Innovation is a crucial way to leapfrog into the center stage of global business leadership. Based on this cornerstone, Marico instituted its CSR initiative in 2003 by forming the Marico Innovation Foundation. The Foundation provides a framework to Industry and Social Sector to leverage innovation for quantum growth. The Foundation plays the role of a catalyst and works towards creating an innovation eco-system through cutting edge research, knowledge creation & dissemination. Its recognition platform - Innovation for India Awards, biennially awards breakthrough innovations from India.

Major Projects - Popular research on “11 mission biographies -‘Making Breakthrough Innovation Happen: 11 Indians who pulled off the impossible” resulting in a best seller publication selling over 50,000 copies.

Guiding Social Innovations- Enabling social organizations to apply Innovation as a key tool to significantly increase their social impact and scale programs. Currently 2 organisations are supported on 18 month innovation incubation program.

Since 2006, 41 innovators have been recognized which included organisations like Kirloskar Brothers, BOSCH MICO, Su-Kam, Titan, Azim Premji Foundation, Trichy Police, ITC IBD, Reliance KGD6, Tutor Vista, Goonj, PRS Legislative, Tata Chemicals and TERI, Gujarat Government’s Jyoti gram Yojana, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Pilani Soft Labs Pvt. Ltd (redBus), IndiGo Airlines, Akshaya Patra, St. Jude India and EMRI. Bharti Airtel, Tata Nano and the UIDAI – Aadhar programme of the Planning Commission, Government of India were recognized as Global Game Changers for their spirit of Innovation.