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USC presents inaugural India Awards, honours Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Sandeep Tandon

USC noted that the award also acknowledges Murthy’s philanthropic engagement in education, research and rural development through initiatives supported by him and Sudha Murty. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Sandeep Tandon were also honoured at the event.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 11, 2025 09:23 AM IST

L-R: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder, chairperson of Biocon Group with Yannis Yortsos, Dean of USC Viterbi School of Engineering; Narayana Murthy, founder Infosys, Beong-Soo Kim, Interim President of USC; Sandeep Tandon, founder-chairman Syrma SGS Tech and Infinix (Photos via USC)

The University of Southern California (USC) presented its first-ever USC India Awards recognising three leaders with longstanding ties to the university. The ceremony included the launch of the USC–Ratan Tata Award, instituted in honour of the late USC Life Trustee Ratan Tata.

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy received the inaugural USC–Ratan Tata Award for his contributions to technology, business leadership and ethical entrepreneurship. According to an official statement, Murthy has collaborated with USC Viterbi for more than two decades, including through the establishment of the Center for Research and Education in Advanced Software Technologies (CAST) in 2008, and as a regular advisor to university faculty and students.

He previously received the Daniel J Epstein Management Award from USC in 2009 and delivered the USC Viterbi commencement address in 2013.

USC noted that the award also acknowledges Murthy’s philanthropic engagement in education, research and rural development through initiatives supported by him and Sudha Murty. His ties to USC have included guidance to researchers and participation on advisory platforms such as the USC Viterbi India Advisory Board.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Sandeep Tandon honoured

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and chairperson of Biocon Group, received the USC Business Management Award. She has been associated with USC Viterbi through its India Advisory Board and has contributed to discussions on biotechnology, health research and industry–academia partnerships. The recognition highlights her work in expanding access to biopharmaceuticals and her role in building one of India’s earliest large-scale biotech enterprises.

Tech entrepreneur and USC alumnus Sandeep Tandon received the USC Distinguished Alumni Award. Tandon has credited USC with shaping his engineering and analytical foundation. His work spans entrepreneurship in digital payments through Freecharge, leadership roles in Syrma SGS Technology and Infinx Healthcare, and mentoring early-stage companies through Whiteboard Capital. USC stated that he remains an active member of the Trojan community in India and serves on the USC Viterbi India Advisory Board.

According to USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim, the awards were created to acknowledge the long relationship between USC and India and to highlight leadership across technology, business and public engagement.

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USC has maintained a presence in India for several decades and has expanded academic and research collaborations with institutions including the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, IIT Hyderabad and BITS Pilani. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering established the USC Viterbi India Advisory Board to strengthen its work in India and guide institutional partnerships. According to USC, the university has also worked with Indian faculty, alumni and industry partners to broaden opportunities for student exchange, innovation programmes and joint research.