Singapore has taken another step in a 10-year masterplan to grow its infocomm industry.
The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) announced yesterday a high-level steering committee to spearhead the island-state's grand plan called Intelligent Nation 2015, or iN2015.
Headed by IDA Chairman Lam Chuan Leong, the committee comprises key representatives from the industry and public sector. Committee members will chair sub-committees to earmark areas where infocomm technologies can deliver innovative services, and enhance the competitiveness of key economic sectors such as education, financial services, healthcare and digital media.
"Singapore is in a competitive race with other countries. It is no longer a matter of moving first, but a matter of moving faster--ahead of others to stay relevant and competitive," Lam said in a statement.
"It is all the more important that we take a look at the role that infocomm can play to help Singapore stay highly competitive, to look ahead into the next 10 years, and implement strategic initiatives that will keep Singapore in the fore."
The regulator identified in March several emerging technologies that could help boost the local economy and create a high-tech Singapore. They include sentient technologies, where ubiquitous computer networks can detect changes in physical surroundings and react accordingly, as well as nanotechnology and bioinformatics.
For Singapore to have the necessary manpower and skills to execute the grand plan, IDA and the Singapore Workforce Development Authority (WDA) will set up an Infocomm Competency Council (ICC) to guide the professional development and career progression of IT professionals. The council will, among several things, identify new skills and suggest training and certifications required by the IT industry.
To solicit ideas from Singaporeans on how infocomm technologies can play a role in their lives in 2015, the IDA is organizing a competition called Express IT! iN2015.
Contestants can express their visions in various formats, including written compositions, poems, drawings or illustrations, digital photographs, digital video or multimedia creations, and even songs or audio narrations.
Chan Yeng Kit, IDA's chief executive officer said: "We hope that as a multiple-format competition, Express IT! iN2015 will make it truly an open platform and easily accessible for everyone. We want people to let their imagination flow and share with us their visions of how they desire infocomm technologies to work for them and have an impact on the way they live, work, learn and play."
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