FAQ

General

1. When does the nomination period start?

Nominations for the 2024 President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA) is now closed. Our winners will be announced at the PSTA Awards Ceremony in 2024, so do visit the NRF website at www.nrf.gov.sg or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn for the latest updates.

2. What is the difference between the awards?

The President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) recognises accomplishments that have significantly advanced Singapore’s development through promoting and managing Science & Technology (S&T).

These accomplishments are generally acknowledged by the S&T ecosystem as having a significant impact on the ecosystem’s capabilities or international stature. The PSTM is not meant to recognise research accomplishments or contributions to advancing individual technologies, as these are covered by the PSA and PTA respectively.

The President’s Science Award (PSA) recognises accomplishments generally acknowledged by other S&T practitioners as being significant and impactful to their field. They need not have led to practical applications or products.

The President’s Technology Award (PTA) recognises accomplishments that have led to transformative changes in the use or potential of technology in Singapore or further afield. The relevant technology need not be fully adopted or deployed at the point of nomination, but its potential must be acknowledged, and it must have progressed beyond academic or theoretical potential and be in the process of translation or adoption by end-users.

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3. How do I submit a nomination for an award?

You may submit a nomination for any of the three awards, namely the PSA, the PTA and the PSTM. Simply download and complete the relevant award forms at https://www.psta.gov.sg/nominate/, and upload them via the Nomination Portal.

4. How can I find out more about the Young Scientist Award (YSA) nominations?

Please visit https://snas.org.sg/young-scientist-award, or send your queries to general@snas.org.sg or admin@snas.org.sg.

Eligibility

5. Can I nominate myself for an award, and if so, how can I do so?

You can nominate yourself (or your team) for the PSA and the PTA only. Please note that the PSTM is not open for self-nomination.

6. Who can nominate for PSTA?

Singaporean Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, and Foreigners can nominate for the PSTA. Foreigners who have a Foreign Identification Number (FIN) should register for Singpass, before submitting nominations via the nomination portal. Please refer to https://www.singpass.gov.sg/home/ui/support for instructions.

7. Is the PSTA open only to nominees who are Singaporeans? What about nominees who are Foreigners and Singapore Permanent Residents?

The three award categories - the PSTM, PSA, and PTA - are open to all who have contributed to Singapore’s research, innovation, and enterprise ecosystem regardless of background or nationality.

Nominees should have substantive research, innovation, and enterprise contributions anchored primarily in Singapore, and their achievements should be relevant to the award they are being nominated for.

8. Do the achievements of the individual or team being nominated need to fall within a specific time frame?

Achievements need not fall within a specific time frame as long as their research, innovation, and enterprise contributions are anchored mainly in Singapore.

9. Can the same person be nominated for an individual award, as well as a team award under the PTA or PSA in the same year?

Yes, an individual can be considered for multiple awards if his or her achievements are distinct. If the individual is being nominated for one achievement, the nominator should decide which award category is most appropriate.

10. Is there a limit on the number of nominations submitted by each institution, or for each award?

There is no limit on the number of nominations submitted by each institution, and no limit on the number of nominations for each award. Re-submissions from previous years are also welcome.

Nomination documents

11. Can CVs of nominees be attached, together with the nominations?

CVs are not required for nominations. The relevant information required by the selection committees should be entered into the award forms which can be downloaded from https://www.psta.gov.sg/nominate/ and uploaded via the Nomination Portal. Only the award forms will be shared with the selection committees. The Secretariat will approach the nominator or nominee should the committee require more information or clarifications.

12. Are letters of support from institutions required for nominations?

Letters of support are not required for nominations. Should an institution wish to endorse a nomination, the nomination can be submitted by/through the institution (e.g. its research office). The selection committees treat nominations with or without letters of support from institutions equally.

13. How many members can be included in a team nomination for PTA and PSA?

A team nomination for PTA and PSA can include up to 4 members. Each team member must have distinct and substantial contributions to the accomplishments for which the team is being nominated for.

14. Do the independent reviewers for the PSA and PTA need to be local, or can they be based overseas?

Reviewers can be local or based overseas so long as they meet the independence criteria of having no working (e.g. participation in the same project or grant) or reporting relationship with the nominee within the past 5 years.

15. What if the proposed independent reviewers turn out to be in the selection committees?

PSTA secretariat will seek alternative reviewers in such cases, and there will be no impact to the status of the nomination. The nominator does not need to ensure that their proposed reviewers are not on the selection committees.

Awards assessment

16. Are individual nominations and team nominations assessed differently for the PSA and PTA?

Individual and team nominations for the PSA and PTA are assessed equally. There are no different criteria or processes between the assessment of individual and team nominations.