NASSCOM Foundation, in partnership with Mphasis, has announced the launch of the 10th edition of the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum. The program, instituted in 2008, identifies, honours and supports innovative Information and Communications Technology (ICT) based projects, products and solutions that have the potential to address critical gaps in the key developmental areas and contribute to inclusive growth.
Building on the solid foundation for the last 9 years triumphs and learnings, NSIF is inviting entries from a diverse range of social innovators across NGOs, social enterprises and social start-ups.
With support from our donor partner – Mphasis, NSIF will award catalytic grants of Rs.10 lakh each to the strongest tech innovations that are creating radical social impact in the areas of financial inclusion, healthcare, environment, education and accessibility. The grants will be given to winners from across these thematic areas.
The projects will also be provided with a 12-month Support to Scale Mentoring by experts in the industry as well as access to NASSCOM Foundation’s network of tech for good leaders in the country. The Forum aims to drive CSR capital to encourage and scale innovations across relevant and topical themes in the country.
Srikanth Karra, Chief Human Resources Officer, Mphasis Limited, said, “In the last 3 years of Mphasis support to NSIF the program has scaled significant heights not only in terms of geography and number of applicants, but also in terms of high quality innovations being recognised, receiving follow-on funding and catalysing bigger social impacts. Mphasis is happy to have been part of this journey so far and hopes that the initiative will continue to gain further momentum this year again.”
Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “With active engagement with over 2,000 innovators across sectors/verticals from 25 states in the country, the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum has become one of the strongest ecosystems encouraging tech-aided development in the country. As the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum enters its tenth year, our goal is to become a driving force for technology for good and add momentum to the change-inspiring work of social innovators around the country. We are glad to continue our partnership with Mphasis to help us in our journey to solve some of the most difficult social problems that currently plague us, thus improving the social fabric of our nation.”
Once the applications are received, they will undergo a carefully designed three stage, shortlisting process with jury members consisting of the leaders from across industries. The winners will be announced and felicitated at the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum, NASSCOM’s flagship event. To celebrate NSIF’s tenth year of supporting tech for good solutions, NASSCOM Foundation will also be hosting a special Innovation evening in March 2018 to share impact stories of technology as a transformative force across social areas and get insights from industry leaders on further driving technology revolution for good.
