Why is hunger for innovation so low in Indian polity?

While reflecting on innovation ecosystem for national transformation a few days ago at an apex industrial association forum, I had to ask the industry representatives as to why were they so complacent in seeking ideas from outside? Many MNCs with even  a very large  market share and no imminent threat to their dominance seem more … Continue reading →

Disrupting Dalit Destinies Through Inclusive Innovation

The history of injustice with Dalit communities has not always subdued their spirit. There are many instances  when some of them have come out of low self-image, low self-deprecating belief systems and decided to break out of culture of subjugation, learned-helplessness both involuntary and also voluntary. Extreme events some times are a historical necessity to … Continue reading →

Calling Young Technovators for Innovation Awards

If a wheel chair bound person has to travel a long distance, the general choice will be to board a means of transport with somebody’s assistance and to get a wheel chair at the destination to continue the journey.  Ajit, Tanmay, Ramkrishna and Nikhil, four students from Pune designed a three wheeler which a wheelchair … Continue reading →

Scaling up social innovations/technologies: cook in cast iron vessel to overcome anemia

The desire for  reforms and policy redesign at much faster pace than is the case just now is growing in society. The impatience with inertia is a good sign and public policy makers must take that as a positive sign. Without a set of demanding clients, no institution can pursue continuous innovation. How to institutionalise … Continue reading →

Grassroots Innovation: Minds On the Margin Are Not Marginal Minds

A moral dilemma gripped Professor Gupta when he was invited by the Bangladeshi government to help restructure their agricultural sector in 1985. He noticed how the marginalized farmers were being paid poorly for their otherwise unmatched knowledge. The gross injustice of this constant imbalance led Professor Gupta to found what would turn into a resounding … Continue reading →

Just An hour a week; opening the doors for an innovator

I am just returning form  talks  meeting of alumni of  all the IIMS  viz., IIMIMPACT held at Singapore. One of the question most of the alumni asked was ”how can they join the Honey Bee Network (HBN), how can they contribute to  the inclusive innovation ecosystem, what is the role that an expert, who is … Continue reading →

Umbrella for more than five persons- Wings to imaginative children:Indian children refuse to live with problems unsolved indefinitely

Eleven-year-old Tarna has given the idea of an umbrella, which could be held by two children from two sides under which other children can stand and thus go to school together without getting drenched.Whenever it rained, Tarna and his schoolmates walked to school under a shared umbrella as most students in his village could not … Continue reading →