INAUGURAL TATA TRANSFORMATION PRIZE

NEWS – In a landmark achievement for India’s scientific community, researchers from IISc Bengaluru and NCBS have won all three categories of the first-ever Tata Transformation Prize, awarded jointly by Tata Sons and the New York Academy of Sciences. Selected from 212 nominations across India, the winners will each receive ₹2 crore to scale their transformative innovations in food security, sustainability, and healthcare.

FOOD SECURITY: ADVANCING CLIMATE-RESILIENT AGRICULTURE

• Awardee: Dr Padubidri V. Shivaprasad (NCBS)

• Developed epigenetic engineering and small RNA–based modifications to improve rice crops.
• Enhances stress tolerance, nutritional value, and reduces reliance on fertilizers.
• Offers a faster alternative to traditional breeding, supporting India’s goal of sustainable food security under climate stress.

SUSTAINABILITY: GREEN CHEMISTRY BREAKTHROUGH

• Awardee: Dr Balasubramanian Gopal (IISc)

• Pioneered a biomanufacturing platform using bioengineered E.coli integrated with artificial intelligence.
• Enables cleaner, low-energy production of chemicals used in pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
• Represents a major shift away from polluting, energy-heavy chemical synthesis, strengthening India’s green manufacturing capabilities.

 HEALTHCARE: NANOROBOTS FOR TARGETED CANCER THERAPY

• Awardee: Dr Ambarish Ghosh (IISc)

• Developing magnetic nanorobots capable of navigating the human body using magnetic fields.
• Allows precise drug delivery to tumours with minimal side effects.

Could revolutionise affordable cancer care, especially in low- and middle-income countries.