AGBA Innovation Framework and Certification
Driving India’s Global Leadership in Innovation
Innovation is no longer an option—it’s a necessity for economic leadership and global competitiveness. Countries worldwide are building robust innovation ecosystems to stay ahead. With its demographic dividend and growing tech capabilities, India is poised to lead—if we act decisively.
Yet, despite our steady rise in global innovation rankings, India lacks a unified framework to measure, benchmark, and reward innovation. That’s the gap the AGBA Innovation Index aims to fill.
Officially Launched at the 15th Aegis Graham Bell Awards on 20th February 2025 in New Delhi by Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India
From being a prestigious award platform recognizing innovators and their innovations—whether from startups or large enterprises—for the past 15 years, AGBA has now evolved into a dual-purpose innovation recognition framework. It combines the traditional AGBA Awards with the newly launched AGBA Innovation Star Rating
AGBA Innovation Rating Certificate
Product/solution-level innovation recognition based on live jury evaluation. Recognizes innovative products, solutions, and services with a trusted rating.
AGBA Innovation Index
Enterprise-level innovation benchmarking at the SBU or company level, offering authoritative innovation performance metrics.
Why Innovation Matters
Innovation is not a luxury—it is the cornerstone of economic resilience, national competitiveness, and social progress. With its vast talent pool and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, India is uniquely poised to become a global innovation leader.
To accelerate this transition, the AGBA Innovation Framework introduces two powerful instruments: the AGBA Innovation Rating Certificate and the AGBA Innovation Index.
AGBA Innovation Rating Certificate
Recognizing Excellence in Product, Platform, and Solution Innovation
The AGBA Innovation Rating Certificate is awarded to innovative solutions, platforms, or products after a rigorous, jury-led evaluation at the Aegis Graham Bell Awards.
Evaluation Criteria
Problem Definition and Solution Fit
- Clear and concise problem statement
- Defined goals and objectives
- Evidence-based research backing the problem and solution
- Effectiveness in solving the identified problem
- Measurable impact on the market or users
Innovativeness and Originality
- Uniqueness of the idea
- Innovative approaches in design or implementation
- Differentiation from market alternatives
- IP or patent protection
- Demonstrated improvement over existing solutions
Market Potential, Impact, and Scalability
- Size of the target market and revenue potential
- Industry growth potential
- Competitive positioning and market share
- Efficiency, cost savings, or customer experience gains
- Scalability across domains, geographies, or sectors
Social Impact and Sustainability
- Contribution to societal or environmental good
- Reduced carbon or ecological footprint
- Alignment with UN SDGs
- Ethical and responsible innovation
- Financial and environmental sustainability
Presentation & Jury Engagement
- Clarity of communication
- Structured, data-driven presentation
- Live demo or prototype (if applicable)
- Effective Q&A and articulation of value
- Jury confidence in vision and execution
How the AGBA Innovation Index Will Help India Leap Ahead
1. Puts Innovation in the Boardroom
A measurable metric for strategic planning—alongside revenue and profit.
2. Enables Global Recognition
Data-backed benchmarking builds international trust and investor appeal.
3. Drives R&D & Patent Investment
Companies invest more when innovation is visible, rewarded, and benchmarked.
4. Guides Policy & Public-Private Funding
Government and investors can support innovation with smarter, targeted programs.
5. Builds an Innovation Culture
Benchmarks foster a mindset of experimentation, agility, and intrapreneurship.
6. Bridges Industry and Academia
Aligns research with real-world impact—through measurable outcomes.
Benefits of the AGBA Innovation Star Rating Certificate
1. Global Recognition
Gain national and international visibility for your product, team, and organization. A star rating from AGBA establishes your innovation as a benchmark of excellence in the global market.
2. Authoritative Endorsement
The AGBA Innovation Star Rating Certificate is an independent, jury-evaluated, and credible innovation rating, providing every nominee with a trusted and prestigious validation.
3. Investor & Stakeholder Confidence
A high AGBA rating boosts investor confidence and attracts interest from VCs, policy makers, and industry leaders looking for market-ready, scalable innovations.
4. Market & Client Trust
An AGBA rating enhances brand reputation, accelerates customer acquisition, and builds market traction, acting as a trusted seal of innovation quality.
5. Product/Service Validation
The certificate serves as objective, third-party validation of your product’s market-readiness, technological robustness, and impact potential.
6. Talent Attraction & Employer Branding
Rated innovators stand out as innovation-driven workplaces, making them magnets for top-tier talent seeking to work on meaningful, cutting-edge solutions.
| Aspect | AGBA Innovation Star Rating Certificate | Aegis Graham Bell Awards (AGBA Award) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Rating System | Competitive Award |
| Output | 1 to 5 Star Certificate based on evaluation | One winner per category |
| Recognition Model | Inclusive – All qualifying innovations receive a rating | Exclusive – Only the best in each category wins the award |
| Purpose | Benchmarking, validation, and trust building for innovation maturity | Celebrating top innovation excellence and leadership |
| Evaluation Format | Jury-based presentation; rating based on scoring criteria | Jury-based presentation; award selected through competitive ranking |
| Frequency | Rolling or multiple cycles annually | Annual |
| Eligibility | Products, solutions, or services from any organization | Broader innovations across categories (product, strategy, etc.) |
| Stakeholder Value | Helps gain market trust, investor confidence, and talent attention | Recognizes breakthrough leadership and industry impact |
| Public Recognition | Rated entries receive certificate and listing | Winners are felicitated at a national platform with media coverage |
AGBA Award = “Winner takes all” recognition.
AGBA Star Rating Certificate = “Every great innovation gets its due rating and visibility.
AGBA Innovation Index
Enterprise-Wide Innovation Benchmarking
The AGBA Innovation Index is a strategic instrument designed to evaluate the innovation maturity of an entire organization or Strategic Business Unit (SBU). It provides a holistic, data-backed score that can influence investor confidence, policy support, and competitive standing.
Some Key Evaluation Dimensions
- Innovation Strategy & Governance
- R&D Investment and Output
- Patents, IP, and Technology Development
- Culture of Innovation & Talent Development
- Sustainability, Ethics, and Responsible Tech
- Collaboration with Academia, Startups, and R&D Ecosystems
Outcome
- A comprehensive innovation score and category placement
- A certificate recognizing their national innovation leadership
- Eligibility for ranking among India’s top innovation-led enterprises
National Impact
Process on participation for Awards & Certification
- Choose your category based on your innovative product/platform/solution/process/services
- Submit the online nomination form on our official partner portal mUniCampus
- Once form submitted you will receive login details to complete documentation related to your nomination. List of documents asked
- Brief on Problem Statement (Mandatory)
- Brief on Innovation (Mandatory)
- Brief on Market Impact / Market Opportunities (Mandatory)
- Brief on Social Impact (Mandatory)
- Executive Summary of your company (Mandatory)
- White paper/Concept Note about your innovation (Mandatory)
- If the product or solution has been deployed, please provide a case study. (Non Mandatory)
- A comparison with other similar products or solutions available in the market (Mandatory)
- Link of video recording featuring your innovative products, solutions, or services. (Non Mandatory)
- Virtual Presentation to the Jury
- Based on the evaluation top three finalist will invited and winner will be recognized at the grand awards ceremony in Delhi
- Each participant receives a Innovation Star Rating Certificate