The Singapore Prize is awarded every four years to an individual, an organisation or a company that has contributed to enhancing the quality of life of citizens and communities in Singapore. It encourages thought-leadership on how to address urban challenges. This award has a special focus on cost-effective and practical solutions.

There are a total of twelve categories. They include: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Children’s Literature, Translation, Book Awards, Business Writing, Music, Science, Social Issues, Sports, Arts and Culture, Technology and Humanities. A judging panel of distinguished individuals from the local cultural and arts scene will determine the winners. Each winner will receive a gold medallion, $300,000 and a certificate.

Singapore Prize is held in the memory of Singapore’s first prime minister, Lee Kwan Yew. His contribution to the nation’s development into a clean and green garden city has been immortalised in the Singapore Prize.

The Prize is jointly organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Centre for Liveable Cities. It aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by cities, promote exchange of ideas between different cities and recognise innovative and cost-effective solutions.

In its first year, there were twelve top prizes of $10,000 each. The winning authors were selected from a total of 43 entries. These awards were made possible by support from National Library Board and the National Arts Council.

As an added incentive, a reader has the chance to win a cash prize of $50 by voting in the consumer choice category. The judging panel includes eight representatives from the government and the media.

In addition to the S$10,000 cash prizes, the prize includes a trophy and project funding. To qualify for the awards, nominees must have participated in the event in question, be an eligible national sport association or a national sports organization and have a record of sporting excellence. For the sportsman of the year, the award also includes a prize of S$10,000.

Similarly, the best all-round student in an undergraduate course must have demonstrated outstanding performance in the course, including an excellent record in extra-curricular activities. Additionally, the award is governed by the university’s statutes and regulations. The candidate may be apportioned among other candidates, or the Board of Undergraduate Studies may approve a merit-based award.

Another award is the Singapore Chinese Cultural Contribution Award, which is given to individuals and organisations. Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a retired Singaporean businessman, donated funds for this prize to honour his father, Mr. Izzuddin Taherally, who was a devoted member of the community and an interfaith enthusiast.

Other awards in the country are the Enterprise 50 Awards, NORNS Awards and bowls. While the list of awards is constantly changing, it is likely that it will never reach a certain level of completeness. Some of the awards are state decorations, while others are cups and badges.

In 2000, the Society of Infectious Diseases (Singapore) donated a prize. Since then, the prize has become known as the Infectious Diseases Prize.