Following its successful launch, Brands for Good Awards returns to honour companies championing corporate social responsibility
SINGAPORE, Feb. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the inaugural event in 2018, Brands for Good returns in September 2019. Organised by non-profit organisation IPOS Society and International IP Commercialisation Council Singapore (IIPCC Singapore), Brands for Good is an awards platform that recognises businesses that have successfully used their intellectual property in the form of patents, business processes or business models to create positive impact in the Workplace, the Community and the Environment. Brands for Good is proudly sponsored by Maybank and BBX, both of which are champions of corporate social responsibility in their own right.
Alan Ng, founding President of IPOS Society, co-organiser of Brands for Good 2019, said, "The Brands for Good philosophy underscores the particular importance of patented inventions possessing the potential to 'do good'. IP, therefore, is not just an economic asset but also an instrument to turn a brilliant idea or invention into a means for the betterment of human life."
"It also has a particular appeal to attract funding, which in turn provides the resources for technical improvements. These improvements have the potential to be translated into commercial activities and deliver impact, resulting in economies of scale benefitting the wider masses," added co-organiser Esther Wee, President of IIPCC Singapore.
With the objective of cultivating the spirit of Brands for Good among the youths, Brands for Good 2019 will also feature a youth challenge segment in collaboration with Centre of Excellence for Life Skills, Careers and Academics (CELSCA), IP Hatch and PieceFuture Pte Ltd. 50 youths from Asia will take part in an entrepreneurship challenge to turn patents into feasible, creative business ideas that address real-world problems. Finalists will pitch to industry CEOs and the winning team will be announced at the Brands for Good 2019 Award Ceremony.
Brands for Good believes that all businesses can have a massive transformative purpose or MTP. MTP motivates individuals and teams to take on challenging tasks and solve great problems. It is what gives rise to social movements, rapidly growing organisations and remarkable breakthroughs in science and technology. To encourage companies to find their massive transformative purpose, be an inspiration to others and enable change, Brands for Good is launching Brands for Good Innovation Bursary. This bursary supports all the nominees and past awardees in their innovation journeys. In this pilot fund, the platform aims to support 100 companies with $1,000 each. When companies sign up for nomination, they will automatically qualify for this bursary.
The 2018 inaugural event saw over 300 participants celebrating with 24 Singapore-based companies being honoured for their CSR efforts in such areas as Fair Employment Practices, Workplace Culture and Communications, Workplace Safety, People Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Social Giving and Engagement, Local Market Empowerment, Responsible Supply Chains, Sustainable Resource and Environmental Impact Management. Glenn Lim, Managing Director of CEO Asia Pte Ltd, the event manager for Brands for Good 2019 said, "This September, we are expecting over 1,000 participants with some 50 winners."
Mr Marc Leong, Maybank Singapore's Head of SME Banking said, "Maybank Singapore is a firm believer that ethical and sustainable practices are critical for any business to thrive. Brands for Good is a wonderful platform and movement for us to work with responsible businesses. Our engagement with last year's award winners has been fulfilling. We learnt a lot from them and are proud to be co-creators and collaborators that bring meaningful and sustainable value to the community."
Dr Lee Oi Kum, Director of BBX Holdings Pte Ltd, remarked, "BBX shares the same journey with Brands For Good in enabling BBX members who are business owners to measure and improve sustainability practices. Aiming to be a responsible and trusted trade portal, BBX subscribes to ethical trade practices locally and internationally. BBX is a B-to-B community builder that facilitates trade transactions using credits."
Dr Lim Jing, Chief Technology Officer of Osteopore International, a winner of the Patents for Good award category in Brands for Good 2018, remarked, "Osteopore International is a manufacturer of implants that encourage natural tissue regeneration. We are committed to positively impacting the lives of patients medically and building an ecosystem to support fellow SMEs. We are honoured to have been awarded Brands for Good in 2018. This is a testament to the efforts of a SME in creating a conducive and supportive business environment. We hope that more SMEs will step up this year and support the drive to promote CSR."
Nominations for Brands for Good 2019 are open and will close on 31 May 2019. Fifteen independent judges comprising business leaders across industries will preside over the event. The winners will be announced and celebrated at the Brands for Good Award Ceremony in September 2019. Register for Brands for Good 2019 at www.brandsforgood.asia/apply/.
About the Organisers
IPOS Society is a Singapore registered non-profit organisation with aims to build an innovation ecosystem driven and empowered by Intellectual Property. IIPCC Singapore, being part of a global non-profit organisation, is committed to driving the growth of a knowledge-based Intellectual Property economy. Together, they seek to champion a movement to enable every business to realise their Intellectual Property potential and become a Brand for Good, defined as directly creating and contributing to positive impact or social responsibility.
About Maybank Singapore
Maybank is among Asia's leading banking groups and South East Asia's fourth largest bank by assets. The Maybank Group has an international network of 2,400 branches in 20 countries including all 10 ASEAN countries, with over 43,000 employees serving customers worldwide. Maybank Singapore is one of the Group's largest overseas operations and a Qualifying Full Bank in Singapore. As at December 2017, Maybank's total assets in Singapore were S$65.8 billion. With strategically located branches and over 1,800 employees in Singapore, Maybank is well-positioned to provide highly personalised services and locally-oriented solutions that will deliver more value to customers. For more information, please visit maybank2u.com.sg.
About BBX
Established since 1993, BBX has grown to become the leading e-commerce global trading platform. At the core of BBX, it enables financial inclusion, transforming and evolving commerce for businesses regardless of size. It is a platform that gives more than 20,000+ businesses confidence to connect and trade globally over a digital trade credit settlement system that complements other traditional forms of payments and lowers your cost of business. BBX is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional and personal conduct through its corporate governance practices. Through a consolidation of technological advancements, BBX creates better ways to trade, optimize inventory supply, maximize business opportunities and improve business sustainability.
