A decade after launching its original Smart Nation initiative, Singapore is poised to embark on the next phase of transformation: Smart Nation 2.0. This refreshed strategy is ambitious yet characteristic of the country’s pragmatic idealism – to overcome the inherent limitations that have always constrained the island nation and secure a leading position in the global digital future.
A decade of digital transformation
Singapore’s first Smart Nation initiative laid a strong foundation for digitalization across government services, businesses, and daily life. In 2016, when the country’s train system faced significant disruptions, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) quickly leveraged data analytics to pinpoint the root cause. By mapping train stop timings and locations against train movements, GovTech identified that the disruptions occurred in sequence, at the speed of a moving train, and in the same direction. This analysis revealed that signal interference from a passing train on the opposite track was causing the breakdowns. GovTech’s swift, data-driven response exemplifies how digital government can effectively address complex infrastructure issues, improving operations and public services.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, these digitalization efforts proved invaluable. High-speed broadband and mobile networks enabled remote work, while food delivery platforms ensured that daily life could continue with a sense of normalcy even during lockdowns. Furthermore, earlier investments in digital infrastructure allowed for rapid responses to unprecedented challenges. A vaccine registration system was developed in under a month, leading to one of the world’s highest vaccination rates. Similarly, the TraceTogether contact tracing app was swiftly deployed, helping curb the virus’s spread.
These successes were not accidental but the result of deliberate investments and a culture that embraced technological innovation.
Emerging risks in a new digital landscape
Yet, as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted in his October 1 address unveiling Smart Nation 2.0, the digital landscape of 2024 is vastly different from that of 2014. The rapid advancement of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) brings both unprecedented opportunities and new vulnerabilities. Generative AI models such as GPT-4 are transforming industries but also raising concerns about job displacement, ethical use, and data privacy.
The downsides of digitalization have become more pronounced. Cyberattacks have escalated, with high-profile incidents like the 2018 hacking of public health records underscoring the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Scams, cyberbullying, misinformation, and social divides have surged, exacerbated by the pervasive reach of digital platforms. The platform economy, while offering convenience, has introduced challenges. Ride-hailing companies have been linked to higher car prices due to aggressive bidding for Certificates of Entitlement, impacting many families’ ability to afford cars.
Private entities running critical infrastructure have faced scrutiny over their resilience and responsibility too. Outages at major banks like DBS have disrupted millions, while scams targeting financial institutions have resulted in significant consumer losses. These incidents highlight the vulnerabilities that accompany digital dependence.
Smart Nation 2.0: Growth, community, and trust
Recognizing these complexities, Smart Nation 2.0 adopts a more holistic strategy built on three pillars: Growth, Community, and Trust. These pillars aim to harness technology’s benefits while mitigating its risks, ensuring that digitalization ultimately serves the public good.
Under the Growth pillar, Singapore seeks to empower its people and businesses to leverage technology fully. This involves significant investment in AI capabilities, positioning the nation as a hub for AI research and development. The “AI for Science” programme encourages interdisciplinary collaborations, pushing the boundaries of innovation in sectors like biomedical science and materials science.
However, growth is not solely about cutting-edge technology; it also demands inclusive initiatives that empower everyone to progress in the digital revolution.
In her opinion piece for The Business Times, Temus CEO Ng Lai Yee explains how Step IT Up Singapore, a tech career conversion program that the firm launched in 2022, epitomizes this inclusive approach. Developed in partnership with Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Digital Industry Singapore, the initiative focuses on hiring, training, and placing local talent into full-time digital technology roles—specifically targeting individuals from non-IT backgrounds to meet the soaring demand for home-grown digital expertise.
To date, 59 individuals have graduated from the program, hailing from diverse backgrounds such as food delivery, optometry, music, and real estate. Remarkably, a stay-at-home mother of five years became a digital business analyst through Step IT Up’s latest cohort. By broadening the digital talent pool through company-led programs like Step IT Up, Singapore is ensuring its workforce is future-ready, mitigating the risks of job displacement caused by rapid digital transformation.
The Community pillar addresses the social dimensions of digitalization. While technology elsewhere has often fragmented society rather than bringing people closer together, Singapore opts for the opposite approach—promoting digital inclusion and literacy across all demographics.
In Sengkang East, a precinct in Singapore’s northeast, home to over 16,000 households and predominantly younger families, one might assume that digitalization would be readily embraced. However, the reality is more complex. Many parents who purchased their homes over two decades ago have seen their children grow up, move out, and establish families elsewhere. Now in their golden years, these seniors wish to stay actively connected to their immediate community but must navigate the challenges of digital connectivity.
Recognizing the risk of a digital divide, fellow community volunteers and I, in collaboration with IMDA’s SG Digital Office and industry partners like financial services provider CSG International, have trained local digital ambassadors, launched digital clubs within housing estates, and organized regular workshops on digital and financial literacy for seniors. These initiatives encourage residents to build confidence in using digital devices and services at their own pace. Partnering with local retail stores such as Fairprice supermarkets and nearby food courts like Kopitiam, senior citizens receive hands-on guidance with digital transactions, including e-payments for groceries and meals. By equipping older citizens with digital skills and confidence, our local approach to national challenges ensure that they remain engaged and supported in an increasingly digital society.
Finally, Trust will be the linchpin of Smart Nation 2.0. Without confidence in the security and reliability of digital systems, the benefits of technology cannot be fully realized. To this end, Singapore is strengthening its cybersecurity framework by updating the Cybersecurity Act to regulate a broader range of digital infrastructure, including cloud services and data centers.
Addressing the growing threat of online harms, the government plans to introduce new legislation and establish a dedicated agency to support victims of cyberbullying, harassment, and scams. This agency, empowered by the forthcoming law expected in 2025, will enhance protection for victims, ensuring that citizens have the necessary recourse and support in the face of digital threats. In response to vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, Singapore is holding private entities accountable for their resilience and responsibility.
The upcoming Digital Infrastructure Act, slated to be tabled in Parliament next year, aims to mitigate risks associated with digital disruptions, whether from cyberattacks or physical failures. Additionally, there is ongoing dialogue about how these entities can more equitably share the risks and downsides of digitalization with consumers, especially when they have reaped significant benefits.
Through these comprehensive measures, Smart Nation 2.0 not only advances technological growth and community building but also ensures that trust remains a foundational pillar, safeguarding Singaporeans as the nation navigates the complexities of an increasingly digital future.
Local initiatives, national potential
Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 embodies a bold vision that balances ambition with caution. During its launch, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized the nation’s remarkable progress and the vast potential ahead: “Over the last decade, we have made great strides. In the next 10 years, we can reach even greater heights. Let us work together to build a better home for all—a Singapore brimming with exciting opportunities, where we can support one another in realizing our dreams, and where each of us can become the best version of ourselves.”
Seen in the light of the broader Forward Singapore agenda, Smart Nation 2.0 leaves the door even more ajar for private enterprises and people-sector community networks to lead in shaping the nation’s digital future, under the pillars of Growth, Community, and Trust. My wish is for more of us, in every capacity we serve, to join hands and ensure Singapore remains a vibrant place where innovation thrives, the human spirit flourishes, and a fair and just future is secured for all.
Marcus Loh is a director at Temus, a digital transformation services firm, where he serves as the business head of Step IT Up Singapore and leads public affairs, marketing and strategic communication. He is also a community volunteer in Sengkang East and an executive committee member of the digital transformation chapter of SG Tech, the leading trade association for Singapore’s technology industry.
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