Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS, THE CHAIRPERSON AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE PHARMA GIANT, BIOCON, SHARES WITH HELLO! HOW INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS ARE HARNESSING INNOVATION TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC. THE MASTER PHILANTHROPIST ADDS THAT PEOPLE WITH INFLUENCE SHOULD USE THEIR POWER TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS

- SREEMITA BHATTACHARYA

How would you say are Indian entrepreneurs harnessing science and innovation to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic?

“In response to the COVID-19 crisis, India has an opportunity to build a huge bio-medical sector that is innovative, quality-conscious and can be scaled up to meet global demand. To position ourselves among the world’s scientific elite, we must, first and foremost, encourage the scientific community to create and market their intellectual property. Entrepreneurial scientists are crucial components in the march towards scientific superiority. Look at how Indian entrepreneurs are harnessing innovation to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. A small molecular diagnostics company based out of Pune, Mylab Discovery, was able to develop a relatively cheaper and more efficient test for the novel coronavirus indigenously in a record six weeks. Similarly, Mysuru-based Skanray Technologies has drawn up plans to locally assemble 100,000 ventilators with support from BEL and Mahindra & Mahindra to meet the expected spike in demand. Syngene, the research services subsidiary of Biocon, is working to develop serological antibody detection tests as well as vaccines against COVID-19.”

You are one of the biggest champions of philanthropy, not just in India but all over the world. From where you stand, and as a Changemaker, how would you define “power”?

“I believe that people with influence have a responsibility to provide others with the opportunity to improve their lives. Philanthropists are essentially influencers who use their wealth to bring about positive changes in society. I believe true power is when someone can use their knowledge to guide others”