Mumbai: Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) has officially opened applications for Indian Innovation Icons 2027, marking the launch of the 11th edition of its flagship biennial platform aimed at identifying and supporting breakthrough innovations across India.
The platform continues its legacy of recognizing scalable and impactful innovations that create socio-economic and environmental change.
Launched in 2006, Indian Innovation Icons has evolved into one of India’s leading innovation recognition platforms, spotlighting hidden yet potentially transformative innovations capable of delivering significant impact across industries and communities.
Through Indian Innovation Icons 2027, the foundation seeks to discover the next generation of innovators addressing India’s emerging challenges.
The 11th edition of Indian Innovation Icons 2027 will recognize innovations under two categories — Business (For-Profit) and Social (Not-For-Profit). Applications will remain open from June 22, 2026, to July 22, 2026.
The platform follows a rigorous eight-month evaluation process designed to identify disruptive and high-potential innovations.
The assessment includes two rounds of deliberations by independent juries for each category, followed by detailed on-ground due diligence conducted by independent knowledge partner Deloitte Monitor.
Distinguished Jury to Evaluate Indian Innovation Icons 2027 Entries
- The Business Category jury for Indian Innovation Icons 2027 will be chaired by Amit Chandra, Chairperson, Bain Capital India and Co-Founder, ATE Capital.
The jury panel includes Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog and former President of Nasscom; Dr. Ashish Lele, Director, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory; Prabha Narasimhan, MD and 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, comprises Deepali Khanna, Senior Vice President and Head of Asia at The Rockefeller Foundation; Samarinita Shetty, Co-founder and CEO, IDR; Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder and Chairperson of Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation; Aniket Doegar, CEO of Haqdarshak; Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-founder of AssisTech Foundation; and Luis Miranda, Co-founder and Chairperson of the Indian School of Public Policy.
The grand finale of Indian Innovation Icons 2027 is scheduled to be held on March 4, 2027, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
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 of Indian Innovation Icons 2027 will receive strategic guidance from Harsh Mariwala, access to Marico Innovation Foundation’s network of investors, business leaders, grant makers and ecosystem partners, bespoke mentoring from Marico’s senior leadership, enhanced 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 2027 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.”
He further added, “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 of the platform have included organizations such as Skyroot Aerospace, Indra Water, People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), India Development Review (IDR), Ishitva Robotic Systems, Dozee, and Khushi Baby, among others.
The previous edition of the platform received over 1,100 applications from across India, reflecting the growing strength and diversity of the country’s innovation ecosystem.
Suranjana Ghosh, Head, Marico Innovation Foundation, said, “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.”
She added, “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.”
