Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw receives 2024 Jamsetji Tata Award

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group, was conferred the Jamsetji Tata Award by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) on December 14, 2024, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The award recognises her pioneering efforts in the biosciences sector and her commitment to quality, which has led Biocon to achieve a leading position in the global biopharmaceutical industry.

The Jamsetji Tata Award, established by ISQ in 2004, honours business leaders who have made significant contributions to Indian society, with a focus on quality, innovation, and outstanding results. The award is named after Jamsetji Tata, who is widely regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Indian Industry’.

The announcement of the award was made during the ISQ Annual Conference 2024, held in Bengaluru. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw received the honour 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.

Janak Kumar Mehta, President of ISQ, spoke highly of Mazumdar-Shaw’s achievements, saying, “This Lifetime achievement award is being presented to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for being a pioneer in the bioscience movement in India since 1978, a first-generation entrepreneur to establish Biocon Limited and associated companies to serve customers in India and across the world. This award is actually awarded to those who have done not only good for their own company, but for the society on the whole. It is a recognition of your outstanding work and bringing India to the map of the world.”

In response, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honoured and humbled to accept the 2024 Jamsetji Tata Award instituted by ISQ. 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. Jamsetji Tata’s commitment to quality and his belief in the transformative power of industry to serve society resonate deeply with my own journey. At Biocon, we are continuously striving to refine and enhance our activities and processes with the aim of assuring the highest quality of products and services. 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.”

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneering biotech entrepreneur and founder of Biocon, a global biopharmaceuticals enterprise. Her leadership in the industry has earned her recognition as a leading woman in science and a global role model. She is committed to ensuring equitable access to healthcare through affordable innovation, impacting millions of lives worldwide.

Throughout her career, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri (1989) and the Padma Bhushan (2005), two of India’s highest civilian honours. She was also conferred with the Order of Australia in 2020 and appointed Knight of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour in 2016. In 2020, she was named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. Other notable recognitions include the Othmer Gold Medal in 2014 and the Global Economy Prize from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany, in the same year.

The ISQ, a not-for-profit society, promotes quality education and provides a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in quality management. The Jamsetji Tata Award has previously been presented to other industry leaders such as Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder of Infosys, and T.V. Narendran, CEO of Tata Steel.