Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Innovation Awards
India's national honour for young innovators who carry forward the Missile Man's dream — a self-reliant, ignited, dreaming India.
Edition 2026 · Coimbatore · 15 October
You have to dream before your dreams can come true. A dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep.
A tribute to the people's president, an invitation to every dreamer.
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam — scientist, president, and teacher to a generation — believed that the future of a nation is shaped in its laboratories, its workshops, and above all, in the imagination of its young people.
The Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Innovation Awards were instituted in 2014 to carry that conviction forward. Each year we recognise innovators under 35 whose work turns bold ideas into tangible impact for India and the world.
Winners receive a national grant, mentorship from India's leading scientists, and a place in a growing fellowship of dreamers-turned-doers.
Six frontiers of innovation
One winner is honoured in each category, with grants and mentorship to scale their work.
Frontier Science & Research
Breakthroughs in fundamental and applied sciences that expand the boundaries of human knowledge.
Engineering & Deep Tech
Hardware, robotics, semiconductors and systems engineering that solve hard physical problems.
Sustainability & Climate
Clean energy, water, agriculture and circular-economy innovation securing our planet's future.
Health & Biotechnology
Affordable, accessible healthcare and life-sciences innovation reaching the last mile.
Digital & AI for Good
Software, AI and digital public goods that uplift communities and close opportunity gaps.
Social & Grassroots Innovation
Frugal, community-led solutions born from lived experience of India's real challenges.
Innovation aligned to the
17 Sustainable Development Goals
Every frontier the Awards honour ladders directly into the United Nations 2030 Agenda — so young innovators measure impact in global terms, not just local ones.
Frontier Science & Research
Breakthroughs in fundamental and applied sciences that expand the boundaries of human knowledge.
Engineering & Deep Tech
Hardware, robotics, semiconductors and systems engineering that solve hard physical problems.
Sustainability & Climate
Clean energy, water, agriculture and circular-economy innovation securing our planet's future.
Health & Biotechnology
Affordable, accessible healthcare and life-sciences innovation reaching the last mile.
Digital & AI for Good
Software, AI and digital public goods that uplift communities and close opportunity gaps.
Social & Grassroots Innovation
Frugal, community-led solutions born from lived experience of India's real challenges.
Awards timeline
- Phase 01Nominations Open14 August 2026
Entries invited from across India and the Indian diaspora.
1 - Phase 02Shortlisting30 September 2026
Independent jury panel reviews and shortlists finalists.
2 - Phase 03Jury Evaluation7 October 2026
Finalist presentations and site visits by the jury.
3 - Phase 04Awards Ceremony15 October 2026
Winners honoured on Dr. Kalam's birth anniversary in Coimbatore.
4
Those who carried the torch
A living archive of the innovators honoured in past editions.
| Year | Innovator | Project | Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Aarav Mehta | Low-cost bionic prosthetics | Health & Biotech |
| 2024 | Lakshmi Nair | Solar-powered water ATMs | Sustainability |
| 2023 | Rohan Deshmukh | Edge AI crop disease scanner | AI for Good |
| 2023 | Fatima Sheikh | Biodegradable packaging from husk | Grassroots |
| 2022 | Karthik Reddy | Indigenous MEMS sensors | Deep Tech |
| 2022 | Ishita Banerjee | mRNA vaccine cold-chain | Frontier Science |
Judged by India's finest
An independent jury of eminent scientists and engineers, united by a shared belief in the power of ideas.
Who can be nominated
- Open to Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin, aged 35 or under on 31 December 2026.
- Innovation must demonstrate a working prototype or measurable real-world impact.
- Both individual innovators and teams (up to four members) are eligible.
- Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both accepted.
Three paths. One dream.
Nominations for the 2026 edition are now open across three tracks. Choose the one that fits the innovator you wish to champion.
Nomination sign-up · School Students
Share your team leader's details and the idea your team is building.