Infosys to award 5 top Indian scientists

Infosys Technologies on Tuesday said it has instituted a Rs 50 lakh award each for five top Indian scientists in recognition of their outstanding research contributions and achievements.

The five awards will be given annually under the aegis of Infosys Science Foundation, a non-profit trust set up with a corpus of Rs 21.5 crore, the software major said in a statement here.

"The company will also annually grant Rs 2 crore to the trust to supplement the prize for each of five scientists of Indian origin working in the country or abroad. The award carries the largest prize money (Rs 5 million) to be given to any Indian scientist," the Infosys board member, T.V. Mohandas Pai, told reporters.

The five top scientists will be selected by a jury of five consisting of eminent international personalities and academic experts in each area.

The five Infosys awards will be given under the category of Physical Sciences in physics and chemistry, mathematical sciences in mathematics and statistics; engineering sciences in all branches of engineering; life sciences in biology and medicine; and social sciences and economics in economics, history, sociology and political science.

"India needs bright minds across all areas of academics, government, business and society to strive for global excellence. We need to encourage research in India to address our developmental problems. This award will honour outstanding researchers who will make a difference to India's future," the Infosys chairman and chief mentor, N.R. Narayana Murthy, said.