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ASIAN INNOVATION AWARDS: THE WINNERS 2004

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By Michael Vatikiotis

Issue cover-dated October 21, 2004

In an era when slick consumer gadgetry seems to define technological advancement, it's good to be reminded that technology that enhances the quality of life isn't always miniature and glamorous, and doesn't always take pictures or connect you to the Web. The winners of this year's Asian Innovation Awards are helping out in key areas at the forefront of health care, contributing to a cleaner environment, cutting costs and generally making life a little easier.

Our winners this year come from Singapore, India and New Zealand, underscoring the importance of investment in education and research that makes these countries centres of innovative excellence.

The Gold goes to a group of engineers and doctors in Singapore who have developed a biodegradable plastic mesh to patch head wounds. The substance allows the bone to grow back and is a cheaper, safer alternative to titanium implants, which carry some risk of infection.

The Silver goes to a New Zealand team that has devised a computer program that slashes the time it takes to conduct a complicated eye test used to detect diabetic blindness and glaucoma.

The Bronze goes to The Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel, which has installed a very cool air-conditioning system that chills and removes dampness from the air before it enters the building, cutting energy and water consumption.

This year's Global Entrepolis@Singapore Award, offered in association with the Economic Development Board of Singapore, goes to a Mumbai-based company that has developed software which monitors banking transactions in real time and helps banks cut costs and improve efficiency.

The winners were selected from a final shortlist of a dozen entries. These were judged according to three criteria: level of creativity, or degree of innovation; quality of execution, to measure the science, engineering and technology involved; and the potential impact on quality of life.

The Global Entrepolis@Singapore Award, meanwhile, was selected from a final shortlist of six entries and was judged on business performance and commercial viability.

Our thanks again go to the judges (below), who took the time to pore over the entries and pick our winners. Learn more about this year's winners in the following pages.

MEET THE JUDGES

Lim Kok Wing
President of the Malaysia Design Technology Centre, Kuala Lumpur

John Chen
Chief executive and president of Sybase, a United States-based solutions provider

Anil Gupta
Professor of entrepreneurship, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Mechai Viravaidya
Chairman of the Population and Community Development Association, Bangkok

Tony Buss
President and chief executive of MerLion Pharmaceuticals, Singapore
 

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