| Hakim Hayat |
THIRTY-eight finalists in different categories will be competing for the winning title and cash prizes in the 7th Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2019 organised by Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) in partnership with Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd as the main sponsor.
There are three main categories of the competition, namely: Local Categories, Smart Junior Competition and ASEAN Categories.
The Local Categories comprise of three categories: ‘Category 1: Creating New Product, Process or Technology’, ‘Category 2: Modifying Existing Product, Process or Technology’ and ‘Category 3: Creating New or Modifying Existing Product, Process or Technology by Young Inventors’.
The Smart Junior Competition is open to lower secondary school students or equivalent, who are 12-14 years old by October 31, 2018.
Each group must submit a report which captures their innovative idea on a new technological product or process which could improve our quality of life. The objective is to encourage and promote creativity and innovation among the younger generation.
The ASEAN Categories meanwhile is divided into two which are New Invention & Innovation Category and Young Inventor Category.
This year’s CIPTA 2019 saw 38 projects shortlisted, where 21 projects will compete in the Local Categories, while, six projects in the Smart Junior Competition, and 11 under the ASEAN Categories.
Under the Local Categories, the winner for Categories 1 and 2 will receive a grand prize of BND6,000, while the runner-up and second runner-up will receive cash prizes of BND4,000 and BND2,000 respectively along with trophies and certificates. Two consolation prizes of BND500 will also be given out in the two local categories.
In Category 3, the winner will receive BND3,000 cash while the runner-up and second runner-up will receive BND2,000 and BND1,000 cash respectively along with trophies and certificates. Two consolation prizes of BND250 will also be given out in the category.
Under the Smart Junior Competition, the winners will receive a first prize of BND1,000 and second and third prizes of BND800 and BND500 respectively along with certificates. Two consolation prizes of BND200 and certificates will also be given out in this category.
Under the ASEAN Categories, winner of the New Invention & Innovation Category will receive BND6,000 cash and a trophy and winner of the Young Inventor Category will receive BND3,000 cash and a trophy.
Winners from the Local Categories in Category 1 and 2, and in the ASEAN Categories are also eligible to compete for the Crown Prince Special Award with the grand prize of BND8,000 and a trophy.
The Crown Prince CIPTA Award competition, held biennially, aims to inspire the youth and public to develop creative products, processes or technology for national and ASEAN aspirations; to encourage inventions and innovations from the participants; to recognise and award creative talents in the country as well as at ASEAN level; to encourage research and development in Brunei Darussalam; to promote industrial and manufacturing processes, technological products development, commercialisation and entrepreneurship in Brunei Darussalam; to motivate and instil the culture of science, engineering and technology in the youth and the public; and to foster collaborative linkages within Brunei Darussalam and the ASEAN region.
Finalists of the competition were briefed at the Lecture Theatre 1, UTB yesterday where Dr Lim Pang Jen and Dr Aida Maryam binti Haji Basri from the CIPTA 2019 Technical Committee delivered a presentation on the guidelines of presenting project reports, and explained on the general criteria for judging the projects.