After a countrywide search spanning almost a year and involving the scrutiny of 1084 creative proposals by expert judges, India’s Creative Future 2007 will be announced on 8 February 2007 in Mumbai.

The aim of the British Council’s Creative Future programme was to identify and nurture a new generation of Indian young creative entrepreneurs with exciting business ideas. A total of 1084 applications received from across India were whittled down to 18 after interviews by and presentations to a select panel of judges. Eighteen hopefuls from India are now vying for the coveted title of Creative Future 2007.

The winner takes away £3,000 and a trophy specially crafted as a creative collaboration between Kate Jones from Gillies Jones Glass, UK and Indian textile designer Jigisha Patel. We are looking for a marriage of commitment to realising the project, sound entrepreneurial skill (solidity of business / marketing / staff plans) and pioneering vision – not just for the idea itself, but for the industry from which it stems. There are also cash awards of £1000 for the most Pioneering Vision, Outstanding Entrepreneurship and Most Market-Ready Project.

At the award ceremony in the Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, creative industries champion Chris Powell will be giving a presentation on creative industries in the UK followed by one on the India-UK collaboration by Sanmit Ahuja, Head of India Affairs Commonwealth Business Council. International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) finalist Jaspal Singh share his experience followed by Project Bombay, Jaspal’s audio-visual showcase on Mumbai city which will be presented by VJ Juxta (Mike Stirling) from Ninja Tune.

This has been a journey of self-discovery for all Creative Future candidates. Each of them boasts of a creative idea backed by a strong business proposition in varied sectors including film, design, music, TV, publishing, fashion, photography, radio, traditional Indian art and software. Since the ideas were to be pitched to business angels who, if convinced of their potential, might make them a reality, all these candidates were taken to the Creative Future School at IIMB between 13 and 27 August 2006 where they were coached by an expert tutors from India and the UK.

Three creative candidates Aparna Rao from Bangalore, Nila Madhab Panda from New Delhi and Sheetal Sudhir from Mumbai also got a chance to go on a week-long, individual, tour followed by two days in London to share their experiences and prepare their pitches to the UK investors. The pitches took place on 14 November in London.

To know more about the 18 selected candidates and the award ceremony, please log on to the Creative Future's website.