CIPTA Award 2005 Road Show Launched At The Mall In Gadong
By Maya Salleh

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2005 road show, organised by the Institute of Technology Brunei (ITB) in partnership with and co-sponsored by Brunei LNG and HSBC, was officially launched yesterday at The Mall in Gadong.

This prestigious biennial competition, which promises a grand prize of $10 000 cash prize, a trophy and certificate to the overall winner, aims to encourage creativity and innovation in the country for its national development.

The objectives of CIPTA are to inspire the youth and the public to develop creative products, encourage inventions and innovations in Brunei.

It also aims to award and recognise creative talents in the country and promote the development of manufacturing processes and technological products in the country.

The officiating ceremony commenced with a welcoming remark delivered by the Acting Director of ITB, Haji Suhaila bin Haji Abdul Karim in his capacity as the Chairperson.

He proudly extolled the Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2005 as a competition which aims to contend inventive and innovate projects which will produce prototypes or process which entail creative and innovative designs based on technology.

He also assured that judgement would be of the high standard by bringing in an expert from abroad.

Following the Chairperson’s speech, Mr. Marcus Hurry, CEO of HSBC also delivered his foreword where he firstly commended ITB for being pro-active in promoting The Crown Prince CIPTA Award.

He believed it was all about translating the potentials of new ideas and creativity into practical solutions where the challenges posed to the participants are designed to stretch the minds of young people. It would also provide individual opportunity to test ingenuity against other young entrepreneurs, and assist in the acquirement of practical business knowledge.

Mr Hurry was also pleased to note that the CIPTA Awards have attracted talented young people who have demonstrated the ability to be truly innovative and he was also hopeful that initiatives exemplified by the CIPTA Awards will reinforce the existing academic curriculum in the development of technology and recognise the participants for their achievements thus will nurture and promote the young people in the Sultanate to view creativity and innovation as challenges which will lead to attractive career paths.

This was followed by an address delivered by the guest of honour, Haji Sheikh Adnan bin Sheikh Mohamad, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

He echoed the sentiment of Mr. Marcus Hurry of the pivotal role the CIPTA Award plays in discovering and bringing out to the forefront, talented individuals with the necessary capabilities in the field of technology.

That was especially among the locals, giving them a chance to present their creative technological inventions or innovations. Moreover he reiterated the importance of CIPTA Award as to pave the way towards meeting the national aspiration of developing the country’s social, economic and industrial diversification indirectly. He urged that the competition be viewed as to go through two stages post-competition where firstly the further development of skill and capability of the winners as product designer or as eventual technopreneur and secondly the commercialisation of their innovative or creative prototype product. He added that for the competition to bear fruits, it is imperative that the relevant government and private agencies be involved in a concerted way so that the winning projects could be translated into commercial ventures.

The Permanent Secretary also envisaged the positive spin-off benefits of the project in the long run where firstly, pending on the level of success and momentum it would build, research and development for innovation and creative products or process would slowly become a culture adopted by creative and innovative technological enthusiasts among those in the society, who have adequate technological know-how.

Secondly, he envisaged research and development would no longer be restricted to a cadre of academians but also spread to these enthusiasts but also spread to these enthusiasts who are capable of converting basic research into commercialised products.

He continued that when this become reality, then the nation’s prominent corporate leaders will start to appreciate local research talents and be motivated to sponsor research and development projects.

Finally, the Permanent Secretary was hopeful that the Brunei society will not remain as outright consumers but also will become producers of modern technology and innovative products.

The Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2005 road show was officially inaugurated by a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Permanent Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary later viewed the exhibition accompanied by the Acting Director of ITB and other senior officials from the Ministry of Education.

The Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2005 road show will end today.

Captions:

1. Haji Sheikh Adnan bin Sheikh Mohamad, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education as the guest of honour delivering his address.

2. Haji Sheikh Adnan bin Sheikh Mohamad, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education in an officiating ribbon cutting ceremony, while the Acting Director of ITB, Haji Suhaila bin Haji Abdul Karim looks on.

3. One of ITB’s lecturers giving a demonstration and briefing to the guest of honour.

4. The guest of honour listening to a briefing by one of ITB’s lecturers. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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