S’pore refreshes Smart Nation goals with plans to tackle digital harms, accelerate AI know-how
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the refreshed Smart Nation 2.0 plan on 1 Oct 2024
Plans are afoot to equip scientists and students with artificial intelligence (AI) know-how and offer swift remedies to victims traumatised by cyber bullying and deepfakes circulating online, as Singapore charts its next Smart Nation milestones.
Announcing the refreshed Smart Nation 2.0 plan on Oct 1, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that Singapore must sharpen its focus on what he described as the “three building blocks” in the next phase of its journey to becoming a technologically enabled nation.
The building blocks of growth, community and trust go beyond a narrow focus on digitalisation, the hallmark of Singapore’s first Smart Nation plan launched in 2014.
Growth, community and trust the 'building blocks' as Singapore refreshes Smart Nation strategies: PM Wong
Since the launch of Smart Nation a decade ago, Singapore has made “significant progress” and this can be felt and experienced in daily living, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
As Singapore moves into the next phase of its Smart Nation journey, the “building blocks” of growth, community and trust will be key, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In a speech at the Punggol Digital District on Tuesday (Oct 1) to launch the Smart Nation 2.0 initiative, Mr Wong said that this will be a work in progress as digital developments unfold, and as Singapore develops new and better solutions. Smart Nation was first launched in 2014 under then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Since then, Singapore has made “significant progress” and this can be felt and experienced in daily living, said Mr Wong.
“We have done well as a Smart Nation. But we must never think that we have arrived. Technology is advancing rapidly, and our operating environment is ever-changing,” he added. “So we have to keep pace, stay abreast of the latest developments and continually strive to do better.”
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New Smart Nation 2.0 initiatives include S$120 million set aside for AI adoption
Smart Nation 2.0 will involve experimenting with new approaches, and the nimbleness to pivot quickly from failures, says Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
SMART Nation (SN) 2.0 will include a sum of S$120 million set aside for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and the setting up of a new agency to tackle online harms.
The next lap of the Smart Nation initiative, launched in 2014, was announced on Tuesday (Oct 1) by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at Punggol Digital District.
There are three key goals for SN 2.0 – trust, growth and community, and direct digital developments to benefit Singaporeans. New initiatives include getting AI into the classroom through teachers and modules, equipping more Singaporeans with digital skills, and utilising technology to enhance community connections.
PM Lawrence Wong at the Launch of Smart Nation 2.0
Smart Nation 1.0: A Decade-long Journey - In 2014, we set an ambition to become a Smart Nation – a nation where technology is used to improve our citizens’ lives. We aimed to make Singapore one of the leading cities in the world – an outstanding place where our people can live meaningful and fulfilling lives, and where the human spirit flourishes.
To achieve this vision, we had to harness technology systematically – not in a piecemeal fashion, but in a coherent and comprehensive way. So we launched our first Smart Nation plan to take full advantage of technology across the government, economy and our society. Ten years on, we have made significant progress. We can all feel and experience the changes in our daily lives. So many activities have become more convenient. In 2014, cashless payment was an aspiration. Today, it is a reality. Fewer people queue up to withdraw cash from ATM machines. Fewer still write cheques because you can use your phone to pay for all sorts of transactions. Beyond payments, you can open a bank account in minutes online, and engage in a whole range of banking services – all from the comfort of your home.
Government services have also become far more convenient too. Nearly all government services are digital. Some have been with us for some time. We are all familiar with IRA’s e-filing, ICA’s passport services, NLB’s book borrowing amongst others. Over the last few years, we have rolled out even more applications, including for parking, HDB flat bookings and purchases, health services and of course the ever-popular CDC vouchers. These are the more visible changes. But we have also used technology behind the scenes, in ways that are not so visible to the public. For example, in our housing estates, we have sensors in lifts and waters pumps, so that Town Councils are alerted immediately when a fault arises.
Singapore announces efforts to build a trustworthy smart nation
As part of Smart Nation 2.0, Singapore will look at enhancing the security and resilience of its digital infrastructure as well as strengthening the fight against harmful online activities
As the line between the physical and online worlds thins, disruptions to digital services and the proliferation of online harms can negatively impact our well-being. Recognising this, one of the goals of Singapore’s refreshed Smart Nation vision (also known as Smart Nation 2.0) is to build a Smart Nation that we can trust.
To achieve that, Singapore will introduce a new Digital Infrastructure Act in 2025 to improve the reliability of key digital infrastructure and services. According to the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), the proposed law will address a broader set of resilience and security risks across systematically important digital infrastructure, ranging from technical misconfigurations to physical hazards such as fires and cooling system failures.
Besides that, the city-state intends to set up a dedicated government agency to support victims of online harms and enhance online safety. The agency will act on behalf of victims to direct perpetrators and online service providers to put a stop to the online harm quickly, providing added assurance on top of existing regulatory levers and court-based processes available today. It will focus on the most serious and prevalent online harms affecting victims in Singapore, such as cyberbullying and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The agency will be backed by a new law, which will better enable victims to seek civil remedies against perpetrators of online harms.
Singapore schools to introduce “AI for Fun” courses as part of Smart Nation 2.0 plan
Starting in 2025, primary and secondary schools across Singapore will introduce a new “AI for Fun” unit to enhance students’ understanding of technology and artificial intelligence.
This initiative is part of the recently announced Smart Nation 2.0 plan, introduced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, which seeks to prepare the next generation for a digitally-driven future. The “AI for Fun” course builds upon the existing “Code for Fun” enrichment program, offering students an engaging introduction to coding and artificial intelligence. Designed to last five to ten hours, the curriculum will cover essential coding concepts while providing a foundational understanding of AI.
Additionally, secondary school students will explore computational thinking and design thinking principles, empowering them to apply these skills in developing solutions to real-world challenges. In tandem with the introduction of this course, the Singapore government has also launched the Smart Nation Educator Fellowship program. This initiative is designed to equip teachers with the latest digital skills and knowledge necessary for effective instruction in today’s technology-rich environment.
Goals of Smart Nation 2.0
We want to be a Smart Nation that we can trust
Smart Nation 2.0 seeks to achieve three key goals: Trust, Growth, and Community. These goals shape how technology is used to improve citizens’ lives and create a thriving digital future for all. They also reflect key areas of feedback and concern that citizens have raised over the years, gathered through surveys, research, and other feedback channels.
The Smart Nation 2.0 strategies will be continually iterated and adjusted as digital developments evolve. We will adapt our approaches over time in close consultation with citizens and businesses, responding to technological advancements and emerging challenges.
The Smart Nation Vision
The Smart Nation initiative is a whole-of-nation effort led by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) to build a thriving digital future for all.
The inaugural Smart Nation initiative was launched in 2014, driven by a compelling vision: to build better, meaningful, and fulfilled lives for our people, enabled by technology. Singapore has made significant progress since 2014. Digital technologies have become an integral part of our lives, influencing how we live, work, and play.
Technology holds tremendous promise in helping Singapore break new ground. While we continue to harness technology as a force for good, we must also address risks such as challenges to individual wellbeing and social harmony. In 2024, the refreshed Smart Nation vision was unveiled, outlining Singapore’s approach to build a thriving digital future for all.
Smart Nation 2.0: A Refreshed Vision
Singapore’s efforts in harnessing digital technologies to transform our economy, society, government, and security have established our country as a leader in areas like digital infrastructure and inclusion.
The mark of a truly Smart Nation is to keep striving to be better. Digital developments have given rise to new opportunities and challenges for Singapore and for humanity. The refreshed Smart Nation 2.0 vision must address these evolving needs and concerns.
Digital developments must be directed toward outcomes that benefit Singaporeans, bearing in mind the impact of technology on our society and the need to uphold our shared values as a nation.
Milestones of Singapore’s Smart Nation story
Smart technology has made a difference to the way we live, work and play. But the changes didn’t happen overnight. Here, we trace the milestones of Singapore’s Smart Nation story.
Smart Nation Vision For Singapore
Singapore lays groundwork to be world’s first smart nation
Unveiled at the opening of the Infocomm Media Business Exchange (imbX) event, these new building blocks are aimed at bringing together policies, people, and technologies in a concerted fashion that will help the country realise its smart nation ambition.
Singapore has made good progress establishing the backbone infrastructure to support big data and analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), and other transformational ICM technologies outlined in its Intelligent Nation Masterplan (iN2015), said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, during his opening address at imbX.
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