Gujarat Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network (GIAN) was set up on March 1, 1997 with support from Government of Gujarat, Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA).
GIAN is registered under the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act of 1861 as a Trust and a Society. All donations to GIAN are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
The Board of GIAN comprises eminent academicians, policy framers and social workers. Representatives to the board are from Government of Gujarat, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Commercial Bodies such as Gujarat Venture Fund Limited and social organizations such as SEWA, SRISTI and Gopaldham (Gram Swaraj Shikshan Kendra).
GIAN's major aim is to scale up and spawn grassroots innovations and help development of successful enterprises. In this effort it provide the innovators with adequate linkages to modern science and technology, market research, design institutions and funding organizations. The ultimate objective is to generate new models of poverty alleviation, rural development, employment generation and conservation of natural resources without impairing the ecological balance.
GIAN has since its inception functioned as an incubator for such grassroots innovations and has successfully launched ten such innovations as commercial products and five as social products in the market .
GIAN hopes that the success stories of these grassroots innovators may turn them into role models for our youth and help percolate the spirit and ethic of innovation, and enterpreneurship deep down their minds. We are hopeful that our small initiative will become a revolution with your participation for making these innovators a successful lot.