The Awards Committee will make a decision on the Awards Nomination having regard to the relevant criteria applying to each class of award. The Awards criteria are as follows:

1. Achieved outcomes

The best practice shows that it has efficiently and effectively responded to the identified issue or challenge. There is evidence of its impact, achieved outcomes and quality of implementation e.g. targets vs actual performance, key performance indicators, before-and-after comparisons, cost-effectiveness metrics and other relevant statistics.

2. Innovativeness
The best practice demonstrates forward-looking approaches or solutions that are original, pioneering and ground-breaking for the organization, the country or the region as a whole. Innovation covers a wide spectrum of initiatives that ranges from continuous improvements and incremental changes, on one hand, and sweeping, far-reaching and cutting-edge transformations, on the other. This is particularly the case in relation to the Innovation Best Practice Award.

3. Robustness
The best practice has a track record to show that its effectiveness is not short-lived nor transitory. Its benefits and added value are well-established and are expected to last. The best practice can be depended upon to deliver predictable results time and again.

4. Replicability
The best practice shares insights on the factors that would be indispensable to its replicability as well as the risks that could stand in the way of its successful implementation. It has the potential to inspire other economic development agencies that are faced with a similar issue or challenge.

The Awards Committee shall have the discretion to apply the most appropriate Award Category to the nomination, notwithstanding the category under which the nomination is made.

Please note that all decisions made by the Awards Committee are final and discussions will not be entered into.