Speech by SMS Tan Kiat How at Huawei Tech4City Competition Finals 2024

KEYNOTE SPEECH BY SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION TAN KIAT HOW AT HUAWEI’S TECH4CITY COMPETITION FINALS, 11 OCTOBER 2024

1. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

2. Good afternoon.

3. I would like to thank Huawei Singapore for organising this event. Since its inception in 2022, this competition has brought together over 1,000 participants and inspired more than 250 ideas. I am happy to see the growing enthusiasm among our youth in using technology to make meaningful contributions to our society.

4. We are not just celebrating the achievements of our finalists; we are also acknowledging the role that our youth play in shaping Singapore’s digital future.

5. This year’s theme, AI for inclusivity and sustainability, aligns well with Singapore’s Smart Nation vision, to improve citizens’ lives through technology. SN2.0 outlines three key goals that serve as a compass to guide our responses to digital developments. We must be:

a. A Smart Nation that we can trust, one where Singaporeans can go online with confidence.

b. A Smart Nation that helps all of us grow, one where technology can help our people learn and excel in better ways.

c. A Smart Nation that brings us together, one that leaves no one behind.

6. One way we are working towards these goals, is by harnessing technology for urban planning. HDB and A*STAR have developed a modelling tool, the Integrated Environmental Modeller, that is transforming how we design our newer estates like Punggol Northshore and Tengah. This tool simulates environmental factors like wind flow and temperature, allowing us to create more comfortable and energy efficient homes for Singaporeans. It even helps us identify ideal spots for solar panels, supporting our sustainability efforts.

7. As we enhance our urban planning, we are also looking at how to better manage our urban infrastructure. The Punggol Digital District serves as our pioneering project in this space. In this smart district, we have implemented digital twins, which are virtual replicas of the physical environment alongside a network of smart sensors. Through these technologies, we can manage various urban functions through real-time data and controls at a large scale. They are also helping us to reduce manpower needs by half and cut energy use by 30%.

8. From district-wide management to individual buildings and establishments, the Government and businesses have been deploying smart technologies to improve efficiency and service delivery. For example, in many of our public spaces and buildings, you may have noticed robots assisting with various tasks. Whether it is to address manpower challenges in cleaning services or for food delivery purposes, they have been used to improve productivity.

9. Beyond digital twins, smart devices and robotics, AI is also making a significant impact. From enabling the identification of real-time, barrier-free routes for wheelchair users on SLA’s OneMap platform, to early disease detection in healthcare. AI is helping us deliver tangible benefits to our citizens.

10. The ideas from the finalists today contribute to these SN2.0 goals. For example, Cikgang offers a platform that provides personal learning experiences to students at scale, while empowering teachers and field experts to guide and shape the student’s learning journey. BinaCloud employs video analytics to detect challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the public, offering timely alerts and assistance. Node uses AI, AR and VR to enhance the well-being of elderly residents by fostering community engagement and preserving personal neighbourhood stories for future generations. This helps our seniors relive their childhood through familiar tunes like Chan Mali Chan, Home and oldies they love. This improves the experience for our seniors through gamification.

11. These are just examples of all the wonderful ideas that all of you have come up with. I look forward to many new ideas that come out of such competitions from many young, passionate Singaporeans like you, using technology for good to improve the lives of fellow citizens.

12. While we continue to build a strong digital foundation for Singapore, our efforts extend far beyond infrastructure. We are also focusing on digital technologies that strengthens community bonds to make our city and society more inclusive and to improve the quality of life for all Singaporeans.

13. At the end of the day, technology is an enabler. What matters is the kind of value and ethos that form our society and how we care for fellow Singaporeans. We are using technology to build a more cohesive and inclusive society for everyone.

14. We must make sure that even as we become more digital, from e-payments to shopping online, all these digital services that are convenient for us are also accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities and seniors. GovTech’s A11y team created Purple A11y, a tool that enables development teams to identify and fix accessibility bugs in their websites. For instance, it can detect unlabelled website components that screen readers cannot interpret, making navigation difficult for visually impaired users. Using generative AI, Purple A11y suggests fixes, making websites not only useable but also meaningful for everyone. As one visually impaired citizen put it, this tool gives them the dignity to live independently. The A11y team doesn’t stop there. They also run the A11y Week, an annual event that promotes the importance of digital inclusion. By raising awareness, we are ensuring that everyone can fully participate in our increasingly digital society.

15. So I encourage all of you here, whether you are representing the service providers, developers, technology providers, or just like-minded passionate individuals who want to contribute, please join us in this effort to make our digital society much more inclusive and accessible so that we leave no one behind.

16. Small things matter. In terms of how we design our website, how we organise the information on our digital service, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of those who may find it more challenging.

17. Events like Huawei’s Tech4City competition show us what is possible when students and professionals come together. These platforms provide the space for innovation and help shape Singapore’s digital future. One such example of how these lead to real-world impact, is the collaboration between the 2022 Tech4City’s winner and SBS Transit. Together, they refined an AI sign language model and developed the Sign Language Virtual Assistant, or also known as SiLViA. SiLViA converts MRT announcements to sign language and answers passengers’ queries in both spoken and sign language to assist commuters with hearing difficulties. You can try it out at Chinatown MRT station soon. I commend this effort and want to thank them for making this step.

18. None of these can happen without collaboration – SN2.0 is a whole-of-nation effort, involving various sectors and stakeholders. The projects that will be presented today remind us of the power of bringing together diverse skills and perspectives, showing us how collaboration leads to meaningful, impactful solutions.

19. To all the finalists, you are innovators and problem solvers. The ideas you bring forward today have the potential to address some of the most pressing challenges our society faces. Do not be afraid to take risks or embrace failure, as every challenge brings valuable lessons for developing impactful solutions. If you fail, don’t worry. You are just one step closer to success.

20. I wish each of you the very best in the competition.

21. And of course, a big thank you to Huawei Singapore for your commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators.

22. Thank you.