Bioscience Pioneer Kiran Mazumdar Shaw Receives Jamsetji Tata Award

Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and chairperson of Biocon, was honoured with the Jamsetji Tata Award by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) on December 14. She has been an exemplary leader in India's bioscience landscape, with an unwavering focus on advanced quality. Accepting the award in Bengaluru, she expressed, "This award holds a very special meaning to me as it is named after one of India’s greatest visionaries—a man whose legacy of excellence, innovation, and nation-building continues to inspire us all."

This award by the ISQ is named after Jamsetji Tata, regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Indian Industry’. The honour recognises business leaders who have made significant contributions to Indian society and demonstrated a focus on quality, commitment, and a record of outstanding results.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Honoured With Jamsetji Tata Award

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw received the award from Janak Kumar Mehta, President of ISQ and Chairman & Managing Director of TQM International; B. Muthuraman, former Vice Chairman of Tata Steel; and Dr K.N. Subramanya, Principal of R V College of Engineering and President of ISQ’s Bengaluru Chapter.

Presenting the award, Janak Kumar Mehta said, “This lifetime achievement award is being presented to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for being a pioneer in the bioscience movement in India." He added that the award honours leaders who not only do "good for their own company but for society as the whole."

In her acceptance speech, Mazumdar-Shaw said, "Jamsetji Tata’s commitment to quality, and his belief in the transformative power of industry to serve society, resonate deeply with my own journey... This Award is a testament to the collective effort of an exceptional team of individuals at the Biocon Group who share my passion for excellence.”

The Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) is a not-for-profit society of quality professionals, which acts as an advisory and national forum for quality education. The ISQ facilitates the exchange of information and experience regarding Quality Management principles, technology, and practices.

A Visionary Leader Who Transformed India

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw founded Biocon, an innovation-led global biopharmaceutical company in 1978. Born and raised in Bengaluru, the first-generation entrepreneur has broken barriers and paved the way for women in entrepreneurship. She has impacted many lives as a leader in STEM.

Mazumdar-Shaw's vision and work have positioned the Indian industry bioscience industry as a fierce contender in the global market. She is committed to equitable access to healthcare through affordable innovation as she pursues a path of making a difference in billions of lives globally.

Mazumdar-Shaw’s inspiring achievements have earned her several coveted titles and awards, both national and international. She has been recognised with the Padma Shri (1989) and the Padma Bhushan (2005), among other honours. In 2020, she was named the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year.