The Singapore Prize is a prestigious international award that recognises individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to society. The prize has been awarded to people and organisations from around the world who have shown commitment to improving quality of life for all in Asia, and who have demonstrated leadership and innovation in their respective fields.

The finalists were selected from more than 200 nominations in the categories of business, social enterprise and arts. The awards ceremony was held at the Ritz Carlton Millenia on 30 September 2023, where influential business leaders from various niche sectors were in attendance.

The inaugural Dr Alan HJ Chan Spirit of Singapore Book Prize was launched on April 18. The $30,000 prize, which is the richest ever for a local book award, is presented by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). It was donated by Confucian scholar and author Dr Alan Chan to promote writing that champions mindsets and values that have contributed to shaping Singapore. These include equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy and pragmatism.

NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani was the chair of a five-member jury that selected the winner from a short list of six works compiled by a nominating committee. The panel also comprised emeritus professor John Miksic of the NUS Department of History; Dr Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS; academic Beatrice Chong; and curator Suhaili Osman.

This year’s prize honours outstanding Singaporeans whose efforts have contributed to the advancement of science and technology, and to the betterment of society. The President’s Science and Technology Awards were first conferred in 2009, and have since evolved into the highest recognition of Singapore scientists and engineers for their contributions.

In addition to showcasing a medley of Singapore’s cultural heritage and contemporary art, the upcoming award ceremony will feature performances by violinists Dmytro Udovychenko, Anna Agafia Egholm and Angela Sin Ying Chan. They will perform concertos from the repertoire of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Brahms.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s awards, the event will highlight the importance of preserving biodiversity and its role in sustainable development. It will feature an exhibition on the impact of climate change on biodiversity and its relationship with human health, as well as a showcase of innovative projects that protect and enhance wildlife habitats. It will also feature the inaugural United for Wildlife summit, bringing together law enforcement agencies, conservation organisations and corporations to discuss how best to combat the global trade in illegal wildlife products worth $20 billion annually. This is in line with the government’s commitment to make Singapore a leading hub for biodiversity research and conservation.