Telangana’s Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), Shanta Thoutam, has been honored with the World Innovation Award during the inaugural BRICS Innovation Forum held in Moscow from August 27 to 29.

• This distinguished accolade acknowledges her outstanding commitment to furthering Sustainable Development Goal-4, which emphasizes the promotion of inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as lifelong opportunities for all.
• The forum brought together representatives from more than 30 countries and featured two other notable contenders in the same category: Fernando Padula Novaes, Municipal Minister of Education of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Saif Al-Hiddabi, Undersecretary of Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation in Oman.
• Shanta Thoutam’s impressive journey in Telangana’s innovation ecosystem spans seven years, during which she has held various key positions, starting as Vice President at T-Hub, followed by her role as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the State Handlooms and Textiles Department. Currently, she serves as the first female Chief Innovation Officer.