Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) has opened applications for the 11th edition of its flagship biennial platform, Indian Innovation Icons, inviting innovators from across India to submit their breakthrough ideas. The platform, launched in 2006, aims to identify and champion scalable solutions that create socio-economic and environmental change.
Application Details and Categories
Applications will be accepted from June 22, 2026, to July 22, 2026. The 11th edition will recognize innovations in two categories: Business (For-Profit) and Social (Not-For-Profit). Interested innovators can apply through the official application form.
Rigorous Evaluation Process
Indian Innovation Icons follows a unique and rigorous eight-month evaluation process. It includes two rounds of deliberations by independent juries for each category, followed by detailed on-ground due diligence conducted by Deloitte Monitor, the independent knowledge partner.
Jury Composition
The Business Category jury will be chaired by Amit Chandra, Chairperson of Bain Capital India and Co-Founder of ATE Capital. Other jury members include Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals; Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog and former President of Nasscom; Dr. Ashish Lele, Director of CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory; Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive India; Ravi Mariwala, Chairman and MD of Smaart Water; and Sanjiv Kaul, Senior Partner at 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 of 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.
Grand Finale and Benefits for Winners
The grand finale will take place on March 4, 2027, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Winners will receive strategic guidance from Harsh Mariwala, access to MIF's ecosystem of investors and business leaders, bespoke mentoring from Marico's senior leadership, enhanced national visibility, and curated growth opportunities.
Statements from Leadership
Harsh Mariwala, Founder of 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."
Amit Chandra, Jury Chair and Chairperson of the Governing Council at MIF, stated, "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."
Previous Impact and Statistics
In the previous edition, the platform received over 1,100 applications from across India. 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, among others.
Suranjana Ghosh, Head of 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."
About Marico Innovation Foundation
Founded by Harsh Mariwala in 2003, MIF nurtures and promotes innovations. The erstwhile 'Innovation for India' Awards, started in 2006, were the first platform in India to recognize pioneering innovations. The biennial event, now rebranded as Indian Innovation Icons, brings together leaders and thinkers to celebrate and support innovative ideas.
