Innovative ideas come to the fore

CHENNAI: The National Fair finale of the India Innovation Initiative (i3) saw 50 innovative entries battling it out for top honours.The finalists were shortlisted after participating and winning in the regional fairs organised at Noida, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kharagpur.I3 2011 saw nearly 800 entries for innovation this year. i3 is the successful partnership between Agilent Technologies, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry. The aim of the initiative is to create and sustain an ecosystem of innovation and encourage innovators.The initiative is being supported by government and non-government incubator and investor associations for incubation, entrepreneurship and marketability.The top five cash award winners selected by the national jury included Gurmit Singh, who was awarded a cash prize of `1,00,000, Fardaus Jahan, who was awarded a cash prize of `75,000, Bijoy Chakraborty, who was awarded a cash prize of `50,000, Mahesh Atale, who was awarded a cash prize of `25,000 and Dr A B Sastry, who was awarded a cash prize of `25,000.