Singapore is often hailed as the “city of the future,” and for good reasons. In every technology and innovation index, the city-state has always ranked as one of the best in the world. Moreover, the city cemented its status when, in 2014, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong inaugurated the country’s long-term vision to be a Smart Nation. This initiative aims to prepare the country for the inevitable shift to a more digital future.
Harnessing the possibilities brought on by technological innovations, Singapore hopes to transition its government, economy, and society to the digital age. Through well-designed application development, the government’s digital services agencies, like the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), can deploy citizen-centric digital solutions for more efficient and quick government transactions. Meanwhile, the private sector’s partnership with public entities results in products and services that not only contribute to the country’s economy but also provide meaningful solutions to societal issues. With the public and private sectors working together, Lion City is indeed well on its way toward attaining its goal of being a world-class, tech-driven city.
How Singapore establishes its position as a leading startup and VC hub against Shanghai, Silicon Valley
In this article, we’ll delve into 6 remarkable “Tech for Public Good” projects that make a real difference in people’s lives and the environment.
1. Public health technology initiatives
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore turned to technology to safeguard public health. To facilitate fast and accurate contact tracing, the government rolled out projects such as the TraceTogether app that uses Bluetooth signals to help identify close contacts of infected people. This innovative use of Bluetooth technology was instrumental in helping contain outbreaks and protect communities.
MaskGoWhere was another example of how agile the government response can be when integrated with technology. It was on January 30, 2020, when the government announced the distribution of masks to every Singaporean household. Within 48 hours, the Government Digital Services (GDS) at GovTech was able to deploy the first version of the MaskGoWhere website to help direct people where to go to get their masks. Similarly, FluGoWhere assisted residents in locating flu vaccination centres, promoting proactive healthcare and disease prevention.
2. Government licensing solutions
From 2007 to 2016, Singapore topped the rank for The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index. The city’s business-friendly environment and policies make it a favourable destination for investors and entrepreneurs to build or expand their businesses.
Singapore is always looking for new ways to make it easy for businesses to start their operations. With GoBusiness Licensing, for example, the government can streamline procedures for getting business licenses and permits by having all relevant links in one online platform.
No matter what the business is about, entrepreneurs can immediately access government services and resources on the website. Indeed, GoBusiness Licensing—another GovTech project—empowers businesses to kickstart their ventures with ease. Furthermore, it fosters an environment that is conducive to innovation and economic growth.
3. Blockchain-based credential systems
Diploma and certificate fraud is an issue in Singapore as well as the rest of the world. In the span of three years from 2016 to 2018, the Manpower Ministry discovered 33 cases of foreign workers using fake credentials to apply for work passes. This underscores the need for efficient authentication of credentials.
To address this issue, Singapore pioneered the use of blockchain technology called OpenCerts. It’s a blockchain platform that schools in Singapore can use to issue tamper-resistant digital academic certificates. It works by storing the credentials on a blockchain, which is a digital ledger that’s controlled by a network of computers. Every transaction in the blockchain is verified by peers in the network, which reduces the risk of fraud.
4. Centralised data sharing platforms
Building individual applications from scratch costs a lot of money and time. It’s the main reason why application programming interfaces (APIs) have become popular platforms for developers. Using a centralised database, developers can minimise errors and coding requirements when building specific applications for different agencies.
In Singapore, APEX (Application Programming interface EXchange) serves as a centralised platform for sharing government data through APIs. This initiative promotes transparency and fosters collaboration between government agencies. As a result, data is always up to date and government transactions are simplified.
5. Tech farms
One of Singapore’s obvious challenges when it comes to farming is its lack of land. However, with solutions like a hydraulic-driven vertical farm and indoor farming technology, the country can grow produce at a commercial scale.
Sky Greens is the first of its kind to use hydraulic technology in raising vertical vegetable beds at great heights to maximise the use of its vertical indoor space. Its founder and inventor Mr. Jack Ng started experimenting with the concept in the backyard of his aluminium factory. After a while, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) took notice and offered a Research Collaborative Agreement. This people-private-public (3P) collaboration produced a more sophisticated design of multi-layer troughs in a rotating A-frame vertical structure. This enabled the farm to produce enough greens to sell to different supermarkets and wet markets in the area.
6. cultivated meat facilities
As concerns over sustainability and ethical consumption grow, entrepreneurs in Singapore explore alternative food production methods such as cultivated meats.
Eat Just, Inc. recently launched its GOOD Meat brand in Singapore, where it also opened its largest cultivated meat facility in Asia. Using cell culturing technology, the company produces chicken meat that could be mistaken for the real thing.
As Singapore continues to push the boundaries of technology, we can only look forward to even more remarkable initiatives that will enrich the lives of its residents and contribute to global progress.