Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, felicitated the winners of India Innovation Pioneers Challenge 2009 at a ceremony held at Taj Palace Hotel, here today in the presence of Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Dr. Praveen Vishakantaiah, President, Intel Technology, India.

The top three teams under Scholar Sparks category received cash award of Rs Three lakhs (First prize), Rs. One lakh (Second prize) and Rs. Fifty thousand (Third prize) respectively. Besides this, two teams recognized as “Honorable Mentions” from the jury received a cash award of Rs. Twenty five thousand each. For the Champion of Champions Category, the jury recommended only second prize & third prizes. Also the top two teams from the Scholar Sparks category will be representing India at the Intel-University of California, Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge 2009.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Intel and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) have partnered to launch the Technology Entrepreneurship Program, as a public-private initiative with the aim to foster an ecosystem that encourages innovation and creativity to boost entrepreneurial spirit in Indian academia and scientific enterprises by adopting some of the best practices. Growth of entrepreneurial talent, developing innovative business people with cross-disciplinary skills, technical expertise and the ability to seize market opportunities in India are the moot objectives of this program.

In an effort to identify and promote budding “technopreneurs” with innovative ideas, DST, Intel and IUSSTF, jointly conducted the India Innovation Pioneers Challenge (IIPC) competition 2009. The technology business plan competition provides a unique opportunity to emerging entrepreneurs at a very early stage of their career to explore and share ideas and gain insight for commercializing their venture through a hand holding process involving recognition through cash awards coupled with mentoring and networking support.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : August 28, 2009