The inaugural Singapore prize has been awarded to a book that shines new light on the nation’s history. Professor Miksic’s work on the city-state’s past — Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300 – 1800 — beat out five shortlisted books to win the S$50,000 award, administered by NUS’ Department of History. The 71-year-old American’s book is the first devoted to Singapore’s history. Launched in 2014 to support the SG50 programme, the Singapore History Prize is now an annual award.
A new entrant — Singapore: The Story of a City, by Kwa Chong Guan, Tan Tai Yong and Peter Borschberg — was on the shortlist alongside Ms Hidayah, who spent more than five years researching her book. The shortlisted works are all based on primary sources and cover a range of historical periods, themes and fields.
In keeping with the theme of sustainability, Prince William donned a green blazer by Alexander McQueen. He was joined by host Hannah Waddingham, 49, who wore a long black sparkling dress with a green sash and dickie bow. They walked down the thick green carpet at The Theatre at Mediacorp, which was lined with recycled fabric.
Among the other winners was suicide-prevention agency Samaritans of Singapore, which won the special merit award for putting its branding strategy into practice and making a real difference in the lives of its clients. This was a rare recognition for not-for-profit organisations. The other finalists were public institutions, including the National University of Singapore and the Institute for International and Strategic Studies.
The top 10 SMEs were selected after a panel of judges assessed their business and product offerings, and their efforts to innovate and develop with the latest technology trends. These include the digitalisation of products and services, and the use of generative artificial intelligence. Yong said the winners serve as “inspiration for other homegrown enterprises” to continue to invest in their brand, which can help them remain competitive in today’s challenging business landscape.
During the event, which was held in partnership with Lianhe Zaobao, SPBA also unveiled an awards category for small and medium businesses that excel in branding. The winner will be honoured with the Branding Singapore Champion title at next year’s ceremony, which will be held in November. The association’s executive editor, Han Yong May, said the competition is to recognise the importance of branding in a digital era, and the winners will serve as inspiration for fellow homegrown companies. The awards will be judged by a panel of industry experts, and the winners will be announced in October. The winning brands will be featured in the Lianhe Zaobao annual Best Brands Guide, which will be released in December. A complete list of the winners will be available on the website of the Best Brands Guide.
