Whether they are solving business problems, addressing social challenges or developing new technologies, the winners of the singapore prize will be able to demonstrate how they have made a difference for their clients and the wider community. As a result of this award, they will also be able to expand their networks and access opportunities that would not have been available to them otherwise.
Founded in 1992, the Singapore prize is now in its 30th year and operates in four languages. This year’s theme of “resonance” has been chosen to reflect how the best works can trigger emotions and memories. In addition to a main award, there are four reader’s choice awards and two special commendations. Clara Chow, who has been shortlisted in three categories and two languages this year, is the first person in the program’s history to be shortlisted for her work in more than one language.
A number of the finalists have used their winnings to fund new projects or to scale up existing ones. This is particularly true of Harrison Lim and Si Min, who both used their prizes to help the homeless in Singapore. Si Min’s team has created a social enterprise that uses virtual experiential learning to teach the homeless life skills, while Harrison has set up a foundation that gives scholarships to the needy.
The NUS Singapore History Prize, launched as part of the SG50 commemoration programme in 2014, recognises publications that make history more accessible to non-academic audiences. It was designed to broaden the appreciation of Singapore’s past, extending beyond traditional academic studies of pre-1819 Singapore to include works that address Singapore’s broader role in Asia and the world. Prof Mahbubani explained that the idea for the prize stemmed from a newspaper column he wrote in April 2014, in which he called on Singapore’s philanthropists to contribute cash towards an award to recognise good history writing.
This year’s winners were announced at a ceremony today, attended by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. The Defence Technology Prize (DTP) recognises individuals and teams who have made significant technological contributions that have helped to maintain the Singapore Armed Forces’ edge in defence capabilities.
This year, the judging panel awarded the DTP to five individuals and organisations. The top two received S$50,000 and S$20,000 respectively, while the next four received S$40,000 each. In addition, two organisations were also given the PTS Recognition of Excellence. This award recognises accomplishments that have contributed significantly to the levelling-up of the Singapore S&T ecosystem’s capabilities and international stature. The PTS criteria considers both the impact and the potential of the technology, as well as its global application. It is open to both Singaporeans and foreign researchers. The results were announced at a ceremony in the DSO Auditorium this afternoon. The full list of winners can be found here. The DTP is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the National Research Council. It is administered by the Centre for Asian Studies at NUS.
