Nikkei Inc. has announced the three winners of the 2009 Nikkei Asia Prizes, which recognize achievements that contribute to the improved well-being of Asian people.
In the category of regional growth, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, 56, Chairman of Biocon Limited, India, received the award for her achievements in establishing a business model that promotes innovation and intellectual excellence in the Indian pharmaceutical industry which has relied on both patent-expired as well as novel drugs. She is also regarded as a pioneering biotech entrepreneur in India.
In the science, technology and innovation category, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), headed by Director-General Abdul Latif Mohmod, received the award in honor of its contribution as a leading institution in tropical forestry research in the region, with a 900 member workforce (200 researchers). Its main functions include the study of biodiversity for the sustainable use of natural resources, for the development of new products and for the conservation of forests.
Laretna T. Adishakti, 50, Lecturer, Architect, and Heritage Activist of Indonesia, won the culture prize in honor of her activity spearheading a campaign to protect the city of Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Java. She insists that local inhabitants should take action in protecting and utilizing their heritage.
Nikkei Asia Prizes
Launched by Nikkei Inc. in 1996, the awards program honors people in Asia who have made significant contributions in three areas: regional growth; science, technology and innovation; and culture.
The prizes target individuals and groups in northeastern, southeastern, southern and central Asia, excluding Japan. The selection committee is chaired by Shoichiro Toyoda, honorary chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren).
