Mumbai, March 24, 2026 — In a moment of great pride, Jishnu Dev Varma, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, felicitated Tarun Wig, Co-founder and CEO of Innefu Labs, at the India Today & Mahindra and Mahindra Drivers of Change Awards 2026, held at Fairmont Mumbai.
Organised by the India Today Group in association with Mahindra Automotive, the third edition of Drivers of Change brought together distinguished leaders, policymakers, and innovators who are shaping India’s growth story through vision, enterprise, and transformative leadership.
Tarun Wig was recognised as one of the distinguished “Drivers of Change” for his outstanding contribution to advancing sovereign AI-led solutions for national and cyber security. The honour, presented by the Hon’ble Governor, underscores the growing importance of indigenous technological leadership in strengthening India’s strategic capabilities.
Under his leadership, Innefu Labs has been at the forefront of building indigenous sovereign AI platforms aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. These platforms are designed to empower defence and intelligence agencies with real-time decision-making capabilities through advanced analytics, cyber intelligence, and deep data fusion. The company’s solutions enable proactive threat detection, enhanced situational awareness, and mission-critical intelligence, contributing to a secure and self-reliant digital ecosystem.
As part of the event, Tarun Wig also participated in a panel discussion titled “The Defence Dialogue: The India Story”, where he shared insights on the evolving defence landscape and the growing importance of sovereign AI in modern warfare and national security. He highlighted the need for nations to build and control their own AI ecosystems to safeguard critical infrastructure, ensure data sovereignty, and maintain strategic autonomy. The session was moderated by Raj Chengappa, Group Editorial Director, Publishing, India Today Group.
Speaking on the occasion, Tarun Wig emphasised that the convergence of AI and national security is redefining how nations anticipate, prevent, and respond to emerging threats. He underscored the importance of accelerating investments in indigenous technologies that can operate securely within sovereign frameworks, reducing dependency on external systems while enhancing resilience in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The evening reinforced the importance of forward-looking leadership and innovation in accelerating India’s journey toward becoming a global powerhouse. With a strong emphasis on digital sovereignty, deep-tech innovation, and strategic self-reliance, Drivers of Change continues to spotlight individuals who are actively shaping the future of the nation.
About Innefu Labs
Founded in 2010, Innefu Labs is an AI-driven company delivering cutting-edge data analytics, information security, and sovereign AI solutions to national security agencies. Established with a clear vision to drive deep-tech innovation, the company focuses on building globally competitive, indigenous technologies that strengthen data sovereignty and contribute to the country’s digital and economic growth.
With over 100 installations across the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Innefu Labs has emerged as a de facto leader in deploying sovereign AI for national and cyber security. Its robust portfolio of products caters to a diverse client base, including defence and intelligence organisations, law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence units, BFSI institutions, and leading Fortune 500 companies.
Having worked with some of the most sensitive and mission-critical environments, Innefu Labs brings deep expertise in managing high-security deployments. The company remains focused on developing state-of-the-art, sovereign AI-driven technologies designed to solve real-world challenges, backed by exemplary support to ensure the highest levels of reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction.
