Twenty-four local manufacturers gathered yesterday at the Taipei International Convention Center to receive awards for the most innovative products of the year at a ceremony held by the China External Trade Development Council.
The National Awards of Excellence allow winners of the annual prize to use the "Symbol of Excellence" on their products, recognition that they are of world-class quality and innovation.
Hundreds of products are submitted each year, but only those that truly encapsulate the meaning of "innovalue" -- innovation combined with added value -- are selected as Symbol of Excellence Winners, according to the council.
"I'm delighted to see that many local manufacturers, more than 700, work to bring more advanced products to apply for these awards," said council chairman Shea Jia-dong (
A German judge at yesterday's event, Henning Horn, managing director of Stuttgart Design Center, said the products demonstrate how new and innovate products are changing the way we live.
Horn was the only foreign judge to attend yesterday's event. The four other foreign judges cancelled their trips to Taiwan due to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Judges from Taiwan included academics, scientists and industry watchers.
This was the 11th year for the National Awards of Excellence. Yesterday's awards mostly went to IT products, consumer-electronic appliances and other high-tech products.
The 24 winners fought off 700 competitors to win awards based on five criteria: innovation, design, quality control, marketing and brand name management.
Six of the finalists were presented with the gold award, while 18 others were granted the silver award.
Gold award winners include Hiwin Technologies Corp's (上銀科技) precision transmission component, KYE Systems Corp's (昆盈企業) wireless keyboard, GIGA-BYTE Technology Co's (技嘉科技) wireless scrolling device, D-Link Corp's (友訊科技) wireless access point, Microtek International Inc's (全友電腦) scanner and Giant Manufacturing Co's (巨大機械工業) composite bike.
"We have won five awards of excellence before, but we were still extremely thrilled when the gold award winners were announced," said Hsu Hsing (
"It was proof again of our efforts," Hsu said.
Dennis Chen (
"The award drives us to work harder to keep pursuing advanced innovation," Chen said.
"After being widely publicized and promoted, the symbol of excellence is well recognized around the world and will help boost orders," he said.
When asked whether his business has been affected by the outbreak of SARS, Chen replied "almost not," saying the excellence logo has helped to secure confidence of foreign clients.
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