A record number of winners were named at the Singapore prize, an awards ceremony held in honor of the city-state’s achievements. The five winning companies – including one from Asia – will receive grants of up to S$2 million each to further develop their technology and bring it to market. The heir to the British throne, Prince William, created the award three years ago to promote solutions to climate change. The awards are handed out by his Royal Foundation charity, which he established in 2012.
This year’s winner of the Singapore History Prize, awarded every three years and administered by the Department of History at NUS, is a book-length work on Singapore that makes an impact on the nation’s understanding of its past. Prof Miksic’s book, Singapore: The Life of a Multi-Ethnic Nation, won over 29 submissions. “This work reframes the way we understand Singapore’s history, and its influence on us as a people,” says the panel.
Other winners included a Singapore firm that is developing a safer and cheaper way to build and recycle lithium-ion batteries for electric cars; an Indian company that reduces food waste by helping small-hold farmers preserve crops; and a Malaysian firm that converts water-based energy into electricity using a hydroelectricity process. The event, which was co-hosted by actor Hannah Waddingham and actor Sterling K. Brown, was attended by Singapore ministers and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a trustee of the Earthshot board.
The prize ceremony was held at the theater in state-owned Media Corp, which was lit green for the occasion. In line with the sustainability theme, William wore an old dark green suit by Alexander McQueen and other presenters walked what was dubbed a “green carpet.” New Zealand actress Mbatha wore a navy blue dress by McCartney, whose label is known for eco-friendly clothing. The bands One Republic and Bastille and singer Bebe Rexha performed at the event.
In the literary category, first-time writers and translators figured prominently among the shortlistees for the biennial Singapore Literature Prize. Also introduced this year was a Readers’ Favorite category, in which the public votes online for their favorite shortlisted book. This is the first time that the prize has offered this option. 192 titles were submitted this year, down 32 from the previous year’s figure, reflecting the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on publishing in Singapore. Click here for more on the shortlisted books, or here for Publishers’ Perspectives’ complete coverage of the prize.