A Singapore prize is an award or recognition of an individual or organisation for a specific achievement. There are many types of prizes, including monetary awards, honorary titles, medals and bowls, state decorations and other accolades. Some are based on popularity, while others have particular merits or significance. Depending on the size of the prize, it can be given as a one-off event or recurring over a number of years. A prestigious prize can enhance the reputation of a person or organisation, and may also lead to increased financial rewards or prestige.
The judging panel for the 2024 NUS Singapore History Prize will consist of historians, arts and literary figures, and museum curators and educators. It will also include academics from the NUS Department of History and researchers from other institutions worldwide. The finalists are expected to have made contributions to the field of history and society that are innovative and significant.
In addition to the NUS Prize, there are other prizes and awards in Singapore that focus on particular topics. The National Book Council of Singapore, for example, runs the biennial Singapore Literature Prize, which was established in 2022. This year’s shortlist included 49 works in three genres and 12 categories. The pool of submissions was smaller than in 2020, due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Earthshot Prize finalists were announced in Singapore. The award, launched by Britain’s Prince William, recognises solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s winners included an Indian maker of solar-powered dryers, a marketplace for soil carbon and groups that work to make electric car batteries cleaner, restore Andean forests and deter illegal fishing.
Prize promotions in Singapore are legal, as long as the conditions are clearly and unambiguously stated. For instance, participants must not be required to pay a fee to enter the contest. The rules of the Singapore Prize Promotions Act also stipulate that the promotion must not be linked to any commercial activity, and the prizes are not intended to compel a participant to purchase a product or service.
Aside from the NUS Prize, there are a number of other awards in Singapore that recognise individuals and organisations for their achievements. The Enterprise 50 Awards, for example, recognise private businesses that have contributed to economic development in Singapore and abroad. In addition, the NORNS Awards recognise private enterprises that have shown leadership and innovation locally and internationally. Other awards that focus on a particular field of endeavour are the Global Women of Influence and the Lifetime Achievement Awards. For more information, visit the official website for each of these awards.