KHG Innovation Foundation (KHGIF), a pioneering new initiative dedicated to identifying, nurturing and sustaining innovation for profound social impact, was launched.

The driving forces behind this initiative are Dr. Keki H. Gharda, Founding Chairman and Managing Director, Gharda Chemicals Ltd. and a renowned philanthropist, and Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar, one of India’s foremost scientists and thought leaders.

KHGIF in partnership with Anjani Mashelkar Foundation, aims to leverage intellect, innovation and collective effort to enable visionary entrepreneurs create scalable transformative technologies that address critical gaps and drive path-breaking social outcomes.

The focus is on supporting innovation in the area of manufacturing in core engineering and healthcare technologies that have potential for significant social impact.

KHGIF shall provide a complete nurturing ecosystem that provides intellectual capital including mentorship, guidance, and strategic advice from industry experts and thought leaders; human capital in the form of a support network of innovators and industry partners and analytical support for enabling sharper decision-making through a data-driven approach, besides financial capital. KHGIF shall also have tailored programs that support for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises alike and drive pilot projects to help innovators scale for impact.

In his address, Dr. Keki H. Gharda, Chairman and Managing Director, Gharda Chemicals Ltd. informed the need for solving India’s social challenges by democratizing technology and innovations. India’s talent has no boundaries and our quest to dominate the world can only be achieved by technology.

“India has embarked on its quest to become a developed country in the foreseeable future, and set sights on becoming a global leader in manufacturing. We believe that a strong focus on innovation, combined with entrepreneurship, is key to achieving that status. Establishing KHGIF is one among several such efforts that would be required as we proceed towards developing that capability,” added Gharda.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, one of India’s foremost scientists and innovators said, “I have always admired Dr. Keki Gharda’s brilliant mind and compassionate heart. This partnership will propel disruptive, game-changing innovations that aim to transform India by addressing grand challenges. It marks a pioneering step forward in the inclusive innovation movement that the Anjani Mashelkar Foundation has championed since 2011.”

“The flight of imagination and innovation has no limits, except the one that you put on your mind,” added Mashelkar.

KHG Innovation Foundation is a philanthropic not-for-profit initiative of Padmashri Dr. Keki H. Gharda, Founding Chairman and Managing Director of Gharda Chemicals Ltd, in partnership with the Anjani Mashelkar Foundation. KHGIF is dedicated to help visionary entrepreneurs create transformative technologies and bring about social impact by addressing critical gaps and building a strategic network of mentors and innovators.

The Anjani Mashelkar Foundation was established in 2011 by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath A Mashelkar, a globally renowned scientist and thought leader. Named after his mother, the Foundation aspires to pole-vault the inclusive innovation movement by recognizing, rewarding and accelerating innovations and creating an ecosystem for them to thrive.