As a leading company in the field of next generation innovation, singapore prize is committed to showcasing Singapore’s best ideas and innovations from across sectors. To date, the award has partnered with more than 30 key representatives from government, industry, academia and public research institutes. These partners help shape the award’s selection process, and are also part of a wider network of organisations that are committed to driving the next wave of breakthrough technologies.
Temasek Trust, investment platform GenZero and conservation group United for Wildlife will lend their expertise to guide the award winners to scale their solutions and bring them to market. With their deep expertise in biodiversity and vast networks, they will help the prize winners tap into their global reach and strengthen the impact of their work.
This year, the award has teamed up with luxury car manufacturer BMW. A pioneer of the electric, digital and circular economy, the company is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Its commitment to sustainability is reflected in its innovative products and services, as well as its global production facilities.
The prize has a long history in Singapore. It was first established in 1969 by Singapore Pools to raise funds for the construction of our first National Stadium. It raised $14.5 million over a few years and contributed to the stadium’s construction costs. Today, the prize has grown to $2.3 million with a one in eleven chance of winning.
Earlier this year, Prof Miksic won the prize for his book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800. He explained that the book was a “fundamental reinterpretation” of Singapore’s history, and based on fragments found in literary records such as the accounts of Chinese trader Wang Dayuan.
A four-member panel chose the book out of 29 submissions, which were from local and international scholars. The panel was chaired by NUS’s East Asian Institute chairman, Prof Wang Gungwu. NUS’s Professor Mahbubani was among the jury members.
NUS’s senior advisor (university and global relations) Kishore Mahbubani said that there are plans to expand the type of works that can qualify for the prize. He cited movies such as 12 Years a Slave as examples, and added that there could be future plans to include fiction, comic books, and even paintings. “We want to see more of our people develop a deeper understanding of our history,” he added. “This is very important for a nation.”