Applications now open for SLASSCOM Ingenuity Awards 2021

The Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM), the national chamber for IT/BPM industry in Sri Lanka calls applications for the SLASSCOM Ingenuity Awards 2021 (formerly known as SLASSCOM Innovation Awards), which is to be held for the 3^rd consecutive year, in celebration of the greatest innovators in Sri Lanka.

Conducted as an all-island competition representing all-age groups, all ethnic groups, businesses of all sizes, universities and schools, SLASSCOM Ingenuity Awards recognizes and rewards innovations that fuel ingenuity. The awards ceremony will provide a platform for organizations and individuals of all domains to showcase their innovations and be recognized nationwide while opportunities for seed-funding, mentorships and to be acquainted with industry experts also await them.

“The competition will bring out the best innovators in the IT-BPM industry of Sri Lanka and this will open the doors for thousands of startups to be recognized and groomed by the SLASSCOM Startup Accelerator providing them with an immense opportunity to grow”, said SLASSCOM Board Member for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Forum, Anura De Alwis.

Organized under the ‘Island of Ingenuity’ concept, the national brand for the IT/BPM sector, this year’s awards ceremony aims to cover all 9 provinces with an awards ceremony planned to be held in each province. The initial phase will be staged from the provincial level and the competition will later move on to the national level. The grand awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on the 30^th of March 2021 at Shangri-La hotel, Colombo.

“There is absolutely no geographical barrier. We will recognize provincial entrepreneurs who will uplift the Digital Economy of Sri Lanka and build capacity in all provinces of the country to generate an eco-system that helps attract IT graduates join the industry”, said SLASSCOM Board Director for Regional Development, Haridhu Abeygoonaratne.

This year’s awards ceremony features an exciting number of awards categories including awards for universities and schools. Applications can be submitted under the categories: Best Product Innovation, Best Client Delivery Innovation, Best Technology or Framework Innovation, Best Innovation in Business Process Management, Best innovation in Internal Processes, Best Startup, Upcoming Woman Technopreneur of the Year, Best Innovative Product/Project – Universities, Best Innovative Product/Project – Schools.

Commenting on the ‘Upcoming Woman Technopreneur of the Year’ award, WTech Forum Board Director, Shehani Seneviratne said “Female entrepreneurs play a vital role in our Digital Economy. The Ingenuity Awards will recognize Sri Lanka’s next generation of female innovators as well.”

A grand jury comprising of distinguished and eminent personalities with extensive experience in IT/BPM sector will conduct the evaluation process and select the winners for each category.

Providing due support for the fostering of innovations in Sri Lanka, this national event will be sponsored by: MilleniumIT ESP- Strategic sponsor, Dialog Axiata PLC- Corporate sponsor, Hatch- Startup Eco-system partner.

Applications are open from 14th January to 14th February 2021 and interested applicants are requested to visit  www.slasscom.lk/ia for registrations and more information.

Photo captions

1. SLASSCOM Board Member for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Forum, Anura De Alwis

2. SLASSCOM Board Director for Regional Development, Haridhu Abeygoonaratne

3.  WTech Forum Board Director, Shehani Seneviratne