A Rajasthani makes India proud in US

Jaipur, Oct 6 (UNI) Continuing the success stories of expartite Indians at the US, a Rajasthani has made India proud at the US by bagging the prestigious Tibbetts award this year.

Dr. Mahendra Kumar Jain, vice president of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and executive director of the Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation in Lexicon was honoured with the prestigious Tibbetts award this year on September 26.

Named after Roland Tibbetts - the person acknowledged as the father of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme - this prestigious national awards are given annually to those small firms , projects , organisations and individuals judged to excel in SBIR achievment at a state, region or the nation.

Born in Ladana village under Phagi tehsil in Jaipur Dr Jain graduted from the Agriculture College in Jobner. He subsequently obtained MSc and PhD in Microbiology from Indian Agriculture Institute, New Delhi, before migrating to US about 20 years back.

Dr Jain was selected for this national award in recognition of his outstanding work that contributed so greatly to the success of the SBIR programme in Kentucky . He was one of the 17 individuals selected for this award from the US.

Dr jain who is now in Jaipur for a personal visit said ''Kentucky selected him in 2001 to start and develop Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation for developing science and engineering in the state through research and development and technological innovation programme that will lead to knowledge based economic development of the state''. In this capacity he built the foundation that far, has given 10 million dollar competitive awards so far to university scientists and engineers in Kentucky to pursue cutting edge technology development.

At the same time he has also provided administrative leadership and vision to build Kentucky's SBIR programme to enable states entrepreneurs and small businesses to participate in the federal SBIR programme which supports development of high risk technology-ideas and innovation.

In May this year he was credited with organising a very successful National SBIR conference for the benefit of technology companies nationwide and received recognition for his organisational and communication skills.

UNI PJJ SRS ND1618