Contents
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Building Biocon from an industrial-enzyme start-up into a major biotechnology company.
Biocon · Syngene
- Born
- 23 March 1953
- Birthplace
- Bengaluru, India
More people
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Indian entrepreneur trained in brewing who turned fermentation expertise into a biotechnology business. Biocon expanded from enzymes into medicines, including insulin and treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Early life
Science in Bengaluru
Studied zoology at Bangalore University; her father was a brewmaster.
Brewing in Australia
Trained at Ballarat before returning to an industry reluctant to hire a woman for brewery management.
Career
- 1978
Biocon begins
Started the Indian venture with Leslie Auchincloss, initially working from a rented garage.
- 1980s–1990s
Research expansion
Built fermentation capabilities and expanded into pharmaceutical research.
- 2004
Public listing
Took Biocon onto India’s stock exchanges to fund further growth.
Companies & projects
Biocon
An enzyme business that developed into a biopharmaceutical group.
Syngene
Established a contract research business supporting drug development.
Biocon Foundation
Created a foundation working on health, education and community infrastructure.
Beyond work
Cancer care
Supported a cancer centre in Bengaluru with surgeon Devi Shetty.
Giving pledge
Committed in 2015 to devote at least half her wealth to philanthropy.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional biography and research ↗Photo: Sofia Negron. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
