Internet NZ supports Kiwi innovation on world stage

Internet New Zealand supports Kiwi innovation on world stage

Media Release
(Release also available online at: http://tinyurl.com/3q4omyz)

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is pleased to be the major sponsor for the New Zealand contingent to the World Summit Awards in 2011, an event the organisation has supported from the beginning in 2003. Another sponsor is Actrix with web hosting.

The New Zealand finalists for the World Summit Awards (WSA) have been selected and will compete in the global Awards in April in Hong Kong. Eight projects, from a total of forty-two entries, will be represented at the international Awards. The finalists' projects range in their application from Vaeggen, an Interactive Wall in Copenhagen; MiniMonos, a green game for kids; to LUCAS, the New Zealand Land Use and Carbon Analysis System.

The World Summit Awards honour excellence in new media and e-Content creation. A special emphasis is placed on those projects which show the benefits of information and communication technology for the development of society at large.

The Awards have been running since 2003, New Zealand projects have consistently enjoyed a high profile with prize winners awarded in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. Over and above the judging criteria the judges look for the 'value add' to New Zealand. This enables products and services that are put on the global stage to increase both their visibility and to create international sales.

The judges for the New Zealand entries noted the shift in the quality and scale of the projects in 2011. "It is admirable that New Zealand has such robust and innovative projects to enter into the global awards," said Jess Prendergast, a judge for the national competition.

"With digital transactions now the norm, our businesses and government services are developing sophisticated technology and producing globally successful applications. We are hoping that this year will produce further outstanding New Zealand winners".
Jan Bieringa, the NZ WSA coordinator will be traveling to Hong Kong as a judge on the WSA global panel in early April 2011.

The categories and New Zealand winners:
* e-Culture & Heritage: Vaeggen Interactive Wall in Copenhagen View the website http://vaeggen.copenhagen.dk/en/
* e-Entertainment & Games: MiniMonos View the website http://minimonos.com/wb/content/home
* e-Health & Environment: SPARX View the website http://www.frozenflameweb.com/sparx
* e-Government & Institutions: The New Zealand Land Use and Carbon Analysis System - LUCAS View the website http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/climate/lucas/
* e-Business & Commerce: Areoscan View the website http://areoscan.com/
* e-Inclusion & Participation: The Mixing Room View online video http://www.lumendigital.co.nz/?page_id=725
* e-Learning & Education: Q Book View the website http://www.kiwamedia.com/
* e-Science & Technology: New Zealand - A Window to Radio Universe: View the IRASR website http://www.irasr.ac.nz/ OR the SKA website http://www.ska.govt.nz/

About:
The World Summit Award (WSA) have been a resounding success for New Zealand since 2003. The awards provide the opportunity to shift the focus from technology, networks and access issues to the actual applications and the resultant digital content, while increasing the visibility of the application projects to a global audience. Whilst simultaneously encouraging an inclusive information society which supports the UN Millennium Development Goals through the creative use of ICTs.

The WSA results in a global showcase of 40 outstanding projects, in eight categories, with a special emphasis on those projects which show the benefits of information and communication technology for the development of communities and society at large.

Refer to the World Summit Award site for further detail: http://www.wsis-award.org/

New Zealand has been successful from the first competition in 2003, which resulted in two projects being included in the global top 40. In 2005 New Zealand received two Special Mentions and in 2007 we supported two Winners and three Special Mentions. 2009 produced three Winning New Zealand projects. For further details on past project winners: www.wsis-award.org/winners

These achievements were subsequently shown around the world in the WSA global Road Show.

WORLD SUMMIT AWARDS 2011 TIMETABLE
* WSA GRAND JURY 2011 - April 7-14 2011, Hong Kong
* WSA WINNERS EVENTS, EXHIBITION AND GALA 2011 - June 2011.

ENDS

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