The Sri Lanka Association of Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) is currently embarking upon a proud milestone of hosting the SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards for the fifth consecutive year on Friday, the 1st of July 2022. The National Ingenuity Awards serves to celebrate and felicitate the strides made in technology and innovation by the island nation’s tech and start-up industries; providing Sri Lanka’s rich talent pool with a stage to showcase their brilliance. Over the years, it has become a proving ground for innovators of all levels, from students, to entrepreneurs, to small businesses and even larger organizations.
The journey to this year’s National Ingenuity Awards began with over 200 applicants vying for their place in the program. Through the ongoing processes of selection, the initial applicants were whittled down to 35 provincial winners, of whom 24 became finalists for the event to be held on 1st of July at the Lotus Hall of the Shangri-La Hotel.
The Awards are partnered by some of the country’s leading public sector institutions, that include the Export Development Board (EDB), the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) as the National Partners of the event.
The Innovation Sponsor of this year’s event is Wiley Global, whilst the Platinum sponsors for the event include Axiata Digital Labs, Pearsons and EYGDS, along with the Gold sponsors being the London Stock Exchange Group and Hayleys Advantis, supported by RR Donnelly as the Silver Sponsor.
Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) as the Process Governance Sponsor brings in a wealth of knowledge in terms of governance and best practices to the Ingenuity awards and has been a strong supporter of the event over the years. Additionally, International Finance Corporation (IFC)has also come on board to partner the event as it’s official technical partner.
The event’s structure lends itself to being wide-spread, accommodating and recognizing of the many challenges that innovators are faced with. Therefore, the awards are presented on both a regional, as well as a national level. Twelve (12) categories that encompass ICT, BPM/ KPO, Diversity and ESG have been set by SLASSCOM in order to recognize the value that innovations carry in each specific category. Applications have been submitted under the categories of Best Disruptive Product Innovation, Best Innovation in Internal Processes, Technology or Framework, Best Client Delivery Innovation, Best Startup, Emerging Woman Technopreneur of the Year, Best UN17 SDG Initiative/Software Solution in the IT/BPM Sector, Most innovative Global Business Service / BPM, Best Global Business Service / BPM Entrepreneur, Best Global Business Services / BPM on Regional Expansion, Best Global Services / BPM Transformation, Best Innovative Product / Project – University and Best Innovative Product / Project – School.
Speaking on the Ingenuity Awards, Chairperson of SLASSCOM Sandra de Zoysa, voiced her appreciation of the burgeoning development observed in the IT/ BPM sector of Sri Lanka, and stated that this growth needs to continue and multiply, and contribute towards uplifting the country’s economy.
The Ingenuity Awards 2022 is set to be a key milestone in the calendar of SLASSCOM and will exhibit the rise of Sri Lanka’s most innovative. The Awards is SLASSCOM’s way of celebrating how far Sri Lanka’s tech and start-up industries have come, thanks to its great innovators. Following the launch of the ‘Island of Ingenuity’ brand that has been attributed to the nation’s IT/ BPM sector and the success achieved by the Ingenuity Awards of 2021, the event is poised to be a key landmark in the development of the local IT/ BPM industry.
