South Africans Archbishop Desmond Tutu and physicist Neil Turok were among the 10 global luminaries who received ‘Most Innovative People Awards’ at this year’s World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (WSIE).
The Most Innovative People Awards are aimed at recognising qualities such as innovation, foresight, benevolence, leadership and intelligence.
The final recipients are drawn from a pool of almost 1000 contemporary icons, geniuses and mavericks. Each winner receives a trophy designed by Spanish sculptor Fernando Capa Sanz.
Sam Hamdan of WSIE said, "The 2008 WSIE … celebrates the achievements of the Most Innovative People worldwide and their long-term commitment to creating a new generation of products, services and experiences that have shaped the future state of the world."
WSIE is aimed at encouraging the use of innovation as the catalyst for competitiveness and peace. The summit functions as a platform for developing the future pipeline of responsible entrepreneurs and innovators
2008 Most Innovative People Award Winners
Hamda Harizi, Founder of Gourmet House (Remarkable Enterprises)
Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman of Board and Chief Executive Officer of IBM for (Technology Innovation)
Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Human Greatness)
Ashok Soota, Chairman and Managing Director of MindTree Consulting (Knowledge Innovation)
Neil Turok, founder of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (Social Innovation)
Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology Officer of Cisco Systems (Women Mavericks)
Innovivor Team (Inspiring Ideas)
Marc Yu, child prodigy (Amazing Minds)
Sultan bin Sulayem, Chairman of Nakheel (Blue Innovation)
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda (Innovation for Peace).
