Villoo Morawala Patell, founder-chairperson of India's leading life sciences firm Avesthagen Ltd, was on April 23 honoured with a top civilian award by the French government for her entrepreneurship and significant contribution in the scientific field.

The Officier de L'Ordre National du Merite (Officer of the National Order of Merit) award was presented to Patell by French Ambassador to India Jerome Bonnafont at a felicitation ceremony here. The award founded by then French President Charles de Gaulle in 1963, is an Order of Chivalry. It was conferred on Patell by President Nicholas Sarkozy in recognition of her achievments in life schiences and business. According to the citation, the award acknowledges Patell as a prominent figure in the scientific field and a
great entrepreneur, who founded Avesthagen in India in 1988. “This award also is a tribute to your cooperation with French scientists, your fruitful partnership with major French industrial firms and your affection to our country,” the citation said in honour of Patell.

The 52-year-old Patell did her doctorate from University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, in France after her post-graduation from Bombay University and graduation from Osmania University in Hyderabad.