SINGAPORE – A global environmental prize founded by Britain’s Prince William will hold its awards ceremony in Singapore next month. The Earthshot Prize, launched in 2020, aims to support innovative projects that can scale their environmental solutions and help repair our planet. Five winners and finalists will receive PS1 million each, which they can use to fund their work. They will also be able to participate in a series of events, which will form part of the first-ever Earthshot Week. This will see global leaders, businesses and investors visit Singapore to explore opportunities with the winners and finalists.
This year’s Singapore Prize saw 12 winners across Chinese, English and Malay, with more first-time winners making the final cut. Yong Shu Hoong and Balli Kaur Jaswal won the nonfiction category for their works, while rma cureess and Pan Zheng Lei won the Chinese poetry category. This was the first time the prize has awarded two winners in the same category.
The inaugural Dr Alan HJ Chan Spirit of Singapore Book Prize was launched on April 18. The book award, which was backed by a $1 million donation from Confucian scholar Alan Chan, aims to recognise publications that champion mindsets and values important to the nation. These include equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy and pragmatism. The 2021 winner, Leluhur: Singapore Kampong Gelam, is a non-fiction work with a personal slant that shines a light on the history of an area that many now only know as a tourist attraction.
As one of the leading hubs for fashion entrepreneurs, Singapore is a natural destination for the Vogue Innovation Prize. In partnership with BMW, the prize provides aspiring fashion entrepreneurs with best-in-class support that will prime them for the world stage by equipping them with industry insights, monetary support and access to a network of resources. In its 2023 edition, the competition received over 500 applications from across Asia, including designers and brands focusing on accessible design, eco-sustainability and digital fashion.
Among this year’s winners, the judging panel praised the winning team for their ‘empowerment and innovation’ in transforming waste into a meaningful social impact. The team utilised their technology to make the manufacturing process more efficient, and used their platform to build awareness of sustainable fashion and help designers reduce their environmental footprint.
In addition to cash prizes, the winning entries will be showcased at the WAFX 2023 event in November. The winners will be invited to present their winning design projects live at the event. This will provide an opportunity for global interior design professionals to learn about the winners’ unique approaches and innovations. The full list of winners will be announced later this month. Those interested in learning more about the contest can visit www.wafx.sg or email info@wafx.sg for more information. The deadline for submissions is May 31.