Aniket Doegar, CEO, Haqdarshak; Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-founder, AssisTech Foundation; and Luis Miranda, Co-founder and Chairperson, Indian School of Public Policy.
The grand finale of the 11th edition will be held on 4 March 2027 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai.
Speaking on the launch, Harsh Mariwala, Founder, Marico Innovation Foundation, said:
“India is witnessing a strong wave of innovators building solutions that have the potential to create meaningful impact at scale. Yet, many breakthrough ideas often remain under-recognized despite solving real challenges on the ground. Through Indian Innovation Icons, we aim to identify and champion such disruptive innovations by providing them with greater visibility, access to networks, and opportunities that can help accelerate their growth and impact. Over the years, the platform has recognized innovators who have gone on to create significant change across sectors and communities, and we look forward to discovering the next generation of transformative ideas through the 11th edition.”
Winners will receive strategic guidance from Harsh Mariwala, access to Marico Innovation Foundation’s network of investors, business leaders, grant makers and ecosystem partners, mentoring from Marico’s senior leadership, national visibility and curated growth opportunities.
Amit Chandra, Jury Chair and Chairperson of the Governing Council at Marico Innovation Foundation, said:
“India’s future will be shaped by people who see problems differently and have the courage to build disruptive solutions. Indian Innovation Icons exists to identify and champion such innovators early in their journey. Past winners like Skyroot Aerospace, Dozee, and Astrome Technologies are powerful examples of what happens when bold ideas are recognized and backed early. Every edition leaves me inspired by the ingenuity, resilience, and ambition of India’s innovators. I look forward to discovering the next generation of those whose ideas might create impact at scale and help shape India’s next chapter.”
Previous winners include Skyroot Aerospace, Indra Water, People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), India Development Review (IDR), Ishitva Robotic Systems, Dozee and Khushi Baby.
According to the foundation, the previous edition received more than 1,100 applications from across India.
Suranjana Ghosh, Head, Marico Innovation Foundation, said:
“It has been exciting to witness the progress of our past Indian Innovation Icons winners over the years and see how India’s innovation ecosystem has continued to evolve. As we launch the 11th edition, we are eager to discover the ideas, innovators, and impact stories that have emerged since the last edition of Indian Innovation Icons. At Marico Innovation Foundation, we see this as an opportunity to celebrate innovation, and also to learn from the individuals and organizations shaping the future of India. We look forward to spotlighting the next generation of path breaking innovations and invite innovators from across the country to wholeheartedly apply and share their stories with us.”
