CNN-IBN & Infosys to turn spotlight on innovation in business and society

The 14-episode 'Innovating for a Better Tomorrow' show will highlight exemplary innovations that have brought about progressive change

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | February 13, 2014

As the world around us evolves rapidly, several innovations are born to help us keep pace. CNN-IBN, in partnership with Infosys, is all set to bring to the fore exemplary innovations that have not only transformed the lives of millions of Indians but have also left indelible impressions globally. The exclusive nine-episode series, 'Innovating for a Better Tomorrow', will showcase innovations with significant business and social impact.

The series will begin on February 15, 2014 at 7 PM with an hour-long discussion between CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose and Infosys Co-Founder and Executive Chairman NR Narayana Murthy. The episode will touch upon various topics revolving around innovation. It will discuss the opportunities, growth prospects and challenges for innovators, while also outlining the role of corporates in encouraging innovation.

The 14 compelling innovations to be featured on the show are:

Business Innovations:

• Aurolab: For creating the world's cheapest intraocular lenses.
• GE Healthcare: For introducing MAC 400, a low-cost ECG machine that has profoundly impacted clinical guidelines and ECG standards, and made ECGs available to every physician, every patient, everywhere.
• Amul: One of the most successful business innovations that came out of our country and helped India emerge as the largest milk producer in the world.
• Cipla: For emerging as a world leader in the generic drug market and for making life-saving drugs available to those who need it the most, at an affordable cost.
• Hindustan Unilever: For Pureit Water Purifiers, a breakthrough innovation developed and designed locally for low-cost domestic water purification.
• Godrej & Boyce ChotuKool: A compact small fridge that runs on both electricity and battery for the mid- and low-income urban and rural markets.

• BrahMos Aerospace: For developing BrahMos missile, which is the world's first supersonic cruise missile that can be maneuvered while still in flight.

• Dr Reny M Roy, DRDO scientist: For developing the Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) that uses chemicals to trigger reactions and detect explosives.

Social Innovations:

• Akshaya Patra Foundation: Runs school lunch programs across India distributing freshly cooked, healthy meals daily to almost 1.3 million underprivileged children in 9,000 government schools through 20 locations in nine states across India.
• Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman and Founder of Narayana Hrudayalaya: Made cardiac surgery affordable to even the poorest in our society.
• Bunker Roy, social activist and educator: Founded the Barefoot College that educates illiterate village women, often grandmothers, to assemble and maintain hi-tech solar panels for use in their own villages and for others.
• Pratham: The largest NGO working to provide quality education to the underprivileged children in India.
• Jaipur Foot: For providing world-class artificial limbs, rehabilitation aids and other appliances, free of charge, to physically challenged individuals below the poverty line.
• Ela Bhatt, Founder, Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA): For running one of the largest women-led social business enterprises for poor, self-employed women workers.

Sagarika Ghose, Deputy Editor, CNN-IBN, said, “The world has experienced commendable changes over the years on account of brilliant minds that have introduced several innovations across verticals. As we continue to progress, our series 'Innovating for a Better Tomorrow', aims to highlight and felicitate top innovators who have helped our country and other nations prosper.”

Narayana Murthy said, “Innovation is all about new methods of using existing knowledge to make the lives of people better. Societies that have embraced innovation have enhanced productivity and grown their economies rapidly. I think in a developing country, like India, there is both a need and huge potential to innovate in every sector. 'Innovating for a Better Tomorrow' is our attempt to recognise individuals and groups who have changed thousands of lives with their innovations.”

The series will conclude with a grand finale wherein the 14 innovators will be awarded.

Repeat telecasts will be on Sunday, February 16, at 12 noon and 6 PM on CNN-IBN; and on Sunday, February 16 at 3:30 PM on CNBC-TV18.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com