Mumbai, India – December 8, 2025 : The Tata Group and The New York Academy of Sciences gathered at the historic Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai on Friday, December 5, to celebrate the 2025 Tata Transformation Prize Winners with an inspiring ceremony and dinner. Launched in 2023, the Tata Transformation Prize identifies and supports visionary scientists in India who are developing breakthrough technologies that address India’s most significant societal challenges in Food Security, Sustainability, and Healthcare.
The 2025 Tata Transformation Prize Winners, selected
from 212 entries from 27 Indian states by an international jury of leading
experts, are:
•
Food Security Winner: Padubidri
V. Shivaprasad, PhD, from the National Centre for Biological Sciences, has
developed rice varieties that could reduce the need for fertilizers and
pesticides, cut farming costs, and offer more nutritious food for millions. By
using advanced gene-regulation tools in rice, India’s main agricultural staple,
his innovation boosts stress tolerance and improves nutrition. By fine-tuning
how certain genes are switched on or off, his method goes beyond traditional
breeding, which can be slow and uncertain. His work also provides a sustainable
model for strengthening staple crops worldwide due to global warming and
climate change. Watch his film HERE
•
Sustainability Winner: Balasubramanian Gopal,
PhD, from the Indian
Institute of Science has created a green chemistry
platform that uses specially engineered E. coli bacteria to produce
necessary chemicals for medicines, cosmetics, and agriculture. By combining AI
with lab experiments, his team quickly designs better enzymes and improves
bacteria to produce high yields, without antibiotics or harmful additives. This
sustainable approach can replace traditional, polluting chemical processes,
strengthen India’s domestic production, and help position the country as a
leader in environmentally friendly biomanufacturing. Watch his film HERE
•
Healthcare Winner: Ambarish Ghosh, PhD, from
the Indian Institute
of Science,
is developing magnetic nanorobots—tiny, screw-shaped devices that can be safely
guided through the body to target cancer. These nanorobots can navigate complex
tissues, deliver drugs directly to tumors, and distinguish cancer cells from
healthy ones. His team is also building imaging tools to track and control them
in real time. This approach could offer more precise, less invasive cancer
treatments with fewer side effects, and make advanced therapies more accessible
and affordable in India and other low- and middle-income countries. Watch
his film HERE
Harish Bhatt, former brand custodian for Tata Sons, served as the
ceremony presenter. The evening's Guest of Honour, Prof. S. Bruce Dowton,
Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University (Australia), gave the keynote address. Other distinguished guests attending the
ceremony include Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan, Emeritus Professor and Former
Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences; M. Lakshmi Kantam, Dr. B.P.
Godrej Distinguished Professor of Green Chemistry and Sustainability
Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai; and Chandrika Tandon,
Indian-American businesswoman, philanthropist, and
Grammy-winning musical artist.
In his opening remarks, N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of the Board of Tata
Sons, said, “The prize is part of the Tata Group's commitment to invest in
India’s next generation of scientific leaders and to champion vital
research at every stage of its evolution. To our Winners, we
celebrate your discoveries, your ambitions, and above all, your
determination to make life better for millions of people.”
Prof. Nicholas B. Dirks,
President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, followed the Chairman’s
remarks commenting on the growth of the program: "Since its
founding just three years ago, the Tata Transformation Prize has grown remarkably
in both scope and impact, gaining nationwide visibility and elevating the work
of its recipients. This heightened recognition has helped propel past Winners
onto the international stage, opening doors to future honours and new
opportunities to translate their innovations into real societal benefit.” Prof.
Dirks highlighted achievements by Tata Transformation Prize Winners from 2023
and 2024. He also recognized this year’s jury, which included eminent
scientists, clinicians, technologists, and engineers from world-renowned
organizations and academic institutions across five continents, and the role of
the Prize’s Scientific Advisory Council, who serve as ambassadors for the
program.
To drive transformative innovation and scale up the implementation of
high-reward research, each Winner received INR 2 crores (approximately
US$228,000) in prize money and was honoured with a Tata Transformation Prize
medal at the ceremony.
Harish Bhat, former Brand Custodian for
Tata Sons, closed the ceremony with final remarks.
A day earlier, the Tata Group welcomed the
2024 Winners to a symposium at
Bombay House, where they highlighted the scientific advances and partnerships
they have developed over the past year.
About the Tata Transformation Prize
The Tata Transformation Prize was established in 2023 by Tata Sons, powered by
The New York Academy of Sciences, to support breakthrough, innovative
technologies that address India’s most significant challenges. By recognizing
and supporting the implementation at scale of high-risk, high-reward research,
the Prize will drive impactful innovation in scientific disciplines of
importance to India’s societal needs and economic competitiveness. The Prize
will leverage the exceptional potential of scientists in India to address
critical national challenges in three categories—Food Security, Sustainability,
and Healthcare—and generate improved life quality outcomes across India and
beyond. The Tata Transformation Prize recognizes one Winner in each category,
with INR 2 crores (approximately USD 228,000) for each Winner. Click here for more information about the Tata
Transformation Prize.
About the Tata Group
Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global
enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 31 companies
across multiple verticals. The group operates in more than
100 countries across six continents, with a mission 'To improve the
quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term
stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’.
Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company
and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital
of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health,
livelihood generation and art and culture.
In 2024-25, the aggregate revenue of Tata companies
was more than $180 billion. These companies collectively employ over 1
million people.
Each Tata company or enterprise operates
independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors.
There are 26 publicly listed Tata companies with an aggregate market
capitalisation of more than $328 billion as on March 31, 2025.
About The New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent,
not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing
science for the benefit of society. With more than 16,000 members in 100
countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses
global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of
educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM-related fields. The
Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the life and physical sciences,
the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and
sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational
resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us
online at www.nyas.org.