The winners of the F1 Soft ICT Award 2021 have been announced. The winners were honored with awards at an event organized at Solti Hotel on Poush.
Organized by ‘Living with ICT’, the 6th edition of the ICT Award honored best nominees in 12 categories. The winners made it through multiple stages over the past 6 months by the selection committee. Over 400 nominations in 11 categories were submitted for the current edition of the Awards.
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Guna Keshari Pradhan Wins Woman Icon ICT Award
In Pioneer ICT Award 2021, seasoned ICT professional Manohar Kumar Bhattarai grabbed prestigious recognition. In one of the highlights of this current edition of the ICT Award, Guna Keshari Pradhan received Ncell Woman Icon ICT Award 2021. Pradhan is the first female computer engineer in the country.
The Entrepreneur ICT Award went to the founder of Yomari, Dipesh Pradhan. Meanwhile, Prasanna Dhungel, the co-founder of GrowByData grabbed the award In Nepali Diaspora ICT Award.
Education and governance also found space in the award. Department of Land Management and Archive received the honors in Digital Governance ICT Award. The Department pulled through over 30 state bodies to win the ultimate ICT accolade. Similarly, Nepal Clearing House (NCHL) was awarded the Digital Services ICT Award.
Digital ICT Award was also honored to the community school and private school that was Kalika Manabgyan, Butwal, and Rato Bangla School, Patan respectively.
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The Big Threes ICT Awards
Startup Award is one of the highlights of the ICT Award since its inception. The honor draws huge limelight and the winners also go through public voting for approval. In this year’s installment, Kheti Venture laid hands on this precious Huawei Startup ICT Award. Huawei also provided Huawei cloud service worth $ 3000 to the winner and $ 500 each to all finalists. Likewise, In the Product ICT Award, Mikha Product grabbed its honors.
Another headliner, the Rising Start Innovation ICT Award went to Mashoor, a creation of Pulchowk Engineering College students. Mikha Product won in Product ICT Award.
Bug V won the Public Choice Award. To determine the winner in this category, 30 nominees from the above three categories with 10 from each were placed for public voting.
Rajan Lamsal, Director of Living With ICT delivered his welcome speech. In it, he said, “ICT Award is marching forward with the cooperation from all and contributing to the objectives of startups, innovations, and digital economics.
Attendees at F1 Soft ICT Award 2021
MoICT Minister Honorable Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, and former incumbent Parvat Gurun were present at the grand finale. Likewise, Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary Suresh Acharya, Dr. Pushpa Raman Wagle, and Dr. Ram Kumar Fuyal from National Planning Commission also graced the event.
Likewise, Economic Advisor to the Finance Minister Dr. Surendra Upreti, and Vice-Chancellor of NAST Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha were among the attendees.
The program was densely packed with members from various ministries, government institutions, banks and financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and startups. The program was live aired on Himalaya Television and Hamro Patro among many other media.
What do the winners receive?
Besides the award and fame, the winners of the F1 Soft ICT Award 2021 would also be receiving many benefits. 3 winners from Startups and Innovations will receive up to 15 lakh of loans at a cheaper interest rate. Ncell Women Icon winner received Rs.3 lakh in cash prize along with the award. Similarly, Huawei 5 Startups receives Huawei Cloud service worth Rs.3 lakh.
Besides, Genese Solutions is also offering free consultancy and Zoom app service to 2 schools for 1 year. Similarly, Nepal Telecom is also offering the winners attractive data packages. Dish Home is offering fiber broadband service. Digital wallet eSewa and other companies also announced various benefits for the winners.
ICT Awards a Stimuli for The Digital Transformation of Nepal
MoICT minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki attended the grand finale as the chief guest. In his speech, he said, “ICT Award encourages the growth of newer tech and innovations from the youth.” The Ministry will be there to support the Awards to reinforce the ICT development in the country.
MoICT Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal likewise shared the same sentiments. He said the ICT Awards is playing a pivotal role for Digital Nepal and digital transformation and said the government will act accordingly. He also said the award gives a vital push to the youth working in innovations.
NAST Vice-Chancellor Sunil Babu Shrestha said that ICT Award is a perfect example for public and private coordination. The former MoICT minister Parvat Gurung said the Awards provide a significant contribution to ICT growth in the country.
Dr. Pushpa Raman Wagle, a member of the National Planning Commission said the use of technology is vital for transparency and accountability. MoICT Secretary SureshAcharya, Economics advisor to Finance Minister Dr. Upreti stressed the future lies in ICT, and the cooperation between the public and private sector is crucial to strengthen startups, innovations, and digital economics in Nepal.
ICT Award 2021, a Cooperation of Many Institutions
The current ICT Award 2021 had the cooperation of over 35 institutions. F1 Soft was the main sponsor for the current edition of the Awards. Nepal Telecom and Genese Solutions were co-sponsors.
Among the Powered-Partners were Dish Home FiberNet and Huawei. Ncell, served as Category Sponsor. Rastriya Banijya Bank was the banking partner.
MoCIT, Information Technology Center, NAST, Chamber of Commerce among others have cooperated for the Awards. Presidential Business School, Resecurity, Apply Job, eSewa Merchant Lab, etc. also laid their support for the F1 Soft ICT Award 2021.
F1 Soft ICT Award 2021 Winners
| SN | ICT Award 2021 Category | Winners |
| 1 | Huawei Startup | Kheti Venture |
| 2 | Product ICT Award | Mikha |
| 3 | Rising Start ICT Award | Mashoor |
| 4 | Nepal Bank Pioneer ICT Award | Manohar Kumar Bhattarai |
| 5 | Ncell Woman Icon ICT Award | Guna Keshari Pradhan |
| 6 | Entrepreneur ICT Award | Dipesh Pradhan, Yomari |
| 7 | Nepali Diaspora ICT Award | Prasanna Dhungel, GrowByData |
| 8 | Digital Services ICT Award (Private) | Nepal Clearing House Ltd. |
| 9 | Digital Services ICT Award (Public Sector) | Land Management and Archive Department |
| 10 | Digital Education ICT Award (Private Sector) | Rato Bangla School |
| 11 | Digital Education ICT Award (Public Sector) | Kalika Madhyamik Vidyalay |
| 12 | Public Choice ICT Award | Bug V |
ICT Award is the most prestigious recognition for ICT aspirants and professionals in Nepal. The award honors the individuals and products for their stand-out innovations and qualities.
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What do you think about the role of ICT Award is playing for ICT growth, especially for the youth aspirants? Do leave your vital opinions below in the comments.
