The ICT Award 2023 grand finale has been concluded at a lavish ceremony at the Soaltee Kathmandu on Friday, 6th Poush, 2080 (December 22, 2023). The event brought to the conclusion over a dozen pre-event and over 5 months of the selection process. Candidates in 14 categories received highly prestigious recognition and benefits.
The grand finale was inaugurated by the opening session’s chief guest Communication Minister Rekha Sharma. The posh night was attended by Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahar, Karnali Province’s Law Minister Krishna Bahadur GC, parliament members Chandra Bhandari, Manish Jha, former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey, etc. Including the high-ranking officials from various ministries, founders, and CEOs from ICT firms from Nepal and abroad. altogether over 800 participants attended the event.
ICT Award 2023 Grand Finale and winners
Razan Lamsal, Living with ICT founder and event chairperson welcomed everyone and stated that the ICT Award is playing a pivotal role in lifting the startup ecosystem and exploring possibilities in ICT.
Nepal’s ICT sector can compete globally- Communication Minister Sharma
At the same time, Communication Minister Sharma praised the role played by the non-governmental organization in digital transformation and digital ecosystem development. She maintained that Nepal has more potential in ICT markets to compete globally than any other sector.
If we open other industries, it is difficult to compete with the world, but in the information technology industry, we can compete. This has also been confirmed,” said Minister Sharma, adding, “For the development of the ICT sector, general reforms alone are not enough, departure is needed. For this, the ministry is working to make legal and structural reforms.
Similarly, the chief guest of the closing ceremony, Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said that information technology is a vital sector to drive Nepal’s economy.
Acknowledging that technology has added both opportunities and challenges in the digital era, he emphasized that information technology should be used to increase productivity, reduce costs, and develop entrepreneurship.
Living with ICT has been organizing the ICT Award since 2016. It is considered the largest and most prestigious award program in the field of information and communication technology in Nepal.
Also read: How to Apply Online for National ID Card (NID)? Benefits, Process | FAQs
Selection process
All the nominees across the categories went through various stages of the selection process for 3 months with 17 jury members. The selection process comprised a Startup meet, Boot camp, Startup and idea fest in Kathmandu, a television program, public voting, and field visits in all seven provinces. Lamsal stressed that the efforts will render the selection process transparent, fair, and comprehensive.
ICT Awards is more than just awards
ICT Award has more than a literal value. It’s not just an award distribution event. As an institution, it has promoted the development of digital transformation and ecosystem. The participants believe that the award program organized every year is encouraging those who want to work in this field. Startups, products, and innovations that compete in this award receive opportunities for investment and market expansion. The ICT Award 2023 grand finale winners will receive trophies and honors along with offers from various companies. The Ncell Woman Icon will also receive a prize of 3 lakh rupees.
ICT Award 2023 is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), Department of Information Technology, Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), National Information Technology Center (NATC), NAST, Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), NAS IT, etc.
ICT Award 2023 partners
This year’s ICT Award had Nepal Pay as a digital payment partner and Hamro Pay as a voting partner. Similarly, Lord Buddha Education Foundation served as an education partner, and Broadway Infosys was a training partner. In the meantime, BugV collaborated as a cyber security partner, Global College is serving as a knowledge partner, Veda as an Edtech partner, Kantipur TV as a broadcasting partner, and Dishhome Fibernet as an Internet Partner.
ICT Award 2023 winners
Here is the list of all winners from the 8th edition of the ICT Award 2023. Check out the list below:
Nepali Diaspora, Woman Icon, and Pioneer ICT Award 2023
This year, Prof. Dr. Suresh Manandhar won the Nepali Diaspora ICT Award 2023 among individuals. Likewise, Anup Sherchan bagged the Entrepreneur ICT Award Award 2023. Similarly, Balkrishna Joshi won the Pioneer ICT Award 2023. Joshi is a pioneering name in Nepal’s ICT field. He started the popular online shopping platform thamel.com and started selling Khasi online too.
Ncell Woman Icon ICT Award 2023 was conferred to Sunaina Ghimire Pandey. Pandey has over 25 years of experience working in the ICT field in Nepal. Additionally, she has also served at the CAN Federation as its Secretary, General Secretary, and the first woman vice-president. Ncell awarded the winner with Rs 3 lakh in cash prize.
Similarly, on the institutional side, the Digital Governance ICT Award 2023 was received by the Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE). The Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology received the Digital Services ICT Award 2023. The Digital Education ICT Award 2023 from the Public Sector went to Satyawati Secondary School in Tanahun, while the Digital Education ICT Award 2023 in the Private Sector was claimed by the Adhyayan School of Kathmandu.
You may also like to read: Top ride sharing apps in Nepal
Startup and innovation ICT award 2023
This year, Yarsa Tech won the Startup ICT Award 2023 and the Product ICT Award 2023 went to Quick RPA. Likewise, Blanxer grabbed the Rising Star Innovation ICT Award 2023. Likewise, this year’s Pay Public Choice ICT Award 2023 has been won by Money Mitra. The Startup ICT Award 2023 winner will get an invitation to an international award program courtesy of InDrive. Bhutan’s startup group Mediatech won the South Asia Startup ICT Award 2023, an international category entry in the ICT Award.
ICT Award Province Startup ICT Recognition 2023
Living with ICT also honored the seven best startups from all the seven provinces with the IFN Province Startup ICT Recognition 2023. For this, a startup meetup and interaction program was conducted in all seven provinces a few months ago. They were brought to Kathmandu and given mentoring, boot camp, and field visits.
This year, Track On Nepal from Koshi Province, AIDS B Media from Madhesh Province, Heartsun Technology from Bagmati Province, RestroX Nepal from Gandaki Province, Tuna Technology from Lumbini Province, Bio Karnali Aroma Pvt. Ltd. from Karnali Province, Neem Infosys from Far West earned the Province Startup ICT Recognition Award 2023.
Don’t miss: How to Apply for IPO online in Nepal, with Mero Share?
Lochan Lal Amatya bags Professional Excellence ICT Award 2023
Former Nepal Telecom CTO Lochan Lal Amatya won the Professional Excellence ICT Award 2023. This Professional Excellence category was added for the first time in this award. It’s conferred to someone with at least 5 years of professional experience in the ICT field in Nepal.
Amatya earned his master’s degree from Russia and returned to service in his home country. Back in Nepal, he joined Nepal Telecom and worked as a computer engineer while ascending to the post of CTO. He played an instrumental role in modernizing NTC’s billing system and maintenance control. In total, Amatya served for 32 years at the company in various roles.
He is also engaged in various organizations and continues to be active in uplifting ICT experience in the country.
ICT Award 2023 winners prizes, benefits, and opportunities
School management software Veda will provide its software completely free to the winner of Digital Education ICT Award 2023 (Public Sector) and other private and public schools who are successful in the top 3 of Digital Education ICT Award 2023 will provide Veda software at a 70 percent discount.
Similarly, BugV will provide free cyber security services for one year to all winners, while Lord Buddha Education Foundation has provided a 100 percent scholarship for Masters in IT to Rising Star Innovation ICT Award winners. Likewise, in the grand finale of the award, the winner of the WS Award 2022 Nagarik App under the Government and Citizen Engagement category was also awarded a trophy and certificate.
Living with ICT, Nepal’s partner organization of WSA, handed over a trophy and a certificate to Nagarik App. Living with ICT is the partner for international awards such as the Aurora Tech Award, Underdog Award, and WSA Award.
ICT Awards 2023 received over 700 online nominations in 13 different categories. The jury of 14 local and 3 international experts conducted more than 25 meetings for 3 months and completed the selection process.
ICT Award winners 2023 list
Here is the list of all the ICT Award winners 2023
- Startup ICT Award: Yarsa Tech Pvt. Ltd.
- Product ICT Award: QuickRPA
- Rising Star ICT Award: Blankxer
- Hamro Pay Public Choice ICT Award: Money Mitra
- Digital Education ICT Award (Private Sector): Adhyayan School, Kathmandu
- Digital Education ICT Award (Public Sector): Satyawati Secondary School, Tanahu
- Ncell Woman ICON Award: Sunaina Ghimire Pandey
- Pioneer ICT Award: Balkrishna Joshi
- Entrepreneur ICT Award: Anup Sherchan
- Nepali Diaspora Award: Professor Dr. Suresh Manandhar
- Digital Services ICT Award: Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology
- Digital Governance ICT Award: Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE)
- South Asia Startup ICT Award: Mediatech from Bhutan
- Province ICT Award 2023 Recognition winners: (From Koshi to Far West in order): Track On Nepal, AIDS B Media, Heartsun Technology, RestroX Nepal, Tuna Technology, Bio Karnali Aroma, and NEEM Infosys
The Grande Finale of the ICT Award 2023 was live on Kantipur Television HD and Hamro Patro. The event was also available on the official Facebook page, and YouTube channel of the ICT Award.
