Innovation Award winners announced

They have different approaches towards achieving excellence, but their routes have all led to world-class innovations and now national recognition for their efforts.

The six winners of the annual Singapore Innovation Award range from big boys like the PSA Corporation to a company set up by a former university lecture.

Economic Development Board managing director Ko Kheng Hwa said yesterday: "The flames of innovation are burning bright in Singapore.

"We now have to fan them to spread like wildfire and turn Singapore into a true innovation nation."

There were 229 entries, comprising products, services, processes and business models, and there was a wide range of entrants, said Mr Ko, who is also chairman of the award steering committee.

The competition was organised by the EDB, the Prime Minister's Office, Public Service Division, Ministry of Finance and the Productivity and Standard Board.

The awards will be handed out the Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at a ceremony at the Istana on Friday.

Innovation of the Year award winners were Nanofilm Technologies International for its thin-film coating technology, the National Insitute of Eductation (NIE) for growing vegetables from temperature climates in Singapore; and Seagate Technology International, for developing hard-disk drives.

The winners of the Innovative Organisation of the Year were the National Library Board (NLB) - which make the library a lifestyle product - PSA Corporation for helping create the world's No 1 port; and Hewlett-Packard Singapore for a stream of market-winning products.