Broadway Infosys Wins WITSA Digital Talent Award in Taipei
19th August 2025, Kathmandu
The World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) proudly announced the winners of the 2025 WITSA Global Awards during a celebrated ceremony on the evening of the first day of the WITSA Global AI Summit, held at the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel.
Broadway Infosys wins WITSA award
This prestigious event recognized outstanding contributions in technology innovation across 13 categories, honoring individuals, organizations, and initiatives that are shaping the future of the digital world. The summit, taking place on August 18-21, 2025, underscores Taiwan’s leadership in AI and technology.
WITSA bestowed its highest accolade, the Eminent Person Award, to Dr. Stan Shih, Co-founder and Honorary Chairman of the Acer Group in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the global tech industry and enduring impact on society.
“The Judging committee for the 2025 Global Awards had the honor of reviewing nearly 130 unique and remarkable award submissions,” said WITSA Chairman Dato’ Dr. Sean Seah. “I would also like to congratulate all of the winners for the superb job that they are doing in bringing the benefits of digital technology to citizens, governments, industries and communities engaged in virtually every human endeavor; thus, contributing to WITSA’s vision of “Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital, Innovation & Tech industry for the sustainability and well-being of all stakeholders in the global community,” continued Dr. Seah.
The Awards recognized groundbreaking technological solutions that are making a significant impact across various sectors. A decentralized digital infrastructure was honored for transforming billions of idle devices into intelligent AI compute nodes, democratizing access to advanced technology and fostering a global AI economy. This solution distributes value and provides inclusive AI access to a wide range of users, from students to large enterprises, proving that AI should not be exclusive to tech giants.
In the realm of enterprise solutions, a virtual training platform was celebrated for its use of generative AI to create immersive and measurable experiences. By combining a multi-agent architecture with hyper-realistic avatars, it is transforming corporate training, particularly for sales enablement. Another set of innovative solutions recognized includes a system that uses generative AI to optimize supply chains by predicting demand in real-time and a platform that leverages a public-private partnership to combat illicit online pharmaceutical sales. The supply chain system helps businesses adapt to market changes, reduce overstocking, and lower the risk of disruptions. The pharmaceutical crime detection tool dramatically reduces analysis time, showcasing the power of cross-sector collaboration to tackle societal problems and drive regulatory innovation.
Technology is also being applied to enhance public safety and emergency response. An eHealth platform was honored for its use of 5G, AI, and IoT to improve emergency response in rural areas, creating a seamless system that connects emergency teams with hospital staff in real time. A data-driven platform for urban safety was also recognized for its ability to enhance disaster response and coordination in a region prone to natural calamities. These innovations highlight the power of technology to improve efficiency, enhance public health, and strengthen urban resilience on a global scale.
Further solutions recognized for their social and economic impact include a national Geographic Information System that democratizes access to land use data, a regulatory sandbox that helps governments create new frameworks for emerging technologies, and a digital banking platform designed for small businesses to improve access to financing. An educational initiative was also recognized for its use of gamified digital technology and AI-driven adaptive learning to transform youth awareness on global challenges. These projects demonstrate a commitment to digital inclusion and the use of technology for societal improvement.
“The 2025 WITSA Global Awards celebrate the remarkable ingenuity and dedication of our global tech community. These winners are driving transformative change, and we are proud to honor their efforts at this landmark summit in Taipei,” continued Dr. Seah.
WITSA CEO Dato’ Dan E. Khoo added, “This year’s recipients exemplify the power of technology that addresses global challenges. Their innovations inspire us to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and we look forward to their continued impact.”
The following are the winners of the 2025 WITSA Global Awards:
- 2025 Chairman’s Award:
Hyra Network: Decentralized AI Infrastructure for the Sovereign Digital Era
- 2025 AI Excellence Award:
- MiTAC Information Technology Corp.: MiSBot.ai Generative AI Intelligent Role-Play Platform
- Institute for Information Industry: “Generative AI Supply Chain Interaction Optimization System”
- 2025 AI for Good Award:
Syngular Technology Limited: Syngular AR platform for surgical guidance
- 2025 Cybersecurity Award:
Hack The Box: Redefining the global cybersecurity workforce development
- 2025 Digital Opportunity/Inclusion Award:
- Department of Economic Development, Taoyuan: “AI Empowerment × Digital Equity and Inclusion: Revolutionizing MSME Transformation”
- Technical Chamber of Greece: The Single Digital Map (SDM)
- 2025 Digital Talent Development Award:
PEOPLElogy Group
- 2025 Digital Transformation of the Year Award:
KNOWLEDGE SA, Greek One-Stop Shop for Business Registration (eOSS)
- 2025 Emerging Digital Solutions Award:
Game for Impact, Virtual Technology Center, Dubai Police
- 2025 Innovative E-Health Award:
Yunlin County Fire Bureau; Yunlin County Public Health Bureau; National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch: “Guardian Alliance: Empowering Rural Healthcare Through Resilient eHealth Emergency Systems”
- 2025 Public/Private Partnership Award:
- AI-Enabled Regulation: MHRA and Trilateral Transform Pharmaceutical Crime Detection
- Futurise Sdn Bhd.
- 2025 Smart Cities Award:
Fire Department, New Taipei City Government, Taiwan: “Data-Driven Urban Safety: New Taipei City’s EMIS Sets a Benchmark for Smart, Integrated Disaster Response Systems”
- 2025 Startup Ecosystem Award:
KURU: Be more efficient and provide a better experience for your employees when using company funds
- 2025 Tech Investment Excellence Award:
Bahrain Development Bank: Tijara App
- 2025 Women in Tech Award
Tonga Women in ICT Inc. (TWICT)
The 2025 WITSA Awards received a large number of highly qualified nominees, amassed through WITSA’s network of digital tech industry associations across the globe. WITSA therefore decided to also recognize several Merit and Best of Country recipients. While not being selected as winners of one of the award categories, these nominees nevertheless displayed first-rate use and innovation in tech.
All winners of the 2025 WITSA Awards are profiled in detail below:
WITSA EMINENT PERSON AWARD
Dr. Stan Shih
Co-founder and Honorary Chairman of Acer Group
In 2010, WITSA established its highest decoration called the WITSA Eminent Person Award to honor and recognize those individuals who have made a significant and profound positive difference in the lives of others.
These deserving individuals who have come from within the tech industry include the co-Fathers of the Internet Dr. Vinton Cerf and Dr. Bob Kahn, the Fathers of Wi-Fi Dr. John O’Sullivan and Dr. Terence Percival as well as Dr. Miguel Angelo Laporta Nicolelis, best known for his pioneering work surrounding brain-machine interface technology. Other recent inductees include Dato’ Hock E. Tan, President and CEO of Broadcom, Dr. Lisa Su, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Advanced Micro Devices and Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association. And from the public sector leadership, which had given WITSA illustrious recipients like WITSA’s first Eminent Person Dr. Nelson Mandela and subsequent ones like Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia.
In 2025, WITSA had the distinct pleasure of adding an additional special inductee to WITSA’s honor roll of Eminent Persons.
Dr. Stan Shih, widely regarded as the father of Taiwan’s electronics industry, co-founded Acer with his wife, Carolyn Yeh, in 1976. Under his leadership, Acer grew from a small electronics distributor into one of the world’s largest personal computer manufacturers. Shih’s innovative practices, such as building a distributed production line, were instrumental in making computers more affordable and were eventually adopted as industry standards. After his initial retirement in 2004, he focused on social entrepreneurship and philanthropy, establishing the Stan Shih Foundation and serving as chairman for various organizations, including the Cloud Gate Culture and Arts Foundation. He also returned to Acer briefly in 2013 to lead the company through a period of transformation. He has been recognized with numerous accolades for his contributions to both the technology industry and public service.
THE CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
Hyra Network: Decentralized AI Infrastructure for the Sovereign Digital Era
This award was given to Hyra Network, a groundbreaking digital infrastructure that transforms over 10 billion idle edge devices – like smartphones, routers, and smart cameras – into intelligent AI compute nodes. Through its TrainAI2Earn model, Hyra enables users from 200+ countries to train AI models, share compute power, and earn token rewards – all without needing technical expertise. With over 2 million connected devices, 24M+ AI compute sessions, and $1.2M+ in distributed rewards during just its 6-month trial, Hyra has proven that AI should not be exclusive to tech giants. It decentralizes compute, distributes value, and delivers inclusive AI access to students, farmers, developers, and enterprises globally. This innovation is not just infrastructure – it’s a movement toward AI equity, offering real-world economic impact at the edge of the internet.
Hyra Network enables global users to monetize unused devices and contribute to a borderless AI economy. It addresses critical global challenges: digital inclusion, access to AI
compute, and equitable data monetization. Its multilingual, device-agnostic, and blockchain-native design makes it scalable for both developing and developed regions. Hyra is already in talks with public institutions to integrate decentralized AI in schools,
clinics, and community hubs – making it a truly global enabler of AI for all.
AI EXCELLENCE AWARD
MiTAC Information Technology Corp.: MiSBot.ai Generative AI Intelligent Role-Play Platform
MiSBot.ai is a generative AI-powered virtual training platform designed for enterprise sales enablement. Combining multi-agent architecture with real-time role-play, customizable scenarios, and hyper-realistic avatars, it transforms corporate training into an immersive, measurable, and scalable learning journey. MiSBot.ai represents a significant advancement in enterprise AI, transforming traditional sales training into an intelligent, immersive, and measurable experience. It is the first platform to combine generative AI, parallel AI agent architecture, and hyper-realistic virtual characters specifically for B2B applications. Developed by MiTAC Information Technology Corp, it demonstrates Taiwan’s strength in AI product innovation and scalable enterprise deployment. Its ability to operate securely on-premises also makes it highly relevant for sectors like finance and insurance.
MiSBot.ai has global relevance for industries reliant on standardized sales training, including finance, insurance, and retail. With multilingual capabilities and real-time role-play adaptability, it is suitable for multinational deployment. Its architecture allows seamless customization for various cultures, compliance systems, and market needs. Backed by MiTAC’s global system integration capabilities and partnerships, MiSBot.ai is ready to scale internationally and contribute to the digital upskilling of global enterprise workforces.
AI EXCELLENCE AWARD
Institute for Information Industry: “Generative AI Supply Chain Interaction Optimization System”
Amidst global instability from pandemics and trade conflicts, supply chains have become fragile. Businesses, fearing shortages, often overstock materials. This leads to a new problem: excess inventory and the pressure to sell it off when conditions normalize. At the same time, consumer demand for personalized products is on the rise, making it harder to predict what to stock. Managing a vast number of raw materials also requires an advanced inventory forecasting system that can adapt on its own, reducing the time and effort needed for development and upkeep.
III created the Generative AI Supply Chain Optimization System to address these challenges. Its system uses a suite of tools, including order and inventory forecasting, raw material classification, and an adaptive transfer learning engine. A major innovation is the Generative AI Question-Answering Assistant. This feature makes our system easy to use, even for people without a background in AI. Unlike traditional AI models that are often single-purpose, customized, and difficult to migrate, III’s system is designed to be accessible and adaptable. By lowering the barrier to entry, this system can help more businesses improve their supply chain operations.
Ultimately, III’s system helps businesses:
- Predict demand in real-time.
- Optimize inventory to reduce overstocking.
- Lower the risk of supply chain disruptions.
- Quickly adapt to market changes.
- Boost overall competitiveness and resilience.
AI FOR GOOD AWARD
Syngular Technology Limited: Syngular AR platform for surgical guidance
Nowadays surgeons are using different kinds of 3D virtual models and 3D printed models for surgical planning and visual guidance during surgery. The pain point is they need to wait for days and spend tens of thousands for the 3D production for each case. With the AI powered 3D modeling pipeline for augmented reality interaction, surgeons can now enjoy high quality visual special guidance with patient digital twins overlaid with the actual patient during surgery to provide visual spatial guidance to make surgery more accurate, safer and faster.
By harnessing AI-enabled 3D models, surgeries can achieve enhanced precision in surgery operation and hence increase safety for patients. It is impressed at the efficiency of producing these AR models within just 30 minutes, which are also adeptly registered onto a patient’s body with remarkable accuracy, remaining aligned through the assistance of spatial trackers. Moreover, holographic content can seamlessly stream to remote audiences, facilitating collaborative efforts and training initiatives. Utilizing AI to automate the transition from medical images to AR models promises a swift and efficient modelling process. The enhanced AI+AR technology of the product will help reduce errors in surgery, benefiting patients and demonstrating innovation in the medical domain.
CYBERSECURITY AWARD
Hack The Box: Redefining the global cybersecurity workforce development
In 2017, the cybersecurity skills gap was estimated to be around 3 million unfilled positions. At the same time, cyber incidents worldwide surged dramatically, reaching approximately 159,700, nearly doubling from 82,000 in 2016. As companies struggled to meet the growing demand for expertise, securing the right tools to enhance their security capabilities became more important than ever. Hack The Box emerged as a revolutionary upskilling,
certification, and talent assessment platform, redefining cybersecurity performance and setting new standards for global cyber workforce development.
Unlike traditional training methods, which often rely on reading materials, Hack The Box (HTB) introduced a practical, gamified approach to upskilling by simulating real-world cyber threats. This hands-on experience enables cybersecurity and IT teams to develop problem-solving skills and deepen their understanding of cybersecurity in both offensive and defensive scenarios—all while enjoying the learning process. What also sets Hack The Box apart is its holistic 360o approach and ability to cater to a variety of teams with a wide range of continuously updated educational content in both the offensive and defensive realms. Another key feature is its community-driven nature. Recognizing that learning is most effective when it’s social and collaborative, Hack The Box has become a thriving global social network for ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals, fostering an environment where knowledge is shared freely.
Today, Hack The Box brings together the world’s largest global cybersecurity community, with more than 3.4 million members. It has built a portfolio of over 1,500 enterprise, government, and university customers across the globe, including organizations such as Siemens, Google, PwC Italy, Puma, Lufthansa, Inter-American Defense Board, Toyota Motor North America, the Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology, among others. These organizations use Hack The Box’s hands-on, self-paced, and gamified learning environment to elevate their cybersecurity skills. With over 19 million training hours completed, the platform continues to prove its potential to meet the growing demands of the cybersecurity industry.
DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY/INCLUSION AWARD
Department of Economic Development, Taoyuan: “AI Empowerment × Digital Equity and Inclusion: Revolutionizing MSME Transformation”
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Taiwan’s economy, making up 98% of all businesses. These MSMEs are crucial for the country’s economic and social stability. As a distinctive feature of Taiwan’s industrial landscape, they provide millions of jobs and contribute trillions of dollars in sales. In Taoyuan City, in particular, these businesses significantly boost the nation’s total output. Despite their importance, many of these businesses struggle to keep up with global competition. They often lack the digital talent, technology, and funding needed to successfully adopt new tools like AI and other digital technologies. This challenge makes it difficult for them to grow and remain competitive in the global market.
To help these businesses, the Taoyuan City Government created the Taoyuan Intelligent Industry Academic Institution (TIIAI). TIIAI offers two free services: talent training and industry consulting. Through specialized training programs, diagnostic consulting, and a robust support network, TIIAI aims to make digital and AI technologies accessible to all SMEs. This strategy not only helps individual businesses upgrade their operations, but also promotes digital inclusion throughout the industry. The TIIAI’s model has already shown strong local impact by providing services to many businesses in key sectors, while its scalable approach offers a valuable example for other cities and countries facing similar challenges.
In the future, TIIAI will continue to deepen policy alignment and resource integration, optimizing the dual service structure of “”industry mentoring × talent development.”” It will expand the co-learning and sharing mechanisms, continuously supporting local MSMEs in Taoyuan to smoothly achieve key milestones in digital upgrades, accelerating the shift from traditional manufacturing to a new era of smart industries.
Technical Chamber of Greece: The Single Digital Map (SDM)
The Single Digital Map (SDM), created by the Technical Chamber of Greece, is a revolutionary national Geographic Information System (GIS). This free, public platform integrates more than 100 regulatory datasets to provide critical information on land use and urban planning. By offering this data in a user-friendly format, the SDM empowers a diverse group of users, including citizens, engineers, and public officers, promoting public data transparency and inclusive participation in development processes. It also creates the necessary infrastructure for training AI systems to assist in urban planning decisions, serving as a powerful example of how technology can create equitable digital opportunities at scale.
A key achievement of the SDM is its ability to democratize access to critical land information that was previously inaccessible, often buried in fragmented paper archives. The platform provides individuals and stakeholders who were traditionally excluded from planning and development processes with the tools and knowledge to independently navigate land-use regulations. By removing these invisible barriers and fostering digital literacy, the SDM promotes fairness and aligns with the principles of digital equity, inclusion, and social justice. This makes it possible for anyone, from a rural entrepreneur to a small farmer, to access the information they need without a legal or technical background.
The SDM addresses a global issue of inaccessible government spatial and regulatory data. Its success in Greece offers a replicable model for a digitally inclusive approach to urban planning governance, especially in countries where opaque information systems lead to poor planning or environmental issues. With an open-data philosophy and a citizen-first design, the SDM shows how smart digital infrastructure can reduce inequality in access to information. By prioritizing digital inclusion from the outset, the project provides a blueprint for other nations seeking more equitable digital transformations, promoting transparency, empowerment, and informed decision-making at a grassroots level.
DIGITAL TALENT DEVELOPMENT AWARD
PEOPLElogy Group
PEOPLElogy Group is an award-winning pioneer and the first public-listed company in Southeast Asia dedicated to people development solutions, proudly founded in Malaysia. Specializing in digital upskilling and talent transformation, the Group has grown from a team of five to over 100 professionals, achieving RM29.24 million in revenue in FY2024. To date, PEOPLElogy has empowered more than 250,000 talents and introduced its proprietary “6D Framework”, designed to deliver scalable and impactful learning programs.
In the face of a global digital talent shortage, PEOPLElogy collaborate with strategic partners, businesses, and communities, bridging critical skills gaps with holistic, inclusive, and future-ready solutions — driven by a bold mission to impact 10 million lives worldwide.
The Group’s global impact strategy is built on three core pillars:
Nation Building – partnering with governments and NGOs to deliver sponsored programs that uplift underserved communities.
Talent Academy – equipping fresh graduates and career changers with in-demand digital skills through intensive bootcamps.
Talent Community – fostering continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth through a vibrant network.
Through its signature “BUILD A FUTURE TEAM” initiative, PEOPLElogy works alongside government bodies, skill providers, and industry leaders to accelerate large-scale talent development and build future-ready workforces
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
KNOWLEDGE SA, Greek One-Stop Shop for Business Registration (eOSS)
The Greek One-Stop Shop for Business Registration (eOSS), developed by Knowledge SA, represents a paradigm-shifting digital transformation that has revolutionized business formation in Greece. This comprehensive system has transformed a once complex, document-heavy, and time-consuming process into a streamlined, efficient digital experience that takes just eight minutes to complete. The eOSS (eyms.businessportal.gr) exemplifies excellence in digital transformation by successfully integrating multiple government systems, eliminating bureaucratic barriers, and delivering exceptional value to entrepreneurs and the broader economy. This long-term strategic initiative, which began in 2011 and continues to evolve today, demonstrates remarkable success on both national and global stages. Greece has advanced from ranking 149th globally in the “Starting a Business” category to achieving 1st place worldwide in the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) “Business Entry” assessment in 2024. This dramatic improvement validates the transformative impact of the eOSS system and establishes it as a global best practice for business registries.
The system’s recognition as a global best practice by the World Bank since 2021 and its top ranking in the 2024 B-READY “Business Entry” assessment demonstrate its capacity to inspire international replication. By integrating disparate government systems, leveraging advanced automation, and eliminating physical documentation, eOSS offers a scalable framework that can be adapted to diverse regulatory environments. Its emphasis on cross-agency collaboration and public-private partnerships provides a blueprint for governments seeking to enhance economic competitiveness and foster entrepreneurship.
EMERGING DIGITAL SOLUTION AWARD
Game for Impact, Virtual Technology Center, Dubai Police
Game4Impact, by Dubai Police, exemplifies an Emerging Digital Solution by transforming youth awareness through innovative gamified digital technology. Using AI-driven adaptive learning and interactive gaming, the initiative effectively addresses global challenges like cybercrime, substance abuse, and environmental sustainability. Its scalable model has reached over 53.5 million downloads in 74 countries, significantly enhancing student wellbeing, reducing juvenile offenses, and promoting sustainable behaviors. The project’s
technological innovation, measurable global impact, and high adaptability underline its potential for worldwide replication, demonstrating excellence in using emerging digital solutions for societal improvement.
Recognized as one of the leading global best practices in digital education and youth empowerment, Game4Impact uniquely integrates gamification with AI-driven personalization to create immersive, engaging learning experiences. Its unprecedented global success is demonstrated by over 53.5 million downloads across 74 countries and
over 834 million social media views, significantly increasing student awareness in key areas and achieving an impressive 82% reduction in juvenile crime rates. Furthermore, the initiative has successfully promoted sustainable behaviors, with 85% of participants adopting eco-friendly practices. These exceptional results underline the initiative’s global scalability and position it as a benchmark for digital educational interventions worldwide.
INNOVATIVE EHEALTH AWARD
Yunlin County Fire Bureau; Yunlin County Public Health Bureau; National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch: “Guardian Alliance: Empowering Rural Healthcare Through Resilient eHealth Emergency Systems”
The Guardian Alliance, a project from the Yunlin County Fire Bureau, was created to tackle major public health challenges in rural areas, such as limited emergency resources, slow response times, and low survival rates among the elderly. This initiative uses advanced technology, including 5G, AI, and IoT, to create a seamless eHealth system that connects emergency response teams in the field with hospital staff. Smart ambulances equipped with 5G technology can transmit a patient’s vital signs and other data to the hospital in real time. This allows doctors to prepare for the patient’s arrival and begin protocols early, which significantly cuts down on rescue time.
The program is built on four key principles: Crowdsourcing, which trains and mobilizes community volunteers to provide early intervention; Co-Care, where doctors give remote guidance using telemedicine tools; Cooperative, which involves hospital teams being dispatched to disaster scenes with smart glasses for real-time guidance; and Communication & Dispatch, a system that uses radio frequencies and mobile apps to coordinate teams. This coordinated effort has dramatically improved patient outcomes, with one example being a 129% increase in the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. The Alliance’s model has also caught the attention of international delegations, showing its potential to be adapted and implemented in communities worldwide.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AWARD
AI-Enabled Regulation: MHRA and Trilateral Transform Pharmaceutical Crime Detection
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Trilateral Research have teamed up to create an innovative, AI-powered platform designed to detect and disrupt illegal online pharmaceutical sales. This collaboration highlights the power of cross-sector partnerships in tackling significant societal problems. The new tool dramatically cuts down the time required for analysis from 30 hours to just 3 hours, significantly boosting the MHRA’s regulatory capabilities. A key aspect of the platform’s design is the seamless integration of ethics, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that the technology is both effective and responsible. The solution was co-developed by the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit and Trilateral’s ethical AI experts, and it operates through a secure, API-based platform.
Illegal online pharmaceutical sales are a global problem, and this joint solution offers a scalable and adaptable blueprint for other regulatory bodies worldwide. This partnership demonstrates how public regulators and ethical AI providers can work together to improve consumer protection, enhance public health, and drive regulatory innovation. By sharing their insights and influencing global discussions on AI assurance, the collaboration is contributing to a broader movement toward digital safety.
The platform is built with a modular architecture and secure API, making it easy for other regulators to customize and adopt. Its machine learning models can be adapted for different languages, pharmaceutical risks, and policy frameworks. This makes it a reusable framework that can be used by public and private organizations globally to combat illicit trade, even beyond pharmaceuticals. The system is already operational within the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit and has been recognized by national and international authorities for its ethical, scalable, and effective approach to regulatory AI.
Futurise Sdn Bhd.
Futurise, a company under the Ministry of Finance, Malaysia, is tasked with managing the country’s National Regulatory Sandbox (NRS). This initiative is designed to foster collaboration between industries and the government to create new regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies. By providing a safe, structured environment, Futurise allows for the real-world testing of innovations in areas like drones, autonomous vehicles, and telemedicine. This work has led to tangible policy reforms and real-world deployments, positioning the company as a key player at the intersection of digital transformation and public policy.
Futurise’s approach is scalable and has the potential for significant global impact. Its methodology, which has already been applied across various sectors, offers a replicable model for governments worldwide looking to balance innovation with sound governance. By promoting public-private partnerships and knowledge sharing—such as through a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Reglab—Futurise helps other nations, particularly developing ones, accelerate innovation without compromising public trust or regulatory integrity. The company’s sector-agnostic framework can be easily adapted to diverse policy environments and industries.
Futurise’s NRS introduces an innovative governance model that allows for real-time policy prototyping and data-driven decision-making. Through multi-stakeholder collaboration involving government, industry, and academia, the company has successfully implemented over 10 projects. The outcomes of these projects have been converted into soft laws like guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures, which have led to tangible policy reforms and faster time-to-market for innovations. This field-tested approach demonstrates that Futurise’s model is a scalable solution ready for global replication.
SMART CITIES AWARD
Fire Department, New Taipei City Government, Taiwan: “Data-Driven Urban Safety: New Taipei City’s EMIS Sets a Benchmark for Smart, Integrated Disaster Response Systems”
New Taipei City’s Emergency Management Information System (EMIS) is a data- and AI-driven platform that enhances disaster response in a region prone to typhoons and earthquakes. Developed by the city’s fire department, EMIS replaces traditional paper-based methods with real-time disaster monitoring, automated alerts, and rapid cross-agency mobilization. It coordinates 86 response units, dispatching resources within minutes and providing commanders with risk insights for quicker decisions. The system has successfully managed over 1,800 major response missions, including those for typhoons, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing manual communication and paperwork by over one-third.
The system’s modular architecture allows it to adapt to various disaster scenarios, from natural calamities to public health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, a module for contact tracing and hotspot surveillance was quickly integrated. EMIS also features mobile apps with offline functionality, ensuring that field personnel can continue operations even without internet connectivity. Data from the system can be shared with other government agencies and the public through an open API framework, promoting transparency and citizen-centric governance.
Recognized with international awards from organizations like Gartner and ASOCIO, EMIS is considered a global model for data-driven smart city governance. Its scalable and standardized design makes it highly adaptable for replication in other cities and countries, particularly those in seismically active or storm-prone regions. By improving response efficiency, reducing losses, and fostering public-private collaboration, EMIS demonstrates how technology can strengthen urban resilience and emergency preparedness worldwide.
STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS AWARD
KURU: Be more efficient and provide a better experience for your employees when using company funds
KURU is an innovative financial platform that combines a Mastercard prepaid corporate card with a powerful set of approval rules to give public and private entities complete control over spending. These customizable rules allow administrators to restrict card usage based on a wide range of factors, including currency, days of the week, time of day, spending frequency, merchant category, and specific vendors. By pre-authorizing spending, KURU provides transparency, significantly reduces control and audit times, and helps companies save an average of 14% on expenses. This proactive approach to expense management ensures funds are used only for their intended purpose by authorized individuals.
A key element of KURU’s innovation is its reliance on WhatsApp for the end-user experience. Instead of developing a traditional mobile app, KURU discovered that all employee use cases could be handled directly through WhatsApp. This decision not only drastically lowers development and bug resolution costs but also makes the platform incredibly simple and accessible for employees, who don’t need to download a separate app. This is particularly beneficial for large companies or those with employees who have limited technological proficiency, as the entire interface for cardholders is already a familiar tool.
The prepaid nature of the KURU card also addresses a significant market gap, especially for SMEs in Latin America. While traditional credit cards are often inaccessible or have insufficient credit lines for many businesses, KURU’s prepaid model provides a flexible digital payment solution for essential services like cloud hosting or fuel. This approach allows companies to adjust their “credit” line monthly based on their growth, offering an agility that traditional credit cards can’t match. As a result, KURU is empowering a vast number of businesses that were previously underserved by existing financial solutions.
TECH INVESTMENT EXCELLENCE AWARD
Bahrain Development Bank: Tijara App
Tijara, a digital banking platform from BDB, is designed to serve micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Bahrain. The platform allows businesses to open accounts online in minutes and apply for short-term financing up to BD 15,000. It also offers invoice discounting and a competitive 3.5% profit rate on its call account. By providing these services through a mobile app and web interface, Tijara eliminates the need for physical branch visits, drastically reducing processing times and improving access to finance for growing businesses. This approach supports financial inclusion and aligns with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
The platform’s model has strong potential to impact global markets by addressing common challenges faced by small businesses worldwide, such as limited access to financing and inefficient banking processes. Tijara’s fast, completely online account opening and digital transaction management services can inspire similar solutions in other emerging economies. By using technology to overcome physical barriers and streamline banking, Tijara offers a scalable example that can promote economic growth and entrepreneurship beyond Bahrain, supporting global financial inclusion goals.
Tijara’s fully digital design makes it highly scalable. Since it doesn’t rely on physical branches, the platform can easily expand without operational constraints. Its focus on the growing global market of MSMEs makes the model adaptable to other regions facing similar financial inclusion issues. The use of digital technology allows for easy replication and integration of additional services, ensuring Tijara can serve a broader audience and maintain a positive impact across diverse markets.
WOMEN IN TECH AWARD
Tonga Women in ICT Inc. (TWICT)
Tonga Women in ICT (TWICT) is a women-led NGO that is a powerful force for digital inclusion and gender equality in the Pacific. Founded and run by Tongan women, TWICT works to close the digital divide and empower women, girls, and marginalized communities through digital skills, cybersecurity awareness, and leadership development. The organization’s grassroots, community-first approach is key to its success, allowing it to provide culturally relevant digital literacy training and cyber safety workshops to hundreds of women and young people, even in remote villages. This unique model of women-led digital empowerment from a small island developing state has become a source of inspiration and a replicable framework for other nations.
TWICT has a proven track record of tangible impact, demonstrated by its vital role in Tonga’s digital recovery after the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami. When connectivity was severed across the nation, TWICT supported the deployment of resilient digital solutions like Starlink, highlighting its ability to use technology for societal resilience. Beyond crisis response, the organization’s work is built on measurable outcomes. Its Cyber Safety Workshops have reached over 1,000 community members, and its annual Youth ICT Symposiums have empowered hundreds of students with skills in emerging technology. This ability to translate practical, on-the-ground experience into top-level policy has allowed TWICT to influence national digital development agendas and cyber safety strategies, bridging the gap between grassroots needs and national governance.
The organization’s influence extends far beyond Tonga’s borders. By amplifying the voices of Tongan and Pacific Island women in regional and international forums, TWICT is a model for how a women-led organization from a low-resource region can drive global conversations on technology and gender equality. Its culturally grounded approach to digital learning, which incorporates traditional values and storytelling, provides a scalable model that could be adapted across other small island developing states in the Pacific, Caribbean, and Africa. With additional support, TWICT has the potential to expand its proven framework and offer a powerful example of how meaningful technological change can originate not from global tech hubs, but from a local, community-led initiative.
Merit winner – Digital Talent Development (Broadway Infosys wins WITSA award)
Broadway Infosys – Building Global IT Professionals Since 2008
Broadway Infosys Pvt. Ltd. is a private-sector leader in digital talent development, operating with a sustainable, market-responsive business model. Unlike public institutions, it leverages partnerships with over 420 employers and global certifications to deliver industry-aligned IT education with financial independence. This agility allows Broadway to quickly adapt to technological trends and bridge the digital divide in Nepal and beyond. The company is committed to inclusivity, empowering more than 15,000 learners through accessible hybrid learning platforms, scholarships, and training that prioritizes women, low-income students, and individuals with disabilities.
Broadway Infosys wins WITSA award
Broadway’s model is highly effective, as evidenced by its 85% job placement rate and over 12,000 graduates placed in top firms. The curriculum is hands-on, with 80% practical modules, ensuring students are job-ready and equipped with skills in areas like AI and cybersecurity. The company’s commitment extends to social responsibility, with initiatives like post-earthquake rehab programs and a “Digital for All” campaign. Broadway has also expanded its reach globally, with a branch in the United States and online classes reaching learners in countries like Australia and the UAE, positioning it as a scalable blueprint for digital empowerment in developing regions.
Merit winners – Digital Transformation of the Year
Hostage Aid Worldwide’s Digital Transformation: From Siloed Records to a Global Analytics Engine
Hostage Aid Worldwide (HAW) has developed and deployed the Hostage Metrics Engine, a groundbreaking cloud-based platform that has transformed how the world documents and responds to cases of hostage-taking and unlawful detention. This innovation addresses a critical international human rights challenge by integrating thousands of cases from over 60 countries into a single, unified system. The engine empowers researchers, policymakers, and victim advocates with unprecedented clarity, enabling them to track patterns of arrest, detention length, negotiation tactics, and outcomes.
The Hostage Metrics Engine replaces HAW’s previous fragmented, labor-intensive case files with a centralized, data-driven platform. It features advanced timeline visualizations, geolocation mapping, and secure data sharing, which has reduced HAW’s research cycle time by over 70%. The platform is not just a technological advancement but a mission-driven tool that facilitates informed decision-making and amplifies survivor advocacy. As the first of its kind in the NGO sector, it represents a model of digital transformation with a humanitarian focus, built on a scalable cloud infrastructure with global expansion potential.
The project’s impact is both proven and scalable. The engine is a fully operational platform that has already delivered measurable results, including supporting the creation of policy briefs and risk assessments used by governments and international bodies. Its modular design allows for expansion into other areas of international justice, such as tracking detained journalists or war-related abductions. This adaptability, along with the system’s real-time intelligence and long-term accountability features, positions the Hostage Metrics Engine to become the central clearinghouse for non-classified hostage data worldwide, making it a uniquely valuable contribution to global security and justice.
Department of Information and Communications Technology – Regional Office 10: Dalingap Digital Transformation Project
For years, the remote village of Dalingap in the Philippines was a community trapped in isolation, with no access to basic telecommunications, education, or government services. This changed dramatically in February 2024 with the launch of the Dalingap Digital Transformation Project. Through a bold initiative, low-Earth orbit satellite kits were deployed, bringing high-speed internet to the barangay hall and schools for the very first time. This connectivity allowed children to learn online, farmers to access new markets, and families to reconnect across distances. A newly built Digital Transformation Center became the heart of this progress, providing residents with ICT training and e-government access, while an eTelemedicine kit transformed healthcare, replacing long journeys with virtual consultations.
The project is more than just a local success story; it’s a modular and scalable model for digital inclusion with high global potential. By using low-cost satellite internet, flexible Digital Transformation Centers, and deployable eTelemedicine kits, the project can be replicated in other geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) worldwide. Its sustainability is rooted in a community-driven model that empowers local institutions to manage services, supported by strategic partnerships with governments, NGOs, and private companies. This approach has already been recognized globally, validating its effectiveness and proving that connectivity doesn’t just link people—it changes lives.
Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC), Egypt: Revolutionizing Electricity Access in Egypt: A National Digital Transformation Under Vision 2030 Unified Platform for Electricity Services – A National Digital Transformation
The Unified Platform for Electricity Services represents a significant step in Egypt’s digital transformation of public utilities. Historically, citizens faced long waits and extensive paperwork at service centers for electricity-related tasks. This new platform has completely overhauled that process by digitizing and centralizing all citizen interactions. By automating service workflows and approvals, it eliminates the need for in-person visits and ensures continuous access to over 27 services for individuals and businesses nationwide. This not only supports the Egypt Vision 2030 goals for digital governance and infrastructure modernization but also provides nationwide access and convenience, empowering communities and reducing the time spent on administrative tasks.
Looking to the future, the platform is designed as a scalable and modular system. It is positioned to serve as a foundational utility gateway for broader smart city initiatives. The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) plans to further enhance the system by deepening its integration with smart meter data and real-time analytics. There are also plans to extend this unified model to include gas and water services and to integrate AI for predictive maintenance and improved customer support. The platform’s ability to grow and adapt will be crucial for supporting urban digital services and the country’s evolving infrastructure needs.
Best of Country Recipients
ARGENTINA: Noemí Frida Kraut : Small Change, Big Impact – Reinventing How We Connect
The Noemí Frida Kraut Foundation (NFK) honors the legacy of Noemí Frida Kraut, a lawyer who lived with Multiple Sclerosis and inspired her son to establish a foundation dedicated to improving quality of life for others. In partnership with GM2, the foundation launched the “Nos Escuchamos” program, a web platform prototype that provides emotional support via phone calls. GM2 designed a scalable and adaptable digital solution to help the nonprofit secure funding and enhance their emotional support services. The platform streamlines volunteer management and ensures quality follow-up through data and feedback, making it an ideal model for other NGOs and community health programs globally, especially in a post-pandemic world where social isolation and mental health are growing concerns. This project showcases how technology can amplify empathy and connection by creating a human-centered solution that is both tech-light and future-flexible.
BRAZIL: Urgent Care – Saving Lives Faster by Cutting Fake Calls and Boosting Emergency Efficiency
Developed by IMTECH, Urgent Care is a 100% Brazilian solution designed to revolutionize pre-hospital emergency care by transforming Emergency Medical Regulation Centers. This scalable platform integrates advanced technologies like VoIP telephony, geolocation, and real-time data intelligence to significantly boost operational efficiency by up to 85% and reduce prank calls by 50%. By handling over 2,000 emergency calls daily, Urgent Care has a direct and measurable impact on saving lives, proving its effectiveness in diverse healthcare environments while fully complying with Brazil’s Ministry of Health regulations and data protection laws. Its modular architecture and innovative features make it a powerful, customizable solution with strong potential for international adoption.
JORDAN: Concentrix
Concentrix offers an enterprise-grade AI platform, iX Hello, designed to enhance both employee productivity and customer engagement. The no-code platform allows businesses to quickly create and deploy customizable, GenAI-powered virtual assistants for a wide range of uses, from internal employee CoPilots to customer-facing chatbots. With capabilities like multi-modal generation (text, code, images, and voice), translation in over 90 languages, and robust data security, iX Hello simplifies complex processes, streamlines operations, and drives meaningful customer interactions at scale.
KAZAKHSTAN: Nurgul Satmagambetova
Nurgul Satmagambetova is a leading figure in Kazakhstan’s public sector, with over 15 years of experience in strategic ICT planning and digital transformation. As Head of Strategic Planning at the Department of Presidential Affairs’ Engineering and Technical Centre, she leverages her expertise to integrate cutting-edge ICT solutions and visionary planning to enhance public services and governance efficiency. Satmagambetova’s career highlights include her pivotal role in developing Kazakhstan’s e-Government infrastructure, which has enabled millions of citizens to access government services online, and her co-development of the “Mobile Government Office” platform, which allows top officials to securely manage government systems on the go. Her work focuses on creating scalable, citizen-centric digital solutions and implementing data-driven strategic frameworks that have modernized government operations and improved service quality across the nation.
NEW ZEALAND: Code Avengers: For PacifiCode Initiative
PacifiCode, an initiative by Code Avengers, is a nationally-scaled digital inclusion program that tackles the digital divide in rural Samoan communities. Starting with a pilot in 2023 across 10 rural schools in partnership with E3 Samoa Trust, the program provided internet connectivity, laptops, and a three-year subscription to an online learning platform. A key to its success and sustainability is its focus on empowering educators by training and certifying teachers in ICT, ensuring that digital skills are embedded in the community long-term. This model, which combines infrastructure, localized content, and professional development, has already expanded into a national strategy and offers a replicable blueprint for digital transformation in other underserved regions globally.
REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA: Proxiad SEE
Proxiad SEE’s GROW is an innovative, cloud-based performance management platform that streamlines employee development and retention through a people-centric, data-driven approach. Designed to centralize goal setting, performance evaluation, and career planning, GROW ensures transparency and alignment from individual to organizational levels. By providing real-time goal tracking, continuous feedback loops, and actionable analytics, the platform has delivered measurable success, including a 95% training completion rate and an impressive 4.32/5 employee satisfaction rating for growth opportunities. What makes GROW particularly noteworthy is its scalability and universality; as a modular solution, it addresses the global challenges of talent retention and workforce development, making it a future-proof best practice for organizations of all sizes and industries.
ROMANIA: Grapefruit: Redefining organizational culture through human-centric talent development
After 25 years, Grapefruit revamped its internal culture and talent development approach to better suit a hybrid, post-pandemic workplace. The company redefined its core values to promote long-term engagement and professional growth, which led to a significant increase in employee retention and satisfaction. This was achieved through new initiatives, including quarterly well-being check-ins, a revised recruitment and onboarding process focused on culture fit, and the use of tools for real-time team feedback. The company’s learning culture supports both vertical and horizontal career mobility through personalized plans, internal coaching, and transparent seniority criteria. This talent model is a scalable and replicable framework for other companies, addressing common challenges like burnout and lack of career progression with a human-centered, values-first approach.
WITSA AWARD COMMITTEE
Meet this year’s distinguished Panel of Judges for the 25th Anniversary of the WITSA Global Awards who are renowned leaders from across the innovation ecosystem who bring vision, integrity, and global perspective to our celebration of excellence:
Dr. Sean Seah Robert Janssen Dato’ Dan E. Khoo
WITSA Chairman WITSA Deputy Chairman WITSA CEO
Yannis Sirros Dr. Michael R. Nelson Oleg Petrov
WITSA Chairman Senior Fellow and Director Program Coordinator
Emeritus Carnegie Endowment for World Bank
International Peace
Jeff Lande Frances West Stela Lupushor
President Founder Chief-Reframer
The Lande Group LLC FrancesWest&Co Reframe.Work Inc.
About WITSA
The World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a global consortium of tech industry associations from 80 countries and economies. WITSA is committed to driving innovation, advancing economic growth, and fostering international trade and investment in the tech industry. Through its leadership and advocacy, WITSA strengthens its members’ national industry associations and connects them to a vast network of global professionals and partners.
WITSA’s catalytic platforms include the WITSA World Cup, the WITSA Global AI Ecosystem Network and the World Congress on Innovation & Technology (WCIT), recognized as the premier international tech industry platform, bringing together leaders from around the world to address emerging challenges and opportunities in a globally interconnected digital marketplace.
The WITSA Global AI Ecosystem Network unites a global network of AI hubs to drive advancements in artificial intelligence, while the WITSA World Cup fosters competition among the best scaleups, celebrating innovation and tech entrepreneurship at a global stage.
WITSA continues to catalyze industry collaboration, pushing the frontiers of digital transformation and innovation. By uniting members from diverse regions across six continents, WITSA creates a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective advocacy on critical industry issues. Through these efforts, WITSA plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the global digital economy.
For more: Broadway Infosys wins WITSA award
