Titan launches Design Awards

: Titan Company Limited today launched the "Design: Impact Awards for Social Change" in collaboration with Tata Trusts with focus on building innovative product designs that resolve social issues.
The awards is a project-based grant that aims to positively impact the underprivileged communities and needs of the society, by encouraging and inspiring bright minds to design for the benefit of the Indian society, the company said.
Open to innovators, Titan aims to identify and mentor product design innovators who would like to upscale their products' reach to a larger community, it said in a release.
The jury for the award includes R A Mashelkar, eminent scientist, Anil Gupta, globally renowned grassroots innovations scholar, Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, V R Mehta, trustee, Sir Dorabji Tata Trusts, Harish Bhat, brand custodian, Tata Sons and Ramji Raghavan, renowned India-based social innovator and entrepreneur and others.

Bhaskar Bhat, managing director, Titan Company Limited, said the company and Tata Trusts aimed to celebrate product design that brings about social change.
"We will jointly use our design experience and social sector connect to help innovators make an impact wherever they are needed the most."

Product design innovators and teams with prototyped and tested products were eligible to apply for the award and grant.
Innovators who finally qualify would be financially supported up to Rs 65 lakh along with advocacy, recognition, and mentorship.
At later stages, grant recipients would also be given the opportunity to apply for seed capital for further funding.

Post the awards, Titan could also consider a multi-year support for some of the chosen grantees as part of its CSR strategy, the release said.