IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

The partners also inked eight MOUs.

Singapore and Shenzhen have launched 14 new projects on smart city development during the 4th Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative (SCI) Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) meeting.

The new projects will explore areas such as AI and sustainability.

Living in a city where digital innovation and technology are used to drive sustainability and liveability is a dream for many people. Such urban settlements are called "smart cities". A recent survey showed that Singapore has been the best example of such an innovative city for the past two years.

For several years, Singapore has invested in innovations designed to increase the use of electric and autonomous vehicles. The city has also given access to its inhabitants to data such as city noise levels, levels of air humidity and parking spots available... With such initiatives common for its inhabitants, the city-state remains the smartest city worldwide for the second year in a row in a recent ranking.

‘When it emerged the police had used tracing data for a criminal investigation, an online backlash erupted’

It’s not often that you catch Singapore’s government looking flustered.

Last year, it announced the launch of a contact-tracing system to fight Covid-19 that involved an app and a wearable device. Some citizens expressed privacy concerns about TraceTogether, which uses Bluetooth to record distance between users and the duration of their encounters, and about the longer-term risk that, in a tightly controlled system such as Singapore, tracing mechanisms could be abused.

Technology has permeated every fiber of society so much it relies on it on a regular basis. The same is true of how cities operate to meet the needs of its residents. This has given rise to what is called "smart cities."

What is a smart city?

As defined on Wikipedia, "A smart city is a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect specific data." This data is used to improve the city government's operations to make it more efficient in meeting the needs of its residents. This also ensures a better quality of government service and citizen welfare.

A few years ago, pre-Covid-19, there appeared to be an arms race beginning around smart cities. They had to be smarter and seemingly ever more ‘glossy’, driven by a need for sensors and data.

Then, as climate change became more evident, cities had to be sustainable, and of course, post-pandemic, more resilient. Now, in the wake of the fallout from the Ukraine-Russia conflict, they also need to be secure. So: smart, sustainable, resilient, and secure.

Singapore may be small in size, but it has a lot to offer the region.

As part of its agenda for its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore has envisioned the development of a smart city network spanning the region. The first cohort of 26 smart cities would be the starting point for region-wide collaboration towards the common goal of smart and sustainable urban development.

With the country's next ICT blueprint to be announced later this year, the Singapore government reiterates its smart nation push at this year's imbX show and unveils efforts to make data intelligence more accessible to the logistics industry.

The Singapore government has provided a preview of the country's next ICT masterplan, pointing to the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) in logistics as a key focus area, and continues to push its smart nation goal.

We live in exciting times - where technology pervades our lives. The news of a dramatic operation in Abbottabad in Pakistan first broke on Twitter through Sohaib Athar who unwittingly tweeted about the secret operation as it unfolded, before the news was officially delivered by US President Obama several hours later.

In Japan, after the major earthquake and tsunami in March, satellite technology proved invaluable in helping rescue workers assess the extent of the damage in disaster zones. It also helped bring together families who have been separated during the disaster.

Singapore's Smart Nation program uses data and cutting-edge technology to find urban solutions, to improve public services, and to compete with premiere global cities

Imagine taking an app-powered driverless car to your destination. How about consulting your doctor via telemedicine in the comforts of your own home? On the rush? Use an app that tells you how long it takes to wait for a cab in the taxi stand. You can also take the MRT and surf the Internet with broadband access.

Four international companies have confirmed their plans to set up base in Punggol Digital District, a move that will create over 2,000 tech jobs ranging from data analysts and solution engineers to artificial intelligence and blockchain developers.

Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong on Wednesday (July 28) announced the four companies, saying each is "bringing different expertise to the mix".

Singapore seems to live in 2119. This smart nation is the one to look to for a sneak peek into the future.

While the rest of the world is living in 2019, Singapore seems to be in 2119. The city’s sci-fi views perfectly depict that Singapore is targeting to become a smart nation.

Singapore Information Technology Standards Committee (ITSC) is heading the project with support from Infocomm Development Authority (IDA).

Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive of IDA, said to FutureGov Asia Pacific: “We have commenced discussions with ITSC to work on areas such as cloud security, service level agreements and virtualisation.”

The Singapore Innovation Hub will focus on pillars such as adaptive cities planning, mobility, safety and security and sustainability.

Global consulting firm Accenture is aiming to bring together local organisations across industry to develop smart urban solutions addressing economic and environmental challenges with its new Singapore Innovation Hub – Future of Cities.

Abu Dhabi and Singapore aim to accelerate smart city development to sustainably improve quality of life, operational efficiency and competitiveness

Abu Dhabi and Singapore are expanding ties to accelerate smart city innovations in the two countries.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and IPI Singapore - a subsidiary of ESG – have jointly launched an innovation call to advance the smart city agenda.

Singaporean companies will submit solutions to address challenges identified by Abu Dhabi entities

Abu Dhabi Investment Office joined forces with Enterprise Singapore (ESG), a government agency championing enterprise development, and its subsidiary IPI Singapore to accelerate smart city development in the emirate.

Under the agreement, Singaporean companies will submit solutions to address challenges outlined by the Abu Dhabi-based entities.

Singapore companies are collaborating with Abu Dhabi entities including Adnoc, the Department of Municipalities and Transport and MMasdar City to develop smart city pilot projects in Abu Dhabi.

The six companies, including MDesign Solutions, Daily Life Renewable Energy, Biodsg and Graymatics, among others, will work on pilot projects such as transforming street lighting as well as increasing the energy efficiency of Al Dannah City buildings, according to a statement from Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) on Wednesday.

A telco alliance and the biggest telco in Singapore is set to create a city-wide 5G network for the first time. We explore the potential benefits coming to the city, and how they might improve the work and lives of marketers in Singapore and beyond.

While the news was likely buried beneath coronavirus across the globe, one development may go some way to ensuring that, when Singapore emerges from its lockdown, its status as a business and technology hotspot will have been elevated even further.

According to the World Bank, around 56% of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, this figure is predicted to rise to 70%. This acceleration towards urbanisation is putting city infrastructure under enormous strain. Congested highways, crammed public transport, overworked waste management systems and sporadic urban planning are just a few consequences of our collective influx into cities.

Some cities in the Asia Pacific, such as Singapore, Jakarta and Osaka, have turned to technology to deal with the challenges of growing urban populations. These have become known as “smart cities”, leveraging advancements in sensor technologies, cloud computing and data infrastructure to serve residents, visitors and businesses better.

I've been wondering how far artificial intelligence (AI) can go to make human life easier and, amid the current pandemic, safer. A good place to start is Japan, where AI is gaining ground in fields from fashion to elder care.

For example, apparel companies hit by the pandemic have been tapping AI technology to boost sagging sales, using it to predict trending designs and colours.