15-fold increase in innovations by Tata companies

The Tata Innovista is a group-wide programme, held annually by the Tata Group Innovation Forum (TGIF) to encourage, recognise and showcase outstanding innovations done by Tata companies. Started in 2006, Tata Innovista has become an indicator of the success of the innovation drive in the Tata group — and of the inherent capabilities of its people.

Tata Innovista 2015 received 1580 projects under the Promising Innovations category as compared to 101 in 2006, signifying a 15-fold increase.

The Promising Innovations category recognises innovations that have been successfully implemented during the year. Out of these 1580 projects received, the top 60 innovations are expected to deliver an estimated financial benefit of $1.1bn annually and are likely to touch the lives of 35 million people, globally, over a 5-year period.

The Promising Innovations category has six sub-categories: New Products, New Services, Core Processes, Support Processes, Services Enabling Customer and Social. The Promising Innovations awards went to:

S. Padmanabhan, Executive Chairman, Tata Quality Management Services (TQMS), Tata Sons, said, “Over the past decade, Tata Innovista has visibly enabled a culture of innovation and risk-taking in the group.  The fact that across its four categories, – Promising, Leading Edge-Proven Technologies, Dare To Try and Design Honour – Tata Innovista 2015 saw over 2700 projects coming from 75 Tata companies spread across 18 countries bears testimony to this growing culture, and greatly enthuses us at the Tata Group Innovation Forum to further strengthen our efforts to encourage and celebrate the spirit of innovation in the Tata group. Also, this year, over 130 projects were collaborative, indicating that Tata companies are increasingly able to come together to leverage the synergies a diverse group like ours offers.”

Mukund Rajan, Member – Group Executive Council and Brand Custodian, Tata Sons , said “Innovation, which has always been a part of the Tata DNA, has in recent years taken on a fresh impetus with the Tata group’s effort to democratise it and make it a continuous and ongoing process. Tata Innovista and the Tata Group Innovation Forum (TGIF) over the past decade, true to their mandate, have been able to successfully create a nurturing eco-system which encourages, inspires and promotes innovation in Tata companies – a 15-fold jump in innovations is just one indicator of how Tata companies are making innovation a way of life to address their customers’ needs and differentiate themselves from their competition. As we look ahead, the focus on technology and innovation will continue to play a key role in helping us achieve our global ambitions.”

Speaking at the press briefing, Gopichand Katragadda, Group Chief Technology Officer, Tata Sons, said, “Technology differentiated innovation will position the Tata group for future growth. In its technology journey, the group has presently identified four focus areas – Sustainable Energy, Food and Wellness, Consumer Electronics and Factory and Fleet Digitisation. Given the group’s ability to scale to market needs and recent advancements in technology, it is a great time to be an innovator at the Tata group.”