Cyrus Poonawalla, the founder and managing director of Serum Institute of India, recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Economic Times for his contributions to the vaccine industry. In an interview, he highlighted India's potential to be a leader in vaccine production, attributing this to its robust talent pool, manufacturing capabilities, and growing ecosystem. However, he stressed the importance of increased investment in research and development (R&D), faster regulatory approvals, and stronger supply chains to sustain this leadership. Poonawalla advised the next generation of vaccine scientists to focus on impactful innovations that can be delivered at scale, emphasizing the need for collaboration between academia, industry, and government. Looking ahead, he envisions Serum Institute continuing to innovate and prepare for future pandemics while maintaining its commitment to affordability and quality.