Innovative Solutions Triumph: Winners Unveiled at PIC’s 11th National Competition for Social Innovators (NCSI) 2023 In Pune
Pune, 17th November 2023: Pune International Centre (PIC) Social Innovation Lab (SI Lab) proudly declares the winners of the much awaited 11th National Conference on Social Innovation (NCSI) held today at YASHADA Auditorium, Baner Road, Pune.
Drawing applications from over 200 social innovators nationwide, the event showcased the prowess of 18 finalists across Urban, Rural, and Tribal categories. Their ground-breaking ideas were rigorously evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges.
The winners of NCSI 2023 are:
Urban Category Winner:
Eco Bio Group Pvt Ltd – for their Eco BioTraps, a simple, non-electronic, 100% biodegradable device that attracts, traps and kills female mosquitoes and destroys their larvae, thus breaking the chain of their breeding; Founder: Prasad Phadke
Rural Category Winner:
Cowbit Technologies Pvt Ltd – for their cattle health monitoring system; Founders: Diptimayee Mishra & Ananda Mishra
Tribal Category Winner:
Aahan Foundation for Social Change – for their innovative approach to empowering girls through education, sports, arts, girls network, and creating safe spaces in tribal areas; Founder: Dr. Rashmi Tiwary
Each winner, a force of change, walks away with a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and invaluable mentorship from PIC’s Social Innovation Lab mentors. The awards were presented by Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Vice President of PIC, in the presence of Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, President of PIC, and Abhay Vaidya, Director of PIC.
The event kicked off with the 13th Anjani Mashelkar Prize awarded to innovator Gayatri Choda of Aarca Research for their revolutionary health screening solution, IHRA – Intelligent Health Risk Assessment (IHRA), a first-of-its-kind, ultra-affordable, early screening solution for detecting Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol using non-invasive technology for under Rs 10 per scan.
In his opening address, eminent scientist and PIC President RA Mashelkar emphasised that mentorship is the catalyst for providing “speed and direction” to social innovators.
Chief guest and Chairman of Force Motors, Abhay Firodia, asserted that disruptions are the stepping stones to leadership in the new world, emphasising the need for innovations to find markets and create scale.
The dynamic Q&A session, ignited by compelling presentations, saw the jury and audience engaging in thought-provoking discussions.
In the valedictory address, Prof. Anil Gupta, Founder of Honey Bee Network, delved into the rich history of social innovation initiatives and contemplated the future.
Prashant Girbane, General Secretary of PIC, and Abhay Vaidya, Director of PIC, provided a comprehensive overview of NCSI’s remarkable journey over the past decade.
The National Conference on Social Innovation (NCSI) stands as the pinnacle annual event orchestrated by the Social Innovation Lab (SI Lab), one of PIC’s arm. PIC, an independent think tank, is helmed by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, eminent scientist and PIC President, and Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Chairman of the 13th Finance Commission and PIC Vice President. This conference was a collaborative effort with the National Innovation Foundation and Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Pune International Centre’s Social Innovation Lab (SI Lab) is dedicated to empowering and supporting social entrepreneurs in their mission to create positive social impact through their enterprises. Through our various initiatives, we provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help social entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into sustainable and impactful ventures.
