Whether it’s a solar-powered dryer, a soil carbon marketplace or groups that work to make electric car batteries cleaner, rehabilitate Andean forests or deter illegal fishing, these are just some of the many innovations being honoured by this year’s Singapore prize. During the ceremony Tuesday, Britain’s Prince William said the solutions from the 15 finalists showed that “hope does remain” even as climate change worsens worldwide. The award program was launched in 2020 by his Royal Foundation charity to spotlight people and organizations with scalable solutions that could help repair the planet.
The winners were lauded by a panel of experts, including academics, business leaders and investors, at the glitzy event held at state-owned Media Corp’s theater. The winners walked a “green carpet” made of recycled material, with presenters such as Malaysian actor Yen wearing an old suit and actress Mbatha wearing a dark green gown from the brand McCartney known for its environmentally friendly fashion. The bands One Republic and Bastille performed, while the singers Bebe Rexha and Cyril Wong lent their voices to the event.
The top design concept for this year’s Singapore prize is the Ventete aH-1 cycle helmet, which uses micro-collapsible materials to provide cyclists with better protection while riding on busy roads. It is the first major departure from traditional helmets and was crowned by Red Dot: Luminary judge Prof Peter Zec, who presented the design team with the award on stage at the ceremony.
Another winner was the Flytram, a hybrid tram and cable car that allows commuters to hop on and off at various stops. The vehicle combines the advantages of both tram and cable car transport, reducing energy consumption and congestion while increasing passenger capacity by up to 50 percent. It also makes use of recycled plastics and is manufactured using a locally produced composite.
A fourth winner was the Harvard Prize Book (Singapore), which recognises a person who has shown selfless acts of kindness and care, inspiring others to do the same. The award was announced in partnership with the Harvard University Press, which will donate US$10,000 to the school of the winner. The contest was open to students from 20 primary schools in Singapore, with the shortlisted entries being reviewed by a panel of judges.
A fifth winner was the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Singapore History Prize, which is awarded every three years to a book that has made a significant impact on our understanding of the city-state’s past. The book by NUS historian John Miksic, titled Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800, beat out five other books in the running.
Other winners included the Singapore Science and Technology Award (PSTA), which is given every two years to an individual or organisation that has played a leading role in pushing the frontiers of research in Singapore, with clear impacts on the development of local capabilities and international stature. The prize was introduced in 2014 to support programmes celebrating the nation’s golden jubilee, and is the first of its kind devoted solely to Singapore’s history.
