International Telecommunication Union has launched the ITU Telecom World Entrepreneurship Awards 2015.
The new awards go to the most innovative start-ups, micro, small and medium-size businesses, ITU said in a statement yesterday.
The award recognizes the crucial role played by the ICT entrepreneurs, small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), supporting technology hubs, incubators and government initiatives in driving industry growth, creating employment and contributing meaningfully to social development across emerging and developed markets.
All SMEs and entrepreneurs exhibiting at ITU Telecom World 2015 in Budapest, Hungary, from October 12 to 15 are eligible to enter the award, whether taking part with an independent stand or pod, or as part of a National Pavilion.
Selected by an expert jury including ministers, regulators, industry CEOs and leading ITU officials, the ITU Telecom Entrepreneurship Award will be presented at the closing ceremony of ITU Telecom World.
Prizes will also include People’s Choice Award, chosen by delegates attending ITU Telecom World 2015, and the Innovation Champion Award for what is judged to be the most effective government scheme fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and SMEs in the ICT sector.
Winners will benefit from international recognition as leading entrepreneurs for social good, unique visibility and networking opportunities, and the guarantee of a free exhibition stand and speaking slot in the forum debates in the next year’s ITU Telecom World.
“In celebrating the most promising high-growth SMEs using ICTs for social good, along with successful government initiatives supporting entrepreneurship in this sector, ITU is setting the bar for good practice and the fruitful exchange of ideas globally, and taking a lead in promoting innovative ICT entrepreneurship for socioeconomic development,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.