A scientist with Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR), Bangalore has received monetary benefits from InnoCentive, the U S based online, incentive-based initiative for submitting the best research solution for a problem posed by Procter & Gamble through InnoCentive. InnoCentive is an e-business venture of Eli Lilly and Company, a leading innovation-driven pharmaceutical company.

Dr Radhakrishna, Deputy Director (ASD-SP, Technical) at SIIR fetched US $3000 (almost 1.5 lakh) for the solution posted by him. P&G had asked for solving the problem of 'protein crosslinking' (protein modification that can cause problems like cataract in diabetes) within four-months of posting the question. Dr Radhakrishna's research submission is known to be the best of theoretical solutions received from across the world for the particular problem.

It is the second time, an Indian solution is being selected by InnoCentive as the "best" from among the solutions from various parts of the world.

The first such award had gone to the scientists in a Mumbai based research laboratory for submitting wet chemistry solutions for 7-formyl-indole synthesis. The payment received by the laboratory during last year was U S $ 75,000.

InnoCentive Inc. announced that it has entered a landmark agreement with Opportunia Enterprises, with the backing of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), one of the largest research organization in the world.

This agreement will offer all scientists within CSIR the ability to work on InnoCentive scientific challenges and raises the potential for this talented group of Indian scientists to achieve international recognition and financial rewards. Furthermore, InnoCentive announced the first wet chemistry solution award paid to a solver from India. The solution was for a demanding $75,000 synthetic organic chemistry challenge.

Through InnoCentive, Indian techno-entrepreneurs can provide services and solutions to cutting-edge global companies, thereby proving that innovation can extend across boundaries. This will definitely give a boost to fast-track technology enterprises in India. Interestingly, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the umbrella organization of all major centers of scientific research in the country, has a formal tie-up with InnoCentive, which enables all Indian scientists to post similar solutions to problems that are advertised from time to time. CSIR is a founding partner of Opportunia, a consortium consisting of Ernst & Young India, NASDAQ India and other major national and international service providers that support the entrepreneurial, investor and corporate community. It is through Opportunia, the council has established its formal links with InnoCentive, it is learnt.