Excellence in Advanced Materials Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Anti-Counterfeit Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Automation & Machinery Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Biologics

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented or launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Child-Resistant & Accessible Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Drug Delivery Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Packaging Design

• Recognizes excellence in pharma-led or pharma-owned primary packaging design that ensures drug product protection, safety, integrity, and patient-friendly use, while meeting regulatory and quality requirements.

• Recognizes pharma-driven secondary packaging design that enhances protection of the primary pack while delivering clear communication, tamper evidence, serialization readiness, and improved patient accessibility..

• Recognizes efficient and innovative tertiary packaging approaches led by pharma companies that safeguard products throughout the supply chain while optimizing logistics, cost, sustainability, and operational performance.

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Packaging R&D Collaboration

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The R&D initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Mandatory collaboration requirement:
• This category is open only to collaborative R&D initiatives involving a pharmaceutical company and one or more ecosystem partners engaged in packaging materials, technology, design, engineering, testing, validation, or manufacturing.
• Collaborations involving more than one pharmaceutical company are also permitted, provided the initiative demonstrates clear relevance to pharmaceutical packaging R&D.
• Solo or single entity initiatives are not eligible.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Patient-Centric Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024 to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Supply Chain Innovation

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• This category is open only to joint projects executed between a pharmaceutical company and one or more ecosystem partners involved in pharmaceutical packaging, supply‑chain operations, logistics, materials, technology, or machinery.
• The pharmaceutical company may be either the Participating Entity (Lead Applicant) or a Collaborating Partner Entity.
• Solo or single entity initiatives are not eligible.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Sustainable Pharma Packaging

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence in Traceability Systems

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The initiative must have been implemented and launched between April 01, 2024, to March 31, 2026, in the Indian market or have a significant portion executed during this period. However, the product nominated` in relation to the initiative may have been launched prior to the eligibility period.
• If the initiative was launched before the defined period, the participant must clearly highlight the innovation or impact achieved during the eligibility period.
• Concept-only proposals are not accepted.

Excellence Pilot Innovation Award

• The participating entity must be registered in India with at least two years of operational presence as of March 31, 2026, and hold a valid GST/Incorporation or valid registration certificate.
• The innovation must be early-stage and validated through at least one of the following:
• Pilot implementation
• Trial run
• Proof-of-concept testing
• Laboratory or simulated validation
• Controlled field evaluation
• The validation, pilot, or trial must have been conducted between April 01, 2024, and March 31, 2026.
• The innovation must demonstrate clear applicability or relevance to pharmaceutical packaging, even if not yet commercially deployed.
• Fully commercialized, mass-market solutions are not eligible for this category.
• Concept-only ideas without testing, validation, or trial results are not eligible.

Packaging Professional of the Year

• Recognizes senior packaging professionals from pharma companies with over 10 years of experience including 1 years with the current organization, such as a Senior Packaging Engineer or Packaging Development Manager, or equivalent roles, who have demonstrated long-term impact through innovation in packaging design, development, technology, operations, or sustainability.

• Recognizes emerging or mid-career professionals from pharma companies with up to 10 years of experience including 1 years with the current organization, such as a Packaging Engineer or Packaging Technologist, or equivalent roles, who have shown strong innovation, problem-solving, and early leadership in packaging design, development, technology, or sustainability.

• The nominee must be an employee of a pharmaceutical company operating in India.
• The nominee must meet the experience requirement of the category applied for, as of March 31, 2026.
• The nominee must have completed at least one year of continuous service with the current organization.