7:12 PM
Crescent Sdn Bhd
Permanent Secretary of Communication Dato Paduka Hj Alaihuddin POKDGSLDSU Hj Mohammad Taha (C), witnessing the signing ceremony of the successful applicants of AITI grant scheme for local ICT industry development held at AITI, Berakas. Signing of behalf of AITI are Haji Yahkup Haji Menudin (2nd L) and Julianah Haji Ali Ahmad (L). Signing on behalf of Crescent Sdn Bhd are Hajah Salma Bee Haji Abd Latiff (2nd L) and Mohd Donovan Dolamit (R). Picture:BT/Saifulizam
Saturday, November 27, 2010
THREE Bruneian ICT companies were awarded grants totalling over $400,000 by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) yesterday, becoming the first successful applicants under AITI's grant scheme.
Mars Enterprise, Crescent Sdn Bhd and John Harith Technology Sdn Bhd were the inaugural recipients of grants that fall under the scheme, which is aimed at providing a boost to the country's up-and-coming ICT talents.
The Chief Executive of AITI, Haji Yahkup Hj Menudin, said in a prepared statement that the successful grant applicants were evaluated on four main criteria: the proposals' technology merits, commercial potential, financial resources as well as the project plan and its capacity to deliver.
"Further evaluation was also emphasised on the 'Brunei-Made' elements of the proposed products," said the Chief Executive. He further added that grant applicants with the AITI Accredited Business Status were given preference during the evaluation process.
A signing ceremony was held yesterday at the Seri Kerna Hall, AITI Office in Kg Anggrek Desa. On hand to witness the contract signing between the AITI and grant recipients was Dato Paduka Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya DiGadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohammad Taha, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications.
Of the three recipients, Mars Enterprise was granted $175,000 for its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solution project, a financial system that can be integrated with fully customised functions including stock inventory, existing operation solutions, fixed assets, human resource and payroll to cater to a variety of needs across different sectors of the industry. Earlier, the company was feted the Special Mentioned Recognition Award in the logistics category during the Asia Pacific ICT Awards in 2008, held in Indonesia, the first company from Brunei to do so.
Meanwhile, Crescent Sdn Bhd was awarded $151,600 for its 'Premier Global End-to-End Online Program for Master of Islamic Banking and Finance', which allows the end-user to sit in a Master of Islamic Banking and Finance (MIBF) programme online. The solution was also recognised by the ThinkBig Business Plan Competition held earlier this year, where the company won third place in the ICT business plan category.
John Harith Technology Sdn Bhd, which has a radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging & tracing product, was the third grant recipient. Awarded $75,000, the company's solution addresses capabilities of identification, tracking, recall and authenticity.
AITI is encouraging more participants to apply for the next round of grants under its scheme. A spokesperson from AITI yesterday stated that the AITI Grant Scheme will be accepting applications from interested businesses in Brunei Darussalam from December 30, 2010 to January 31, 2011.
The AITI Grant Scheme has four categories that look to provide a timely boost at different stages of ICT product or solution development, namely: the Product Development Grant for developing prototypes or concept testing, the Produce Enhancement Grant, for improving and upgrading designs or processes, the Product Ownership Grant, for obtaining certification and recognition, and the Product Packaging and Marketing Grant, for the improvement of existing packaging, design or labelling.
The grant amount varies, with a maximum of $250,000 depending on the grant applied. Applicants can apply for more than one type of grant for the same IT product or solution. The Brunei Times
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