Our philanthropic
vision is to build critical mass at leading Indian and global academic, arts and social institutions. In doing this, we
hope to create and support research ecosystems for breakthrough ideas and transformative global impact. 
Our philanthropic
vision is to build critical mass at leading Indian and global academic, arts and social institutions. In doing this, we
hope to create and support research ecosystems for breakthrough ideas and transformative global impact.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and John Shaw
Our philanthropic
vision is to build critical mass at leading Indian and global academic, arts and social institutions. In
doing this, we hope to create and support research ecosystems for breakthrough ideas and transformative global impact.
Our philanthropic vision is to build critical mass at leading Indian and global academic, arts and social institutions. In doing this, we hope to create and support research ecosystems for breakthrough ideas and transformative global impact.
About
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Founders
Founders
Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy was founded by global biotech pioneer, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and her late husband, John Shaw, to support ‘impact research’ in science, the arts and society. Kiran and John have committed their philanthropy to exploring the frontiers of scientific discovery, nurturing artistic expression, honouring India’s culture and heritage, and bringing communities together.
Founder
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Global Leader and Industry Pioneer
- The world’s top 20 inspirational leaders in the field of biopharmaceuticals (The Medicine Maker Power List 2021)
- The 100 most influential visionaries (Scientific American Worldview List, 2015)
- The 100 leading global thinkers (Foreign Policy, 2014)
- The world’s 25 most influential people in biopharma (Fierce Biotech, 2012)
- The 100 most influential people in the world (TIME, 2010)
- The world’s 100 most powerful women (Forbes, since 2010)
- The only Indian on the Forbes list of the world’s self-made women billionaires
Prominent Philanthropist
Determined to make significant and measurable impact in the area of research, Kiran guides, mentors and supports global changemaking institutions and initiatives. Her philanthropic work has led her to be featured on the Forbes list of ‘heroes of philanthropy’. Kiran is also the second Indian to sign The Giving Pledge, established by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates.
Co-Founder
John Shaw
John’s compassionate nature and love for India saw him directing his philanthropy towards institutions and initiatives that work to uplift underserved communities in India. He was also instrumental in giving his alma mater, University of Glasgow, its largest grant ever, for the building of ARC, ‘The Mazumdar Shaw Advanced Research Centre’.
John Shaw served as the Vice-Chairman of Biocon for 22 years. A Scotsman and an Indophile, he contributed significantly to the transformation of Biocon from a small enzymes company to a globally recognised biopharmaceutical company. He played a pivotal role in ensuring the highest levels of corporate governance in the company, as well as in the financial and strategic development of the Group. Before joining Biocon in 1999, John worked with Coats PLC for 27 years, becoming Chairman and Managing Director, Madura Coats, in the 1990s.
The success of our company Biocon has allowed us to be philanthropic. Our message to young entrepreneurs and businessmen and women would be to pursue opportunities with a sense of purpose and a spirit of challenge.
The success of our company Biocon has allowed us to be philanthropic. Our message to young entrepreneurs and businessmen and women would be to pursue opportunities with a sense of purpose and a spirit of challenge.
The success of our company Biocon has allowed us to be philanthropic. Our message to young entrepreneurs and businessmen and women would be to pursue opportunities with a sense of purpose and a spirit of challenge.”
John Shaw
1978
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw sets up Biocon as a joint venture with Ireland’s Biocon Biochemicals Ltd, to manufacture and export enzymes.
1989
Kiran receives the ‘Padma Shri’, India’s fourth highest civilian award, from the President of India, R Venkataraman, for pioneering biotechnology.
1999
John Shaw joins Biocon’s Board of Governors.
2004
Biocon becomes a publicly listed company.
Kiran and John co-found Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy (MSP).
2005
Kiran is awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’, India’s third highest civilian honour, by the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
2010
MSP funds the Mazumdar Shaw International Oncology Fellows programme at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, USA.
2016
Kiran is conferred with the highest French order of merit (both military and civil), ‘Knight of the Legion of Honour’, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the biosciences.
Kiran becomes the second Indian to join The Giving Pledge.
2017
MSP pledges its support to Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), South India’s first major private art museum located in Bengaluru.
2019
MSP makes a gift to University of Glasgow, Scotland, in support of building a first-of-its-kind, collaborative Advanced Research Centre (ARC). The gift is the largest UofG has ever received.
Kiran receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for outstanding achievement in healthcare.
MSP endows Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA with a fund to support Mazumdar Shaw Fellows conducting clinical research in oncology.
2020
Kiran is conferred Australia's highest civilian honour ‘Order of Australia’ for her immense contribution in advancing Australia's bilateral relationship with India.
Kiran is named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year, 2020, for improving universal access to affordable, life saving therapeutics.
2021
Keck Graduate Institute, USA receives a grant to create the Mazumdar Shaw Scholarship Fund to further careers in community medicine.
Oct 25, 2022
John Shaw passes away. To honour his memory and continue his legacy of giving, Kiran resolves to renew MSP’s brand identity, narrow its focus and articulate its purpose: Impact Research. Advance Humanity.
2022
The Advanced Research Centre (ARC) at University of Glasgow opens its doors to the world. It is named The Mazumdar Shaw Advanced Research Centre.
Science Gallery Bengaluru, Asia’s first and India’s only member of Science Gallery International, receives an establishment grant from MSP.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA is endowed with a fund to support Mazumdar Shaw Fellows undertaking translational research and clinical trials in renal cell oncology.
MSP funds Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) to effect change through leadership training, participatory democracy, heritage awareness and effective governance.
The Mazumdar Shaw Laboratory for Frontier Biology at JNCASR begins operations to facilitate research in emerging areas of synthetic biology, biotechnology and biomaterials.
2023
The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) opens to the public. Kiran is its First Founding Patron.
2024
