Pharma Quality Excellence Awards 2025 - Celebration and Conclusion
The Pharma Quality Excellence Awards 2025 ceremony marked a significant milestone in recognizing outstanding contributions to pharmaceutical quality standards. Held in Hotel Westin Mumbai Garden City, it brought together industry leaders, quality professionals, and regulatory authorities to honour those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to quality, innovation, and compliance in the pharma sector. ADG Yashasvi Yadav (I... morePharma Quality Excellence Awards 2025 - Celebration and Conclusion
The Pharma Quality Excellence Awards 2025 ceremony marked a significant milestone in recognizing outstanding contributions to pharmaceutical quality standards. Held in Hotel Westin Mumbai Garden City, it brought together industry leaders, quality professionals, and regulatory authorities to honour those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to quality, innovation, and compliance in the pharma sector. ADG Yashasvi Yadav (IPS)- Maharashtra state cyber department and Dr. Hemant G Koshia; Commissioner- Food, Drugs & Cosmetics Administration (FDCA) were the guest of honours along with several glitterati’s of digital adoption, pharma, and regulatory bodies.
Winners and Highlights
The awards were categorized into three segments, organizational, individual excellence, and jury’s selection, to acknowledge both corporate entities and individual contributors. The jury members, esteemed experts in the field; Mr. Sridhar Rao, Dr. VG Nayak, Dr. Prasad Kanitkar, Dr. Udaykumar Rakibe, Prof Dr. PL Sahu, Mr. SM Mudda and Prof Dr. Vijay Bambulkar, played a pivotal role in meticulously evaluating nominations based on stringent criteria on the theme of P.R.I.D.E (Performance, Reliability, Innovation, Development, and EHS).
Among the distinguished winners, several organizations stood out for their exemplary quality management systems, research breakthroughs, and commitment to patient safety. Here are the individual awards category winners:
• Sustainability Advocate Award: Dr. A R M Rao; Aurobindo Pharma
• Quality Control Analyst of the Year: Ramanjaneya Prasad L; Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
• Innovative Leader Award: Aswath R; Biocon Biologics
• Continuous Improvement Advocate Award: Rajani Made; Biocon Biologics
• Deviation and CAPA Management Award: Sachin Badrinath Ghule; Biocon Biologics
• Quality Culture Ambassador Award: Umesh Kale; Strides Pharma Science
• Quality Culture Torch Bearer Award: Sunil Singh; Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
• AI Pioneer Award: Dr. Manoranjan Kumar; Hetero Labs
Out of 117 shortlisted nominations; only 23 winners in different categories for individual and organisational categories were selected by the jury; the winners for organisational award categories for the year are:
• EHS Excellence Award: Glaxo Smith Kline Pharma
• QMS Integration Award: Ajanta Pharma
• Innovation in Quality Award: Strides Pharma Science
• Continuous Learning Award: Biocon Limited
• Quality Culture Transformation Award: Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
• Best Practice in Facility Design Award (Below INR 1000 Cr.): Orchid Pharma- A Dhanuka Company
• Best Practice in Facility Design Award (Within INR 1000 – 2000 Cr.): Encube Ethicals
• Good Documentation Practices Award (Startup): Invengene
• Good Documentation Practices Award (Within INR 1000 – 2000 Cr.): Aarti Pharmalabs (Unit IV Tarapur)
• Good Documentation Practices Award (Above 2000 Cr.): Ajanta Pharma
• Best in Process Validation: Aurobindo Pharma
• Quality Control Excellence Award: Encube Ethicals
• GMP Excellence Award (Startup): Aquadry Pharma
• GMP Excellence Award (Below INR 1000 Cr.): Orchid Pharma- A Dhanuka Company
• GMP Excellence Award (Above INR 2000 Cr.): Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Two prime award categories were on jury’s discretion where they had to nominate names with detailed reason of nominations. The winners under jury’s selection award categories are:
• Pharma Quality Leader of the Year: AV Jayakumar; Ajanta Pharma
• Pharma Lifetime Achievement Award: Ranjit Barshikar
The winners' list reflects a diverse range of achievements across the industry, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and adherence to global quality standards.
Event Conclusion and Closing Remarks
The event concluded with an inspiring keynote address emphasizing the critical role of quality in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the context of global health challenges. Managing Director of Eminence Group, Ms. Guneet Hayer, expressed gratitude to the jury members for their diligent efforts and impartial evaluations, which ensured the credibility and integrity of the awards.
In the closing, the Pharma Quality Excellence Awards 2025 by Eminence Business Media successfully honoured the achievements of industry pioneers over gala dinner celebration and set new benchmarks for quality standards.
Pharma Quality Reimagined: Highlights from the 5th Annual Pharma GMP & Quality Management 2025
The pharma world came together once again at The Westin Mumbai Garden City on April 24th - 25th, 2025, for the highly anticipated 5th Annual Pharma GMP & Quality Management 2025, hosted by Eminence Group. Against the buzzing backdrop of Mumbai, industry leaders, innovators, and regulators convened to explore the future of quality, compliance, and digital transformation in life sciences.
From insightf... morePharma Quality Reimagined: Highlights from the 5th Annual Pharma GMP & Quality Management 2025
The pharma world came together once again at The Westin Mumbai Garden City on April 24th - 25th, 2025, for the highly anticipated 5th Annual Pharma GMP & Quality Management 2025, hosted by Eminence Group. Against the buzzing backdrop of Mumbai, industry leaders, innovators, and regulators convened to explore the future of quality, compliance, and digital transformation in life sciences.
From insightful keynotes to lively workshops and deep-dive panels, the event lived up to its promise: "Empowering the Pharma Industry for Tomorrow."
Ms. Guneet Kaur Hayer, Managing Director of Eminence Group, welcomed the audience with a stirring address emphasizing the need for proactive quality strategies, workforce transformation, and embracing digital evolution.
Key Themes and Memorable Conversations
The first morning took off with Dr. Damodharan M from Sai Life Sciences, who offered a panoramic view of how evolving global GMP regulations are shaping the compliance landscape. His session urged companies to prepare not just for today's audits, but for a future driven by sustainability and technological integration.
Immediately after, Aditya Chaudhary from Hexagon ETQ explored the digital revolution within pharma QMS. He emphasized how cloud-based, integrated systems could future proof organizations by automating regulatory reporting and enhancing traceability.
Learning by Doing: Workshops that Engaged
The conference shifted gears into practical learning with Ken Shitamoto from Gilead Lifesciences leading a mock inspection session. Attendees, role-playing as inspectors and auditees, learned firsthand what regulators scrutinize from documentation practices to operational transparency.
Building on this, Digambar Nigade from Amneal Pharma navigated participants through actual recent FDA 483 observations. He dissected real-world pitfalls and helped attendees shape strategies for avoiding compliance gaps.
Meanwhile, leaders from Veeva Systems, Varadarajan Srinivasan and Pradeep Nagisetty, shared inspiring case studies on migrating from outdated, siloed quality systems to integrated cloud-based platforms proving that digital transformation is not optional, it is essential.
Real-World Insights: Risk Management and Deviation Handling
Dr. Udaykumar Rakibe (Pharma Mantra) took a practical approach to Quality Risk Management, using live case studies to demonstrate how frameworks like FMEA and HACCP should be applied across pharma processes.
In a hands-on workshop, Prashanth GN of Granules India immersed attendees into the nuances of deviation management. Through group activities, participants tackled real-world scenarios, strengthened their root cause analysis skills, and discussed best practices for CAPA documentation.
As the day wrapped up, Ranjit Barshikar (CEO, ObD International) delivered an impassioned session on building a culture of quality by strengthening internal teams through structured training and skill-gap assessments.
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Day 2: The Future Beckons — Smart Labs, Gen AI, and Cyber Resilience
Day 2 opened with a fascinating live case study from Dr. Amjad Basha (Dr. Reddy’s Labs) on smart lab transformation. His real-world example of digitizing R&D environments offered practical lessons on overcoming adoption challenges.
The technology thread continued with a high-energy panel led by Archimedis Digital's leadership team starting with Duraisamy Rajan Palani, Anand Govindarajan, and Jeyashri Thivari exploring how AI, digital twins, and augmented reality are revolutionizing quality assurance and compliance.
A pivotal moment arrived with the star-studded panel featuring Ken Shitamoto, Abhijit S. Kulkarni (Lupin Limited), Shirish Ambulgekar (Alkem Laboratories), and Amit Malviya (Zest Pharma). They passionately debated how Gen AI is transforming the pharma workforce, operational efficiency, and supplier management, while cautioning about responsible adoption.
AV Jayakumar from Ajanta Pharma shifted the spotlight onto contamination control, detailing how companies can align with the revised EU GMP Annex 1 by building robust Contamination Control Strategies (CCS) based on risk assessment and facility design principles.
In a refreshing break from technical discussions, the audience participated in the #EminenceDigitalDetox session. A unique wellness initiative by Eminence Business Media aimed at boosting mental agility and resilience in high-pressure GMP environments.
Closing the day was a critical conversation on cybersecurity. Guneet Kaur Hayer, along with leaders like Dr. A.R.M. Rao (Aurobindo Pharma), Chitti Babu (Aurobindo Pharma), Sanjeev Mahajan (Innova Captab), and Pushkar Lakhekar (Cohance Lifesciences), outlined best practices for building cyber-resilient Quality Management Systems in an increasingly digitalized pharma world.
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Acknowledgments: Celebrating Partnerships and Collaborations
Eminence Group extends heartfelt gratitude to all event partners whose support made this conference possible:
• Gold Partner: Veeva Systems
• Digital Transformation Partner: Archimedis Digital
• Silver Partner: Hexagon ETQ
• Exhibit Partners: Arcolab, Astakenis, Mactus Automation Pvt. Ltd., SEEK and AmpleLogic
Their contribution not only fuelled the event's success but also underscored the collaborative spirit needed to transform pharma's future.
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Moving Forward Together
As the conference concluded, one thing was clear: the future of pharma quality will be shaped by those who embrace innovation, invest in people, and stay agile in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.
The Eminence Group thanks all participants, speakers, and partners for making the 5th Annual Pharma GMP & Quality Management 2025 a resounding success and looks forward to an even more transformative 6th edition in 2026!
GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore: Emerging Robotics Industry Shares the Spotlight Alongside Next-Gen Tech & Supernova Challenge Finals
- The region’s largest inaugural tech, startup & digital investments event came to a thrilling conclusion at Marina Bay Sands on Friday
- Robotics, AI, cloud, cybersecurity & telecom advancements on full display as Chhaya Technologies of Bangladesh wins US50,000 first prize in world’s ultimate pitch competition
Singapore – 26 April, 2025: GITEX ASIA x Ai... moreGITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore: Emerging Robotics Industry Shares the Spotlight Alongside Next-Gen Tech & Supernova Challenge Finals
- The region’s largest inaugural tech, startup & digital investments event came to a thrilling conclusion at Marina Bay Sands on Friday
- Robotics, AI, cloud, cybersecurity & telecom advancements on full display as Chhaya Technologies of Bangladesh wins US50,000 first prize in world’s ultimate pitch competition
Singapore – 26 April, 2025: GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore showcased Southeast Asia’s position among the world’s fastest-rising and most vibrant innovation hubs for a third time on Friday as this year’s critically acclaimed first edition concluded in thrilling fashion. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in affiliation with GITEX GLOBAL, the Asian inaugural edition of the world’s largest show took centre stage at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 23-25 April.
Following an action-packed two days where capacity crowds examined the latest transnational tech developments, challenges, and breakthroughs spanning AI, cloud, cybersecurity, quantum, smart cities, and more, Friday thrust the region’s evolving digital transformation trajectory into focus once again. Evolving industries and bold innovation took centre stage alongside breakthrough talent and cross-sector advancements – broadening horizons to the boundaries of possibility currently being redefined by the regional and international tech communities.
Advanced Humanoids: The Next Great Partner in Societal Progress?
Among the rapidly developing tech-first industries under the GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore microscope was robotics as audiences explored a future where humans and robots co-exist and collaborate. A space Market Research Future projects will surpass US$200 billion by 2030; Booster Robotics of China was on-site to showcase why. The advanced humanoids creator has experienced a meteoric rise since its establishment in 2023, inventing the Booster T1, which has since been crowned as the ‘fastest free-walk robot’ at the 2024 IEEE-RAS Humanoids Championship.
Chaoyi Li, Head of Globalisation at Booster Robotics, explained how humanoid robotics will one day become engrained in global society: “Humanoid robots will be everywhere around the world in the future and as reliable, affordable, and useful as laptops are today. They can help us everywhere, taking responsibility for many of the tedious, repetitive, and potentially dangerous jobs out there; enabling people to be more human rather than robotic. This is why we’re actively uniting with AI developers to deploy multi-functional robots for all kinds of scenarios and industries globally.”
Supernova Challenge Champions Crowned: Chhaya Technologies Claims First Prize
Following a record-breaking 2024 where the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem reached a highest-ever combined market valuation of US$454 billion, visionary up-and-coming talent aiming to become the next generation of high-profile tech entrepreneurs faced off in the ‘Supernova Challenge’ - the world’s ultimate pitch competition. The Supernova Challenge is part of North Star Asia, the region’s largest startup and investor show taking place alongside GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore.
Under the North Star Asia banner, Friday’s highly anticipated finals saw 10 of Asia’s fastest-rising startups face off for their share of a US$100,000 prize pool. With victory, visibility, and potential investment support at stake alongside special prizes from Nebius and JTC Corporation, contestants showcased their innovative projects to a formidable expert judges panel. Chhaya Technologies emerged as the overall winner, after pitching among startup finalists from Australia, Canada, India, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Singapore and Vietnam.
The Bangladeshi startup won the US$50,000 first prize for its digital micro-insurance platform which offers affordable and accessible insurance to underserved communities and Bangladeshi citizens living abroad. In the immediate aftermath of their win, Shawon Shahriar, CEO of Chhaya, said: “We’re delighted to win. This competition it one we’ve been anticipating for some time now – it’s been so exciting, and the atmosphere has been electric. Our ambition now is to keep building and forge a future where financial security is assured for everyone worldwide.”
AI: A Revolutionary Force in Professional Sport & Personal Life
Another final day highlight was the involvement of former French international footballer Bacary Sagna. The ex-Premier League star who enjoyed successful stints at Arsenal and Manchester City has made the successful transition into the tech industry since his retirement from professional football – becoming an entrepreneur, investor, and app creator.
Addressing audiences during a special session titled ‘Future of Sports Tech’, Sagna revealed how AI is revolutionising football and wider sport at the highest level: “AI cameras cover every moment of matches today, gathering insights and data that clubs use to value players and evaluate their form and performances. Athletes also value and assess themselves using this data, from passing and pace to distance covered on the field. It’s revolutionary and is here to stay because the technology has been transformational.”
Sagna also elaborated on AI’s education value proposition for professional athletes, revealing: “For many footballers, their education can stop as early as 15 because they don’t take it seriously and focus solely on football. For those who make it at the top level, this is all they know for the next 15-20 years. Once their career is over, some also struggle with mental health problems as they attempt to adapt to life away from football without real plans in place surrounding what they do next. AI can now be used to positively impact lives through advice surrounding financial security, education, nutrition, how to invest, and so on. It’s very important for young athletes especially to educate themselves – and AI can help.”
Tech Giants Converge at the Region’s Most Comprehensive Next-Gen Solutions Showcase
As GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore closed the curtain on an unforgettable inaugural edition, Friday provided another opportunity to become acquainted with the very latest cutting-edge services and solutions. Destined to redefine businesses and industries, such innovations were presented by a formidable line-up featuring world-renowned companies and top-tier digital transformation architects.
Among the many product showcases fuelling widespread audience interest and intrigue was Fortinet’s AI-driven Security Operations Centre (SOC) automation platform, designed to empower security teams and enhance threat detection. Another was iFLYTEK’s On-Prem LMM All-In-One solution. Unveiled for the first time GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore, this comprehensive platform is designed for organisations seeking secure, customisable, and efficient AI capabilities. Additionally, Kaspersky exhibited its critical infrastructure portfolio, Ericsson showcased its latest cloud, edge computing, and telecommunication infrastructure solutions, and Gorilla Technology demonstrated its state-of-the-art network security systems and advanced video analytics solutions.
Reflecting on the success of GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore, Jay Chandan, Gorilla Technology Chairman and CEO, said: “This was a landmark event for Gorilla Technology and an unrivalled platform where innovation in safe and smart cities with AI was centre stage. It was very exciting to join leading industry experts and explore new avenues that drive our technology forward and empower businesses with smarter, safer solutions. This dynamic convergence of global tech leaders and innovators has catalysed cutting-edge collaborations and paved the way for disruptive breakthroughs that benefit participants and elevate the entire technology ecosystem.”
GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore served as a pivotal platform for advancing Southeast Asia’s digital ambitions, fostering strategic alliances, and unlocking the region’s US$1 trillion digital economy potential. The event welcomed 700+ exhibitors and award-winning startups, 400+ international expert speakers, and 250+ global investors from 70+ countries throughout its three-day duration – paving the way for sustained tech industry growth, development, investments, and new transformative partnerships regionally and beyond.
For more information, please visit gitexasia.com.
