Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Prizes for Science and Technology (1431H- 2010G)

I. INTRODUCTION

In recognition of the critical role that Science and Technology plays in socio-economic development, the IDB has, over the years, diversified and increased its assistance to its member countries in this area. The mechanisms and initiatives the IDB undertook in providing this assistance to relevant organizations and institutions in member countries included the following:

  1. Develop and maintain standing cooperation agreements and MOUs  with Science and Technology partners, including the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH); the Islamic-World Academy of Sciences (IAS); the Islamic University of Technology (IUT); the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO); and an increasing number of UN, regional and national institutions and non-governmental organizations;

  2. Increasing financial assistance to member countries for Science and Technology projects and programmes, including institutional capacity-building, procurement of advanced equipment for use in laboratories, hospitals and universities; establishment of Science and Technology education and applied research institutions

  3. Enhancing cooperation between member countries in S&T through the recruitment of experts, on the job training and scientific seminars and conferences;

  4. Offering science education support under two of the IDB scholarship programmes;

In another move aimed at promoting excellence in the S&T education in R&D institutions of its member countries, the IDB launched in 1422H an initiative called the “IDB Prizes for Science & Technology”.

II.  PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

While the IDB continued to direct its efforts in  financing capacity-building, procurement of equipment and establishment of infrastructure in S&T applications, it has recognized the need to develop a scientific elite among S&T institutions in member countries through the pursuit of excellence.  The development of such an elite group is necessary to sustain the positive growth of scientific achievements by S&T Centres of Excellence in IDB member countries.
The IDB Prizes for Science & Technology are designed as a catalyst to encourage merit institutions and promote competition among S&T institutions. The prizes reflects the IDB’s commitment to implement forward-looking policies and integrate advanced S&T applications in the overall development agenda of its member countries.  The objectives of the IDB Prizes for Science and Technology are as follows:

    1. to promote a sound, fruitful and positive competition among the S&T education and research institutions in its member countries for achieving excellence;
    2. to give due recognition, encouragement and support  to successful institutions in this competition;
    3. to raise awareness among decision-makers and intellectuals about the present and potential contribution of S&T to sustainable development; and
    4. to highlight S&T related policies and contribution of the IDB.


III. IDB SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIZE CATEGORIES

The IDB Science and Technology Prizes consists of three (3) prizes awarded on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors. Each prize will consist of a cash award of one hundred thousand (100,000) US dollars, a trophy and a certificate mentioning the name of the winner and its accomplishments.


The Prizes are awarded only to institutions (not to individuals) in IDB member countries in the following categories:
Category 1:
Outstanding scientific or technological contribution to the socio-economic development of a member country.

Category 2:
Outstanding contribution to any of the following scientific disciplines: Engineering Sciences; Agriculture; Medicine; Biotechnology; Information Technology; Optoelectronics; Material Sciences; Pharmaceutical Sciences; Industrial Microelectronics; alternative Energy Sources and Nanotechnology.

Category 3:
Noted scientific research institutions in the IDB Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs).



IV. PRIZE WINNERS OF THE SEVENTH EDITION (1430H)

The IDB has implemented the Seventh Edition of the IDB Prizes for Science and Technology in 1430H and the three prizes were awarded during the 34th Annual Meeting of IDB Board of Governors (9-10 Jumada Thani 1430H corresponding to 2-3 June 2009 G Ashgabat, the Republic of Turkmenistan).  The prize winners are as follows:

  1. Category 1:Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
  2. Category 2:Department of Physics, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Republic Of Turkey
  3. Category 3:International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, (ICDDRB) Dhaka, Peoples Republic Of Bangladesh      


V. APPLYING FOR THE PRIZES

Applications for the prizes are welcomed from national, regional and international academic/research/development institutions of member countries, private or public;


Filling in an electronic application form
Interested institutions may complete the following electronic form:

Application Form (English)
Application Form (French)


It should be completed by the institution following the these guidelines:

Guidelines for Application Form (English)
Guidelines for Application Form (French)


The completed electronic application form should be sent to the IDB Science & Technology and Technical Cooperation Division Email : STPrize1431@isdb.org   

Important Note Installing Adobe Acrobat:

  1. In order to use the form properly, the user must have a proper version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat at least version 8.1 or higher.
  2. If the form is not working properly or you have errors, it is advised that the user will REMOVE/UNINSTALL all the existing versions of Adobe Acrobat/Reader, and install one of the latest Adobe Acrobat 8.1 or higher, or Adobe Reader 8.1 or higher, and after installation, Restart the PC.
  3. To download Adobe Reader, go to: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/
  4. For working with Arabic Language, when opening the form for the first time, you may be prompted to download Language Extension Pack. Just follow the instructions, and then Restart your PC.
  5. For Technical Support, please contact the IDB on:


STPrize1431@isdb.org
Tel: +966-2 – 646 6730 or  966-2-646 6778
Fax: +966-2- 646 7828

Using the detachable form attached
In case of difficulties to fill in the electronic form, you may use hard copies of Application Forms  attached to the brochures which are available through the following channels:

All the information shall be typed using font size 12. Applications forms completed by hand will not be accepted. If the space provided for any specific information is insufficient, annexes may be used with reference to the respective field number. Hard copies of completed forms along with any relevant attachments should be sent by mail to the mailing address of the IDB Science & Technology and Technical Cooperation Division. The institution is responsible to inform the IDB Governor’s Office in its country of its application for the IDB Prizes for Science and Technology. The winning institution will not be eligible to compete for the prize for two years after winning the prize.

Candidate institutions should not receive any related science prizes in the same discipline in the same year from any other awarding bodies or organizations.
Runner-up candidate institutions for any of the prizes will be given one more chance to be considered in the subsequent year of competition unless the institution informs the IDB Science & Technology and Technical Cooperation Division Manager of its intention to withdraw its application.
Upon the receipt of the application form, an acknowledgement message will be sent to the institutions. All potential correspondences regarding the application may be sent using any of the following modes of communication: Email – Fax – Telephone.

The completed forms along with any attachments should be received by Science &Technology and Technical Cooperation Division in IDB on 23 Safar 1431H corresponding to 7 February 2010G, on the following address:


The Division Manager
Science & Technology and Technical Cooperation
Islamic Development Bank
P.O. Box 5925 Jeddah 21432 - Saudi Arabia
Email: STPrize1431@isdb.org
Tel: +966-2 – 6466730,
Fax: +966-2- 6467828

Or alternatively care of one of the following IDB Regional Offices;
1. IDB Regional Office in Rabat

  1. John Kennedy Avenue

P.O.Box No. 5003
Souissi 10105
Rabat – Morocco
Tel: (21237) 757292/659751-3
Fax: (21237) 757260


2. IDB Regional Office in Kuala Lumpur
Level – 13, Bangunan Ban Industri
Jalan Sultan Ismail
P.O.Box 13671
50818 Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
Tel: (603)2694 – 6627/2694-6628
Tax: (603) 2694-6626

3. IDB Regional office in Almaty
65/69 Nauryzbai Batyr Street
Almaty 480000-Kazakhistan
Tel: (73-272) 623-555/501-303
Fax: (73-272)501-303/623-411

4. Bureau Régional de la BID à Dakar :
Adresse : 18 Boulevard de la République - Dakar
B.P. : 6253 Dakar étoile - Dakar Sénégal
Tél. : 33 889 11 44
Fax : 33 823 36 21

VI. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PRIZE WINNERS

The announcement of winning institutions will be made during the 35th Board of IDB Governors Meeting scheduled during the period 23-24 June 2010G (11-12 Rajab 1431H) in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

The names of the Prize Winners will also be announced through the following channels: