[ 16 July 2003 ] Singapore 2003 Awards – Celebrating Innovation and Entrepreneurship Joint Press Release

Singapore, 16 July 2003 – The Innovators and Entrepreneurs Association (IdEA), a non-profit organisation today announces the launch of the E-Global  Singapore 2003 Awards.  This unique award will be the first in Singapore to recognise emerging and promising innovators, entrepreneurs or enterprises with a product, service or idea with a global market appeal. Unlike other awards, E-Global emphasises the ‘process’ or the ‘spirit’ behind the individual or enterprise instead of accomplishments or performance.

Spearheaded by IdEA, the E-Global Awards is a pure industry initiative, co-organised by CommerceNet Singapore (CNSG), CommerceTrust, AMPRO Business Club, City Junior Chamber and Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA), with The Right Spin Public Relations as the official communications partner.  The coming together of these different companies and industry associations to promote a more vibrant innovative and entrepreneurial culture in Singapore is unprecedented.

According to Mr Eugene Wong, President, IdEA, “By focusing on promising, “yet-to-be recognised” innovators, entrepreneurs and enterprises, this award will serve as a critical catalyst to encourage and inspire more to take the step forward to become innovators and entrepreneurs.”

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs & Trade and Industry), who is also in charge of entrepreneurship development in Singapore commented, “I am very happy to know that IdEA has worked together with other private-sector associations and companies to launch the E-Global Awards. I support this award, which sets out to recognise the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. This is very much in line with our vision for Singapore to be a creative and entrepreneurial nation, where Singaporeans seize opportunities and seek to make a difference in whatever they do. I look forward to more private-sector organisations taking the charge to foster greater entrepreneurship in Singapore.”

“Innovation and enterprise will be increasingly crucial to our economy.  The E-Global Singapore 2003 Awards can play a catalytic role in helping to recognise the more innovative and inspiring technopreneurs in Singapore, which in turn can give them the confidence to venture into a global arena.  This will help encourage and nurture a more entrepreneurial mindset in Singapore,” said Mr Teo Ming Kian, Chairman of the Economic Development Board and who officially launched IdEA in 2002.

The awards will be presented in five categories to recognise different aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship:

A.  Emerging Enterprise
This award recognises:
i) Products, services or processes that is creative, unique and of economic or social value,
ii) An up and coming enterprise that has been in business for less than 18 months years or has an annual revenue of less than S$500,000.

B.  Emerging Entrepreneur
This award targets individuals who are either self-employed or employees of a firm, that have exhibited entrepreneurial traits namely, innovativeness, pro-activeness and willingness to take risks, and have demonstrated the ability to identify and exploit new or untapped opportunities leading to the creation of economic or social value. This category is unique as it also recognises social entrepreneurs who demonstrate a commitment to champion a social cause.

C.  Emerging Malay/Muslim Entrepreneur
This award seeks individuals in the Malay/Muslim community who are either self-employed or employees of a firm that have exhibited entrepreneurial traits namely, innovativeness, proactiveness, & willingness to take risks, and have demonstrated the ability to identify and exploit commercial opportunities leading to the creation of economic value.

“It is important for us to signal to such promising individuals or entrepreneurs that they are highly valued by the community and the economy. A strong spirit of enterprise will be one of the key success factors for the community’s economic advancement in the coming years,” says Mr.Yang Razali Kassim, President of the AMPRO Business Club.

D. Emerging Youth Entrepreneur
This award aims to identify individuals below 40 years old (as of the nomination closing date) who are either self-employed or employees of a firm who have exhibited entrepreneurial traits namely, innovativeness, proactiveness, & willingness to take risks, and have demonstrated the ability to identify and exploit commercial opportunities leading to the creation of economic value.

“City Junior Chamber, the founding chapter in Singapore affiliated to Junior Chamber Singapore and Junior Chamber International, is proud to be the co-organiser of the E-Global Awards.  The promotion and recognition of emerging young entrepreneurs through this award is in line with our organisation’s mission of promoting youth leadership and entrepreneurship to effect positive change in the community,” says JC Arch. Kenn Yeo, Director of Community, City Junior Chamber.

E.  Innovative Industrial Automation Initiative
This award targets enterprises that have successful implemented an industrial automation initiative that leads to greater operational productivity and efficiency while incurring no increase in operational cost. This award will be accorded to two winners in the following categories:
 i) Company with more than S$12 million revenue for the last financial year and
ii) Company with less than S$12 million revenue for the last financial year.

“This year, the Industrial Automation Award was initiated to recognise local companies automation efforts in the electronics manufacturing and electronics supporting industries. In line with the government’s aim to develop Singapore into a leading equipment hub, SIAA would like smaller electronic companies to automate their process. The Association also have a pool of Industrial Automation Consultants who are able to assist these companies in their automation efforts,” by Mr. Colin Koh, President of Singapore Industrial Automation Association.

Evaluation Criteria
The key judging criteria are innovativeness and potential of the nominees’ ideas. The other determining factor is the spirit of innovation that includes overall vision, management philosophy, value impact created, extent of automation processes, safety and environmental concerns and human resource strategy.

In addition to the nomination form, all participants will be given an opportunity to present their innovation, technology or idea to the judges. This face-to-face session exclusive to this award allows them to articulate their strategy and the potential of their idea to the judges. Short-listing of the nominees will commence after the interviews. The panel of 50 judges comprises industry leaders, entrepreneurs, the media, government representatives and professionals.

“An idea can stem from any walk of life, any age group and in any form. We hope the opportunity given to every participant to share their innovations and ideas will open the path for these promising companies and individuals to be eventually recognized as a successful company themselves,” said Mr Eugene Wong.

Eligibility
Nominees must be individuals or enterprises with interest or/and operations in Singapore.

Benefits
Each winner will receive a trophy.  The panel of judges may also confer merit awards.  The benefits of the awards extend beyond the recognition and the publicity. For the first time in the industry, the comments and insights by the judges will be given back to the participant ad verbatim.

Said Mr Wong Jeh Shyan, CEO of CNSG, “This is an effort by the organisers to help all the participants improve in their ventures, regardless of whether they win the awards.”

To foster the true spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, the nomination fee is kept at a low of S$ 450 just to cover administrative costs.

Nomination
Candidates may self-nominate via the official nomination forms found online at www.idea.org.sg or www.cnsg.com.sg.  The nominator may nominate himself for more than one category.
The nomination is from 16 July 2003 to 25 August 2003, 12 noon.  The awards will be presented at the Gala Cocktail Nite on 3rd September 2003.

---

A.  ABOUT THE CO-ORGANISERS AND PARTNER

About AMPRO Business Club
AMPRO Business Club is a not-for-profit club for business professionals and entrepreneurs, established by the AMPRO Group, an economic self-help body formed to help promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. The Club led by mostly young business professionals and entrepreneurs. It is engaged in activities ranging from networking and self-enrichment to dialogues with key business and political leaders. The AMPRO Business Club supported by a panel of resource persons and advisors from different industry sectors and communities.

About CommerceNet Singapore
CommerceNet Singapore (CNSG) is a not-for-profit industry-led global consortium of business partners that organises resources from the industry, plans and executes key strategies. We seek to sustain market initiatives that promote security, innovations and develop human, intellectual, financial and cultural capitals within the self-sustaining enterprise ecosystems.

About CommerceTrust Ltd
CommerceTrust Ltd’s primary objective is to accelerate the development and promotion of trust, both the physical and Internet business environments by providing a benchmarking framework for trust.  It aims to be a global leader in building trust and confidence by providing trustmarks that facilitate business transactions.  CommerceTrust Ltd has been appointed by the National Trust Council as an Authorised Code Owner for business-to-consumer web-based retailers.

About IdEA
Innovators and Entrepreneurs Association (IdEA) is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation that serves to be the leading body to represent and promote the innovators and entrepreneurs in Singapore. Through bridging their members with the industry, government agencies and by nurturing and promoting them, IdEA plays a significant role in establishing a “vibrant community of Innovators and entrepreneurs.

About Junior Chamber of Singapore, City Junior Chamber (City JC)
City JC is a part of Junior Chamber International (JCI) a worldwide movement of young people between the ages of 21 and 40. Present in around 140 countries with hundreds of thousands of voting members and millions who have graduated from our ranks after crossing 40, we are pleased to have numerous Political Leaders, Royalty, Industry Captains and Community Leaders amongst our members. We are active in the areas of Business, International Affairs, Individual Development and Community Service. Our objectives are to develop young people to become better individuals, effective leaders, responsible citizens to make our world a better place. Around the world, JCI members are conducting countless interesting projects, learning about leadership, and helping their fellow citizens, while creating local and international networks, making friends, and having fun.

About SIAA
Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA) is the vanguard of the automation movement promoting the application of industrial automation to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore products based on its 3 core services: business, technology & information. SIAA is also the authority that accredits Automation Consultants. SIAA aims to be the leading hub for knowledge in the application of automation technology and business catalyst in the region through strategic alliances, technology application and professional services to members.

About The Right Spin
The Right Spin is a public relations agency in Singapore providing specialized PR services to enterprises of the new economy, with a focus on technology.  Our mission is to help fuel the growth of tech companies through prescribing innovative, strategic and effective PR plans in a deliverables-driven approach.  Our technology-related clients include – startups, SMEs, MNCs, venture capitalists, incubators, government agencies, research institutions and their spin-offs and other technology ventures.