USHER Lead Inventor Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy of Mapua University and Chief Technology Officer Engr. Donato Santiago receive their prizes at the 2019 World Summit Awards in Lisbon, Portugal.
Besting 430 nominations from 182 participating countries, Universal Structural Health Evaluation and Recording System (USHER), a Department of Science and Technology-funded technology, was selected as one of the forty-five (45) Global Winners of the World Summit Awards (WSA) and the only Southeast Asian winner in the category "Smart Settlements and Urbanization".
USHER Technologies won the award for its cost-effective 24/7 Structural Health Monitoring System for buildings and bridges that enables economical and hassle free compliance to the National Building Code. It is composed of an accelerograph sensor and a web portal system that can be installed in building of all types, allowing building managers to monitor the structural integrity of the building.
WSA is a highly diverse and democratic award system that selects and promotes the world’s best digital innovation with impact on society. Running for 15 years, it has become a quality seal for digital content with societal impact. WSA is also a nomination-based award system - for a technology to be included in the winners’ circle, it has to be nominated by a WSA National Expert as the best national digital application in one of the 8 categories based on the following criteria: Content, Functionality, Design, Technology, and Innovation.
Compared to other existing products, USHER streamlined and tailored the system to fix the local market at a remarkably lower cost while still offering a complete solution to ensure business continuity. Last 2018, USHER won the Best R&D Award during the 8th Anniversary of DOST-PCIEERD.
DOST-PCIEERD’s Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit lauded the USHER Team for bagging the award and showing to the world how local technologies can be world-class. “We congratulate USHER for showing to the world what we can do here in the Philippines and how we can optimize innovation to the benefit of the Filipino people. USHER’s win is an icing already to the number of lives that they have been saving with the technology they developed,” he said.
USHER Lead Inventor Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy expressed elation over the recognition given to them by WSA. “Now we are more than ready to distribute USHER in the Philippines and we hope that with this international confirmation, we patronize technologies of our own people that was made by our people, for our people in USHERing a safer and more resilient Philippines,” he said.
As one of the winners of the WSA, the team was invited to attend the WSA Congress to personally receive their awards during the awarding ceremony. They also had the opportunity to network with the other global winners, speakers, jurors and international guests. The DOST PCIEERD provided financial support for the attendance of the two members of the team to the WSA Congress.
Among the perks of being a WSA winner is the integration of USHER into a network of internationally recognized digital content developers. They will also have access to the WSA community of global experts and industry leaders in over 180 countries and special placement on WSA website, Youtube channel and social media promotion. The WSA is a non-monetary award system with a focus on sustainable knowledge transfer through a worldwide network. Winners benefit not from a one-time financial reward, but a lifelong partnership and integration.
