Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 15, 2022Contact: Anders Halvorsenahalvorsen@witsa.org +1 571 265-5964WITSA Announces 2022 Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Award Winners:Winners demonstrated excellence in improving the human condition through digital innovation and public-private partnerships Penang, Malaysia: On the second day of the 2022 World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT 2022), the World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) announced that 20 private and public sector organizations from four different continents were selected to receive the 2022 WITSA Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards, a special WITSA Chairman’s Award as well as two WITSA Eminent Person Awards. Two lifetime achievement awards were also given as well as an inaugural WCIT MVP Award. WITSA is the leading recognized voice of the global digital technology industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent more than 90% of the world’s tech market. The WITSA Awards recognize the entities that made the most significant contributions to mankind in 2022.“The Selection committee for the 2022 the Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards had the honor of reviewing well over 100 well-qualified, unique and remarkable award submissions,” said WITSA Chairman Yannis Sirros. “I would also like to congratulate all of the winners for the superb job that they are doing in bringing the benefits of digital technology to children, citizens, governments, education, science, healthcare, the environment, industries and societies as well as nearly every aspect of our life; thus, contributing to WITSA’s vision of Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age as well as the theme of this congress; “Connecting and Transforming the World,” continued Mr. Sirros.The Awards also recognized a mobile wallet and payment gateway that improves the way we make payments and solve the fundamental problem of access to finance; an electronic invoicing application allowing users to easily, instantly, create digital invoices, and send them via email; a software developer that digitizes and automates site processes for the building and infrastructure industry that revolutionize field management with digitization and construction utilizing artificial intelligence (AI); an IT management system for renewable energy sources production licensing; and a digital health quality management platform delivering the core infrastructure needed to introduce digital health safely;Governments were also recognized for the world's largest public web portal for its outstanding contribution to information and services delivery of government services in an accountable, transparent, and inclusive manner; a city adopting diverse information technologies in order to transform itself as a sustainable, low carbon emissions, green and people-centric smart city with a data-driven governance and economy; a local authority that built a sustainable transportation system though mobility-as-a-service (MaaS); a government that embarked on a multi-phased, long-term plan taking advantage of advanced IoT and analytics technologies to build a truly "holistic" Smart City; a laboratory and project implementation using smartphones and a IOT platform for enriching home-based teaching and learning; and a corporate open online course (CooC)-cloud that breaks through traditional blackboard-based teaching methods by introducing digital technologies such as AR and simulation animation for teachers and students to use in and after class and closing parent-teacher distance as well as reducing the workload of school administrative staff.“The nominations submitted to this year’s awards program spanned WITSA’s entire global membership, from Egypt to Bangladesh, from Argentina to the United Kingdom and beyond”, stated WITSA’s Secretary General, Dr. Jim Poisant. “We are delighted that we will be able to recognize some of the very best ICT solutions from governments, institutions, individuals, and industry”, continued Dr. Poisant.The WITSA Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards is one of WITSA’s most popular programs. Started over 20 years ago, at the 2000 World Congress on IT in Taipei, WITSA has – as the leading recognized international voice of the global tech industry – utilized its unprecedented reach into the digital industry in over 80 countries, from Australia and New Zealand to Bangladesh and Malaysia, to South Africa and Nigeria, to Argentina and Canada, in order to select the most impactful and innovative candidates from every corner of the world.Over the past 22 years, WITSA has recognized its award winners on the world stage, starting in Taipei, to Adelaide (Australia), Athens (Greece), Austin (Texas), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Montreal (Canada), Guadalajara (Mexico), Brasilia (Brazil), Hyderabad (India), Yerevan (Armenia), Penang (Malaysia), Dhaka, Bangladesh, and now Penang, Malaysia.“What makes the Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards unique is that nominations are made by experts that know the industry best; the national and regional WITSA tech industry member associations” said WITSA CEO Dato’ Dan E. Khoo. “With unparalleled insight, the most innovative and impactful solutions are brought before an independent panel of judges, consisting of select industry leaders and luminaries from key international organizations, corporations and government entities, who spent countless hours reviewing submissions from all around the world”.The following are the winners of the 2022 WITSA Global Innovation and Tech Excellence Awards:
WITSA bestowed its highest award, the Eminent Person Award to Dato’ Hock E. Tan, one of this generation’s technology pioneers and a significant philanthropist, and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, a Malaysian politician, author, and physician who served as the fourth and seventh prime minister of Malaysia.Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to WITSA Chairman Mr. Yannis Sirros and WITSA Secretary General Dr. Jim Poisant for their dedication and contributions to WITSA and the digital industry. For more than twenty years, Mr. Sirros and Dr. Poisant have worked tirelessly to growing WITSA as the recognized voice of the global tech industry, and to make the WCIT the must-attend “Olympics” of the technology and innovation industry.Finally, The Right Honorable Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, was given the 2022 WCIT Most Valuable Person Award, which recognizes the leadership and tremendous strides made by an individual in advancing the ideals embodied by the spirit of the WCIT.The 2022 WITSA Awards received a large number of highly qualified nominees, amassed though WITSA’s network of ICT industry associations across the globe. WITSA therefore decided to also recognize a number of noteworthy Runners-up and Merit winners. While not being selected as winners of one of the award categories, these nominees nevertheless displayed first-rate use and innovation of ICT.On September 12h, WITSA recognized 7 Runner-up and 6 Merit awards. All winners of the 2022 WITSA Awards are profiled in detail below:About WITSAThe World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is the leading recognized international voice of the global ICT industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in ICT products and services; strengthening WITSA’s national industry associations; and providing members with a broad network of professional contacts. WITSA hosts the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT), the premier global industry sponsored ICT conference.WITSA members are leaders in a globally interconnected marketplace. Because the challenges facing the ICT industry are undisputedly global in nature, WITSA members work together to achieve a shared vision on important issues of common interest. WITSA makes it possible for its members — ranging from Mongolia and Argentina to Kenya and the United States — to identify common issues and priorities, exchange valuable information, and present a united position on industry issues.For more information on WITSA, please visit www.witsa.org
Dato’ Hock E. TanThis year, we’re pleased to honor Dato’ Hock E. Tan, President and CEO of Broadcom, as one of the recipients. Born and raised in Penang, Malaysia, Dato’ Tan completed his education in the United States – first at MIT and then at Harvard Business School. He returned to Malaysia in the early 1980s to take on a leadership role at Hume Industries, in the building materials space.In 2006, Dato’ Tan became CEO of Avago Technologies in California, a spin-out of the legacy Hewlett Packard semiconductors team. Avago later acquired Broadcom Corporation in 2016 and rebranded itself as the “Broadcom” you all know today as one of the largest technology enterprises in the world. Since Dato’ Tan became President and CEO in 2006, Broadcom has grown into one of the world’s leading infrastructure technology companies, and currently ranks among the top 50 largest companies by market capitalization – and top 10 for technology companies – within the S&P 500.Dato’ Tan’s philanthropic contributions are equally impressive. Over the last decade, he has made substantial donations to autism and disabilities-related research through the creation of research centers at Cornell, Harvard and MIT in the United States.As the father of adult children on the autism spectrum, his hope is that pulling together a critical mass of resources with these centers will catalyze much more work in this area.In short, Dato’ Tan has become one of this generation’s technology pioneers, while recognizing the importance of helping the next generation. Malaysia is fortunate to have Dato’ Tan representing the best qualities of our country.It’s WITSA’s honor to present one of the 2022 Eminent Person Awards to Dato’ Hock Tan for his outstanding leadership in using innovation and technology to create value for millions of people.Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, a Malaysian politician, author and physician who served as the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held office from July 1981 to October 2003 and later from May 2018 to March 2020 for a cumulative grand total of 24 years, making him the country's longest-serving prime minister.Born in 1925, Tun Dr. Mahathir studied medicine in Singapore. But way before he served the country via politics, he served the people as a physician in government service upon his graduation, before returning to his hometown of Alor Setar, Kedah to open his own successful practice in 1957.A visionary leader with often controversial and transformational ideas, Tun was also passionate about science and technology. It was during his tenure as Prime Minister that science and technology assumed prominence in national planning. The first Science Advisor was appointed during his time. Many scientific institutions were established during his term to help drive the country’s science and technology agenda. Even to this day, his passion for science has not withered. He remains a strong believer in the power of science and technology in nation building.The launching of the National Car, Proton; the blast into orbit of MEASAT1; the creation of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) are just a few of the Science and Technology projects that were implemented under his leadership that successfully elevated Malaysia onto the world stage.Past achievements are too numerous to list, but notable ones also include spearheading the modernisation of the country through the construction of the North-South Expressway, and his push for various infrastructure development and prestige projects such as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Petronas Twin Towers. It is through these accomplishments and more that have earned him the sobriquet of Malaysia’s Father of Modernisation (Bapa Pemodenan).It’s WITSA’s honor to present the other Eminent Person Award to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad for his outstanding leadership in the use of Innovation & Technology to better the lives of millions.
Mr. Yannis Sirros, WITSA chairmanMr. Yannis Sirros is one of the longest-serving WITSA Directors, having joined its Board in 2002. In 2004, Mr. Sirros managed and organized a highly successful World Congress in Athens, which was attended by over 2,000 delegates from 67 countries and featured a top-notch program with keynotes by Professor Nicholas Negroponte of MIT Media Lab, Dr. Vint Cerf –the “co-Father of the Internet” -and also a speaker at this the 2022 World Congress in Penang-, Robert Bishop of SGI, Michel Fromont of NEC Computers, Mr. Risto Siilasmaa, of F-Secure, and many others. From 2012 to 2018, Mr. Sirros served as WITSA’s Vice Chairman for Europe, helping to drive member recruitment and engagement. In the two years before becoming WITSA Chairman, from 2018 to 2020, Sirros worked as Deputy Chairman. Following his successful tenure in WITSA at the conclusion of the 2022 World Congress in Penang, Mr. Sirros will embark on his next phase as WITSA Chairman Emeritus.Dr. Jim Poisant, WITSA Secretary generalAs everyone in the WITSA community knows, no one has had a bigger part in the success of WITSA than WITSA Secretary General Dr. Jim Poisant. His tenure extends all the way back to 1996 in Bilbao, Spain, when he first started planning for his first World Congress which took place in Fairfax, Virginia in 1998. Dr. Poisant grew WITSA from being a subsidiary of an American member association to having its own independent Secretariat and extending over a 26 year period. Moreover, Poisant’s dedication to the WITSA global community has been obvious to everyone who knows him. The WITSA Congresses of the last few decades could not have happened without him. His professionalism and dedication and unique insights contributed more to WITSA’s growth as the voice of the global tech industry than anyone else. Dr. Poisant retires from WITSA at the end of September 2022.
The Right Honorable Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of PenangThe WCIT Most Valuable Person Award recognizes the leadership and tremendous strides made by an individual in advancing the ideals embodied by the spirit of the WCIT. The recipient of this inaugural award has demonstrated inspirational leadership, outstanding resolve and dedication in the pursuit of a better future for millions under his care.Under his strong leadership, Penang is making great strides in transforming itself from an industrialized economy with an excellent E&E base into a digitally advanced state that brings positive participation and impact to everyone under the Penang2030 vision. Under his stewardship, Penang has achieved record numbers in terms of investments, trade surplus and jobs.Phase 2 of Penang2030 brings a three-pronged approach to build further on Penang’s manufacturing ecosystem, broaden the investor base and prepare for the digital future – one where governance, economy, community and infrastructure contribute towards a Digital Penang. As such, it is most apt that the inaugural award goes to the Right Honorable Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, the Chief Minister of Penang, whose inspirational leadership and steadfast determination also paved the way for the fantastic staging of the WITSA World Congress this week.
Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Programme, ICT Division. Solution name: National Portal Framework (Bangladesh)All information and services in one address: with this goal in mind, Aspire to Innovate (A2I) is implementing the Bangladesh National Portal in collaboration with all departments. It is considered as the world's largest government web portal (www.bangladesh.gov.bd) that has been awarded the WSIS Award in 2015 by the UN specialized agency ITU for its outstanding contribution to information and services. In addition, the National Information Window has been awarded the PRESIDENT’S AWARD of The Open Group in 2017. There are 50,000+ government offices attached to this framework, from the union level to the ministry, which is unique as an example and a significant achievement in building a digital BangladeshAspire to Innovate (A2I) is working closely to implement the Government of Bangladesh's agenda ‘’Digital Bangladesh’’ and to help drive the country towards Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In using the National Portal Framework, government institutions at the national to union (small administrative unit) levels are able to deliver public services, in a more accountable, transparent, and inclusive manner. This initiative was a nation’s dream, which we commonly call Digital Bangladesh. So special emphasis is given on the application of digital technologies to realize Vision 2021.By 2021, after 50 years of independence, our goal is to be a middle-income country with peace, prosperity and dignity. The government of Bangladesh implemented a large number of projects relating to digital technologies. Bangladesh National Portal is one of the big initiatives to embrace digital government. By understanding the necessity of easy, affordable and reliable access to quality public services for all citizens of Bangladesh, emerging and frontier technologies were integrated into this initiative.Bangladesh National Portal is an excellent innovation that has resulted in positive changes in administrative procedures and service delivery which is automatically enhancing the effectiveness of public institutions. It has created and added new benefits for the people through quality improvement of government services. It has created opportunities to provide many more services in a short time. The time, cost in receiving the services has been reduced as compared to the past.This initiative is continuously encouraging the citizens of Bangladesh to use technology to provide information and access government benefits. By creating a modern, technology based administrative system, it is establishing good infrastructure and ensuring good governance through various innovations. Bangladesh National Portal is ensuring accountability of government employees by making government employees modern and technology dependent as well as facilitating all government facilities to the people. The government plans to provide high-speed broadband internet connections to all public universities, colleges and training institutes as part of its ‘Digital Bangladesh’ initiative.Contact: Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kab, Project Director - a2i (Joint Secretary)E-mail: dewan.kabir@a2i.gov.bd | Phone: + 8801715616649Nominated by: BCS, BangladeshFor more information, see: Award Nomination | My Digital Bangladesh: a2i for Innovation
Khalti Digital wallet (Sparrow Pay Private Limited) - NepalKhalti is a mobile wallet, payment gateway & service provider in Nepal. Khalti launched in the year 2017 at CAN InfoTech with the vision to improve the way we make payments and solve the fundamental problem of ‘Access to Finance’. Khalti is operated and owned by Sparrow Pay Pvt. Ltd. Khalti offers payment solutions to over hundreds of merchants and millions of users across Nepal and provide seamless payments using e-banking, smart banking, cards, and wallet. Being not just limited to mobile app users, Khalti has more than 50,000 POS and Agent networks providing Khalti services to end-users.Khalti aims to contribute our best in promoting digital inclusivity, imparting digital awareness, and providing digital opportunities to those in need. Our goal includes benefitting rural women to achieve their financial independence. They can carry out digital transactions with increased control over finances, increased productivity, higher financial privacy, and also Income generating opportunities for the women engaged in informal MSMEs. Currently, Khalti can be accessed by people with different kinds of disabilities, except for the visually impaired in the current context. It is in Khalti’s goal to be able to introduce voice commands (IVR) to assist the visually impaired. We aim to empower the underprivileged to be financially independent and more digitally equipped.Contact: Binay Khadka, CEOEmail: binay@khalti.com Phone/Mobile: +977 9801856380For more information, see the Award NominationEpsilon Smart: Οn Cloud Platform for SMEsEpsilon Smart is an electronic invoicing application allowing you to easily, instantly, create digital invoices, and send them via email. Aimed at Small to Medium businesses, professionals and freelancers. Epsilon Smart platform operates on cloud providing a full digital and comprehensive framework for daily commercial activities. In parallel, competitive advantages of the system are: a. interoperability with the Greek Independent Public Revenues Authority platform, named “myDATA” and b. the online connection with the software that accounting solution providers are using in order to support the SMEs operation and tax issues. mmyDATA platform and the digital framework for SMEs are a crucial step towards the digital transformation of the Greek Tax Administration and its relationship with Greek tax entities despite of their size. In order to comply with the tax regulations, SMEs need an easy-to-use solution that fully automates the declaration of their daily Revenue/Expenses’ transactions to myDATA platform. More than 80.000 Small to Medium businesses, professionals and freelancers are currently using Epsilon Smart (www.epsilonsmart.gr). Epsilon Smart assists the user to issue their invoices electronically and transfer the obligatory data to AADE myDATA platform (IPRA) easily, quickly, and reliably. In addition, Epsilon Net Group’s technology expertise and legislation knowledge ensures the solution’s compliance to any change of legislation, via constantly online updated versions.Epsilon Net Group was the first certified provider for digital tax transactions with the name Epsilon Digital (https://www.aade.gr/adeiodotimena-logismika-parohon-ilektronikis-timologisis).Contact: Maria Karali, Marketing ManagerTel: +30 2111080000 Ext. 2736Email: m.karali@epsilonnet.grFor more information, see the Award Nomination; Presentation
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is the agency under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia leading the digital transformation of the economy since 1996. MDEC aims to enable a progressive, innovation-led digital economy. On 4 July 2022, the Government of Malaysia launched Malaysia Digital, the initiative to accelerate the growth of the nation’s digital economy for the benefit of Keluarga Malaysia.Driven by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) through Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia’s lead digital economy agency, Malaysia Digital is a national strategic initiative by the Government to encourage and attract companies, talents and investment while enabling Malaysian businesses and the Rakyat to play a leading part in the global digital economy. Malaysia Digital is the initiative to succeed MSC Malaysia, which has served to transform Malaysia into a knowledge-based economy since 1996. With a new and enhanced framework, the new initiative seeks to enhance the nation’s digital capabilities and boost the digital economy.Since 1996, MDEC has played an important role in transforming the Malaysian Digital Economy. Currently, the digital economy contributes 22.6% to Malaysia’s GDP and is expected to contribute 25.5% to the national GDP by 2025.MDEC also played an important role in WCIT 2022 as a strategic enabler.Contact: Khairul Mizan Bin Shagul HamidEmail: khairul.mizan@mdec.com.my Phone/Mobile: +6012-6550831More information: Award nomination; Website; Facebook; Twitter @mymdec
"Novade Solutions" by NovadeNovade is a leading field management software developer for the building and infrastructure industry. Novade digitizes and automates site processes including quality, safety, progress monitoring, workforce management, and maintenance. Powerful analytics provides insights for customers to streamline operations and drive results. Leading contractors, real estate developers, owners, and operators around the world trust Novade to drive their digital transformation. Founded in 2014, Novade is headquartered in Singapore and operates globally with offices in Paris, London, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Tokyo, Sydney, New Delhi, Bangkok, Beijing, and Beirut.Novade’s vision is to revolutionize field management with digitization and construction Artificial Intelligence (AI). We aim to bring together the power of man and machine so that construction site data can be captured and translated using analytics and AI, and decisions can be made in real time, on or off the field. We want to create an industry where everyone goes home safety when AI predicts incidents before they happen. They are working with clients on projects in over 20 countries across Asia and Europe. Novade has been implemented by over 100,000 users across the world. Our platform is well suited for main contractors, sub-contractors, specialty contractors, property developers, homebuilders, interior designers, and civil engineersContact: Harpreet Kaur, Marketing SpecialistEmail: harpreet.kaur@novade.net Phone/Mobile: +65 9870 7835More information: Award nomination; Overview.Chipside Ltd.Chipside is a specialist software development company providing products and services to around a quarter of local and regional government traffic authorities in the UK. They have been developing advancements in smart parking technology to maintain personal mobility while achieving net zero, reducing congestion, protecting the economy, both personal and societal. Innovate UK have funded a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) that will support Chipside Ltd in setting out a strategic systems roadmap to 2025, which brings local government parking, city access, and vehicle movement in line with the ten-point plan set out by local government. The KTP will combine specially developed algorithms with the latest thinking in AI applications. This will enable Chipside Ltd to develop a suite of real-time AI decision services, designed to enable local authorities to better understand and control their regional transport networks.CONTACT Paul Moorby, CEO Co-Founder, ChipsideEmail: paul.moorby@chipside.com Phone/Mobile: +44 (0)345470900More information: Nomination Document;Chipside Website;University awarded new KTP with Chipside Ltd to develop AI analysis of driver behavior]
Taoyuan City Government: Smart Sustainable City – Constructing Taoyuan Digital Citizen EcosphereSince December 2014, Taoyuan became one of Taiwan’s six special municipalities. As an airport city, Taoyuan is an East Asian transport hub, through which one can easily travel to other major East Asian cities. In 2017, the fast and accessible MRT Taoyuan Airport Line debuted, effectively connecting the airport and the high-speed railway, making commutes between Taoyuan and other cities even more easier. Thanks to Taoyuan’s convenient location and transport, the city has developed recently with a fast pace. More and more people are moving to Taoyuan city, making the city one with the highest population growth. Migrants include Hoklo, Hakka, indigenous peoples, and most numerous of them all, mi
