Organisers of the Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2019 are now accepting entries from the general public for disruptive new inventions or innovations.

First held in 2004, the contest is a platform for talented individuals to create products that have the potential to contribute to society and economic growth. 

Organisers Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd kicked off the eighth installment of the contest on Thursday at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

The guest of honour, education minister YB Dato Paduka Hj Hamzah Hj Sulaiman said the CIPTA contest is meant to encourage the culture of creation, invention and innovation in Brunei.

“In the context of CIPTA, a system of support can be created so that any idea that has commercialisation potential can be IP-protected and developed further to the point that it can be marketed.”

Minister of Education YB Dato Paduka Hj Hamzah (5R), chairperson of the CIPTA 2019 Executive Committee; Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah (5L), vice-chancellor of UTB; and Patrice Girard (4R), managing director and CEO of Brunei LNG  in a group photo at the launch of the Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2019. Photo: Courtesy of UTB

The contest is open to  is open to all schools; technical and tertiary academic institutions; government and private organisations; as well as the general public.

The competition is divided into three main categories : Local Categories, Smart Junior Competition and ASEAN Categories. The winners of each category will then go on to compete for the Crown Prince CIPTA Award.

Submissions must adhere to this year’s theme —  “Industry 4.0: Convergence of Innovation”.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution or “Industry 4.0” refers to the fusion of digital, physical and biological spheres, marked by breakthroughs in technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and blockchain, to name a few.

According to organisers, submissions will be judged based on deployment of end product; social, economic and sustainable design considerations; and the project report and presentation.

Projects will be assessed in two stages and only qualified entries will be allowed to proceed to the final stage.

The deadline for submission is on October 31, 2018. More information on the CIPTA Award can be obtained here.