The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has announced 8th edition of the Science and Technology Prize, which would consist of three categories to be awarded on the occasion of 35th Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors scheduled to take place during 23-24 June 2010 in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan.
An official of the Science and Technology Office of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) informed APP that the names of the winners shall be announced through members of the Bank's Board of Governors, Board of Executive Directors, OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technology Co-operation (COMSTECH) and media.
The prize aims at encouraging merit institutions and to promote competition among science and technology institutions across the OIC region. Each category of the prize will consist of a cash award of one hundred thousand dollars - a trophy and a certificate mentioning the name of the winner and its accomplishments. Applications for the prizes have been invited from national, regional and international academic, research and development institutions of the member states, whether private or public.
The prizes are awarded only to institutions not to individuals. The prize is administered by the IDB Office on Science and Technology (STO), which has a greater level of co-operation with the Comstech. The prize as launched in 1422H (2001) aims at promoting scientific talent and excellence in the science and technology education in research and development institutions of IDB-Comstech member countries.
Sharing the agenda and vision with Comstech, the Islamic Development Bank through its Office on Science and Technology is working towards increased financial assistance to the 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, enhancing co-operation between the member states in science and technology through the recruitment of experts, on the job training, scientific seminars and conferences.
Advised by the Comstech General Assembly, the Bank is also offering science education support under two of its scholarship programmes. The objectives of prize are to promote sound and fruitful competition among science and technology education and research institutions in the member states for achieving excellence, encouraging healthy competition, raise awareness among decision-makers about the present and potential contribution of science and technology to sustainable development. Complete detail of the prize, is categories, guidelines and application form can be obtained from IDB website.