In Mumbai we examined enterprises at the extremes of scale–from India’s largest CPG innovation center to small businesses in the slum of Dharavi. We wanted to understand how to scale from the ground up, with economic models that serve a 60% impoverished and illiterate population. Supported by the 120-year old Godrej & Boyce company, we were inspired by the unshakable efficiency of the semi-formal, technology-free dabbawala system of home-cooked lunch delivery, the conservationist architecture firm The Busride, and the country’s new breed of designers determined to apply their craft to solving India’s social challenges.

The values that characterize new innovation is a deep sense of community and collaboration. That has to also be claimed as the Indian aspect of innovation, like the dabbawala delivery system in Bombay, which is successful and depends on that sensibility.

Ayush Chauhaun, founder Quicksand

Inherently India has been extremely sustainable in our practice. The entire frugality of living ensures that you use the plastic bag again and again and again. And in fact most of the time you use a cloth bag or newspapers. How do we go back to what our behavior and habits are to formalize them through innovation and design principles? We may teach the rest of the world something.

Geetika Kambli, managing partner Future Factory

There’s a feeling of change here whereas in the United States there’s a feeling of stability.

Patrick Whitney, IIT Institute of Design