IPOS to launch Singapore Fast Track Patent Programme
The programme, known as the SG Patent Fast Track, will be the world’s fastest application-to-grant process and aims to accelerate grants of patent applications in all technology fields to just six months.
Singapore Tourism Board launches digital initiatives to support businesses during COVID-19 outbreak
As with many other government agencies in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board has launched a set of initiatives to support the sector during this difficult time and also to help position businesses better for recovery.
How current events have made Critical Event Management a priority for leadership
In the background of the global COVID-19 crisis, discussions must gravitate around Critical Event Management for all organisations; the putting in place of a fundamental framework for a successful critical event management plan.
National Library Board expands digital offering during circuit breaker period
The digital offerings have been expanded to cater to everyone – across all demographics and in the four languages.
Tech Assists Healthcare Sector in Singapore deal with surge in COVID-19 cases
With the severity and spread of the pandemic, there have been collective efforts in research and technology to help the healthcare system deal with the rise in numbers.
National University Healthcare Systems & Bot MD develop A.I. clinical assistant app for healthcare professionals
The NUHS-Bot MD A.I. assistant is a chatbot that immediately answers questions from hospital staff about protocols, COVID-19 directives, drug dosage information, drug formulary and on-call rosters.
Singapore government supports remote working solutions
To help businesses digitalise to manage challenges of the COVID-19 situation and stay as functional as possible, the government has floated various initiatives and programmes, including pre-bundled solutions that come with laptops.
Insights to the development of GovTech’s various Smart Temperature Screening Systems
With temperature screening one of the main ways to identify someone infected with COVID-19, monitoring it is a key defensive tool in helping curb the spread of the virus.
SMART and MIT Develop Nanosensors for Real-Time Plant Health Monitoring
A collaboration of researchers has developed a way to study and track the internal communication of living plants using carbon nanotube sensors that can be embedded in plant leaves, providing valuable real-time insights for engineering plants to maximise crop yield.
Nanyang Technological University develops semi-autonomous robot for ‘smart disinfection’
If trials are successful and with commercial demand, a production-ready version of the XDBOT will be developed and production scaled up to support Singapore’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Tech should enhance contact tracing efforts not replace human tracers
With so much focus and hype on technology being key in fighting COVID-19, it is important to reiterate that technology of itself is not enough to end the pandemic – it should assist and complement efforts of frontline workers on the ground.
Monetary Authority of Singapore encourages use of online financial services during pandemic
In an effort to bolster efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Monetary Authority is expecting all financial institutions to provide as many basic financial services through digital channels as possible that do not require physical presence at financial business premises.
Exclusive: How 18F is a game changer for Government by Government in the US
The US Agency 18F delivers digital services and technology products throughout all levels of Government in the US; it partners with agencies to improve the user experience of government services by helping them build and buy technology.
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore ranked world’s most innovative IP Office
This recognition continues to reinforce Singapore’s position as a hub for enterprises from anywhere in the world to use their IP and intangible assets to grow into regional markets and beyond.
MAS launches Support Package for financial institutions & fintech firms to emerge stronger post COVID-19
The support package, funded by the Financial Sector Development Fund, has three main components is aimed at sustaining and strengthening capabilities in the financial services and FinTech sectors.
Australian government creates business continuity website to support businesses during COVID-19 outbreak
The Australian Business Continuity site aims to help businesses function with minimal disruption as businesses have to operate remotely during the coronavirus outbreak.
Malaysia Government next to launch app to monitor COVID-19 outbreak
Governments and private sector organisations have been continually developing and launching apps since the coronavirus outbreak with the aim of helping fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Exclusive: Business Continuity Planning Under The Microscope
This crisis could also see a change in work culture and the work environment – with remote working becoming a more viable option, if not a necessity. Leaders and managers will have to manage teams remotely as well as keep morale and productivity.
Singapore government launches more digital resources to keep public updated on COVID-19
The Singapore government announced the launch of two new media platforms – Gov.sg Telegram and Twitter – to complement its other digital media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp that will offer more options for citizens to get information on COVID-19.
SingPass mobile app to become main gateway to access government services
Launched in October 2018, SingPass mobile app provides a secure and convenient way for users to access government digital services using fingerprint, face recognition or a 6-digit passcode.
Governments turn to Contact Tracing Functionality in apps to fight virus spread
Global organisations and Governments worldwide have developed apps to give citizens COVID-19 updates, situation reports and health risk assessments in an effort to contain and combat the pandemic.
Australian government launches Covid-19 App
The Covid-19 app, currently available on Google Play and Apple App Store, provides an overview of the current status of virus in Australia, as well as a symptom checker powered by healthdirect.
Singapore Resilience Budget will support business digitalisation, restructuring and transformation
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government had initially pledged $6.4 billion in the Unity Budget towards the Stabilisation and Support Package, the Care and Support Package and to support frontline agencies. Additional measures worth over $48 billion were announced in the Resilience Budget to deal decisively with the situation at hand.
G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors convene through virtual meeting
In the first of its kind, the meeting was held virtually due to the global Coronavirus crisis. G20 ministers of Finance and central banks governors have agreed on measures to reduce the repercussions of the coronavirus on the global economy.
Singapore and Australia sign Digital Economy Agreement
Singapore is aiming to establish end-to-end digital trade, enable trusted cross-border data flows and build trust in digital systems through Digital Economy Agreements with other nations.
Coronavirus technology solutions raise data privacy concerns
Privacy and data protection laws cannot and should not get in the way of government strategy to saving lives. But even at times of crisis, data privacy should still be respected, and frameworks put in place.
Connected Government: Singapore mobilising citizens in contact tracing efforts
Singapore Government has launched a contact-tracing smartphone app to enable the relevant authorities to identify and trace those who have been in contact with people who have been infected with COVID-19 as part of a nation-wide effort to fight the spread of the disease.
Singapore government invests in Legal Technology research
Singapore Management University said its five-year research program aims to create “smart” contracts and “smart” statutes. It will start with the design and development of a domain-specific, high-level computer programming language that will be used to code laws, rules and contracts.
Supercomputers used to accelerate research on coronavirus cure
Combining supercomputers with large data allows researchers to solve problems by analysing Big Data and enabling exploration of new areas.
A*STAR scientists help develop Asian Immune Diversity Atlas
The team from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR’s) Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), RIKEN, and Samsung Medical Centre aims to identify differences in the molecular properties of blood cells across five major Asian population groups – Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Malay.