Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 at a virtual award ceremony, the company said in a statement.

She was selected from among 46 Entrepreneur of the Year country award winners from 41 countries and territories, it added.

“I am honoured to receive the prestigious EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2020. At its core, entrepreneurship is about solving problems. The greatest opportunities often arise at the toughest times, and that’s been my experience throughout my entrepreneurial journey,” Mazumdar-Shaw said.

“My business focus is global healthcare and the provision of universal access to life saving medicine; however, my responsibility as an entrepreneur is greater than simply delivering value to shareholders,” she said.

Wealth creation can be a catalyst for change, and all entrepreneurs have a responsibility to the world around them, she added.

Rajiv Memani, EY India chairman and regional managing partner, said: “Shaw is truly a winner on several counts — not only has she shown tremendous vision and fortitude to grow Biocon into a market-leading biotechnology organisation, but she has also made her mark as a torchbearer of diversity, a voice of Indian industry and a frontrunner in philanthropy.”