Mumbai, Maharashtra -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/22/2009 -- The entry process for the 3rd Innovation for India Awards institutionalized by Marico Innovation Foundation has come to a close. This year, the Awards have received an overwhelming response with 372 entries across the 4 categories of Business Innovation, Innovations in Business leveraging Social, Social Innovation and Innovations in Public Service.

Overwhelmed by the response Dr. Mashelkar said, “I always believed that ‘I’ in India should stand for Innovation and I’m glad to see that happening with the deluge of entries we have received. All the innovations are extremely interesting and motivating at the same time, I’m sure our jury will have a tough time sorting first amongst the equals.”

Top Indian innovations in Business, Social and Public Service are being chosen through a rigorous evaluation process. This includes applications from some of the most renowned organizations in India and internationally across IT, manufacturing, banking, media, medical, software, automobile, tele-communication and non-profit sectors.

Some interesting entries include innovations such as - an organization which has revolutionized the milk collection system and a company which has pioneered a drastic change in transaction methodology of India amongst others. The scale of impact of some of these innovations is also impressive with one such innovation reaching out to no less than 1 million school going children across the country every day, while another has impacted the lives of more than 3 million people in India. The government is not far behind, with one entry which can boast of turning uncultivable land into crop- growing soil, now abundant with various vegetables.

With the initial stages of the audit process underway, the next stage will be the in-context audit on site followed by the first round of Jury presentation. The jury would be made up of eminent members of the business, social, and governance landscape in India. In this round the Jury will shortlist the top innovations that will go through to the final round of tele-verification. Post this process, the eminent Jury will select the winners for the Innovation for India Awards 2009-10.

About Marico Innovation Foundation
The Marico Innovation Foundation was created in March 2003 under the stewardship of Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar. The Foundation’s Mission is to fuel Innovation in India, by providing the nation with a belief that Innovation is possible and is the way to leapfrog India into the center stage of global business leadership. The Foundation also believes that a framework will enable leverage innovation for quantum growth. The foundation is steered by a governing council that oversees both its vision and direction. Visit http://www.maricoinnovationfoundation.org for more information. Erehwon Innovation Consulting are the Knowledge Partners for Marico Innovation Foundation’s Innovation for India Awards and conduct the necessary search and audit of all nominations filed for the awards in an equal and unbiased manner.