The Technology Development Board (TDB) is inviting applications from companies with indigenous artificial intelligence-based solutions for the management of municipal solid, plastic, construction and demolition, agricultural, biomedical, electronic, industrial hazardous and non-hazardous, battery, and radioactive wastes. According to a government statement, the initiative is an opportunity for Indian companies that have waste management-related technologies to take their products to the next stage of commercialisation.
TDB, which is a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), will provide financial assistance in the form of loans, equity, and/or grants to select Indian companies for technology commercialisation. The evaluation to select the products will be based on scientific, technological, financial, and commercial merit, the statement wrote. The call for proposals, titled TDB Waste to Wealth, is in response to the challenge to keep big cities in the country waste-free and, at the same time, generate wealth from waste. The last date to submit a proposal is 3 July.
Countries around the world are using technology to reduce and manage waste more efficiently. In April, OpenGov Asia reported that New Zealand is using a machine to handle and recycle electronic waste. The machine, BLUBOX, sorts and shreds electronic waste and was recently made operational in Auckland. The project was supported by a NZ$ 1.5 million grant from the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund.
The recycling technology can salvage useful materials from electronic waste, including gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, and brass as well as hazardous toxins like mercury. Being able to recover and recycle e-waste safely and efficiently has economic, health, and environmental benefits. The technology will expand Computer Recycling’s e-waste processing capacity from an average of 1,300 tonnes per year to 2,000 tonnes each year. As more e-waste becomes available, the processing capacity of the equipment can be lifted to 6,000 tonnes or more per year.
Other countries are deploying technology to recycle and reuse waste. Researchers from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore recently developed a solution that uses recycled glass in 3D printing, which could lead to more environmentally sustainable construction methods. Glass can be completely recycled with no reduction in quality, yet it is one of the least recycled waste types. Concurrently, growing populations, urbanisation, and infrastructure development have led to a shortage of sand, with climate scientists calling it one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, one of the research team’s innovations used a specially formulated concrete mix comprising recycled glass, commercial cement products, water, and additives to 3D print a concrete bench. By figuring out the optimal concrete formulation, the NTU research team was able to successfully 3D-print a 40cm tall L-shaped bench as a proof of concept that their material could be 3D printed into an everyday structural (weight-bearing) product. In lab compression tests and filament quality (strength) tests, the 3D printed structure showed excellent buildability and extrudability. As a result of the successful proof-of-concept, the NTU research team believes their development offers a new pathway to recycling glass waste and can contribute to a greener building and construction industry for Singapore and beyond.
The Office of International Economic Relations (OIER), under the Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral and International Economic Relations (OUMAIER), launched the Economic Literacy Training programme with modules on Data Analytics, Economic Research and Intelligence, and Economic Diplomacy and Promotion as part of the Department’s efforts to improve the abilities of its personnel in conducting economic diplomacy.
Gina A. Jamoralin, Assistant Secretary for International Economic Relations, praised DFA employees for their efforts to advance the nation’s economic interests. She emphasised the significance of updating the data analytics and data management abilities of DFA officers and staff to effectively handle the abundance of available data and harness pertinent information for the formulation of foreign policy. She urged participants to hone their economic diplomacy skills and support the new administration’s policy priorities to improve our nation’s food security, resilience to climate change, and economic recovery.
The Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute, the training division of the Philippine Statistics Authority, is a partner in the organisation of the training programme (PSA).
In the meantime, the DFA has established the database on foreign disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) accords and treaties to which the Philippines is a party through the Office of Civilian Security. To improve collaboration and coordination among all significant actors and stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and management, the Database seeks to provide a centralised reference for creating periodic reports on its agreement with numerous DRRM arrangements and treaties.
The Database covers bilateral agreements with nations like Viet Nam, Norway, and Thailand as well as multilateral agreements like the Paris Agreement on climate change. Each entry includes a link to a copy of the instrument and summarises its main points.
The Database is in accordance with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2020-2030, which mandates the creation of an inventory of all international DRRM agreements and treaties to which the nation is a party.
Furthermore, based on estimates from market revenues alone, the Philippines’ internet economy has experienced significant expansion. The adoption of AI in the Philippines last year has resulted in a 12% contribution to the GDP at US$ 92 billion by 2030. The introduction of new and more powerful technologies accelerates the country’s 4th Industrial Revolution ambitions.
As the pandemic spreads, more companies are realising the value of streamlining their operational procedures. A significant financial organisation and a local government agency in the Philippines recently decided to manage their digital transformation initiatives and get around the restrictions of legacy systems with the help of a cloud service provider.
However, one of the problems that cloud service provider clients used to encounter from outdated systems was the delayed response to changing market conditions, the slow pace of innovation, the presence of rigid systems and applications, and the unpredictable nature of costs.
Technology-led businesses, which are predicted to be worth up to Php 3.5 trillion, can create most of the overall estimated digital opportunity. For the retail sector, this comprises e-commerce and mobile applications that can speed up digital transactions and interactions, cut labour costs, increase inventory efficiency, and lower real estate expenses while delivering productivity increases of six to fifteen percent.
For the Philippines to fully take advantage of its digital opportunity, the research identifies three areas for action: Improving digital skill training and education; Accelerating digital adoption and innovation; and Promoting digital trade opportunities.
Singapore, 22 July 2022 – Singtel today announced it has achieved over 95% standalone 5G nationwide coverage. This comes more than three years ahead of the regulatory target of end-2025, effectively making Singapore the first country in the world to be fully covered by standalone 5G.
Singtel’s standalone 5G network now covers more than 1,300 outdoor locations and over 400 in-building, as well as underground, creating immense opportunities for the development of groundbreaking applications and immersive experiences for both enterprises and consumers. Singtel was officially awarded the 3.5GHz and the millimetre wave spectrum as part of the 5G licence issued by the IMDA in June 2020, and an additional 2.1GHz spectrum in Nov 2021 which supported the achievement of this critical milestone.
“We’re extremely excited about this important milestone for both Singtel and Singapore as nationwide standalone 5G coverage is a major leap in technology that will spur unprecedented digitalisation.
Despite disruptions from COVID and the knock-on impact on manpower and resources, our planners and engineers managed to accelerate our 5G deployment, working through the pandemic to lay the groundwork and build a whole new infrastructure for a secure and resilient 5G network. This means that Singapore can now exploit the full capabilities and best applications that 5G can offer, paving the way for innovation and new growth that will propel our country forward,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel’s Group Chief Executive Officer.
He added, “As a homegrown Singaporean company, we feel honoured to have provided the critical infrastructure and essential services that have sustained the nation’s progress through the years and are pleased to launch this next-generation technology to commemorate Singapore turning 57. With a world-class 5G network in place, we look forward to keep doing our part in enabling Singapore’s next phase of growth as a global smart city.”
Singtel has achieved many firsts in Singapore’s 5G journey, from launching the first pilot network in July 2018, the first standalone network in May 2021 to providing 5G in the North East Mass Rapid Transit Line that runs entirely underground in May 2022. More information on Singtel’s key 5G milestones can be found in Annex A.
First fully 5G National Day celebrations
Singaporeans will get to experience their first 5G National Day Parade celebration which is being held at the floating platform this year, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. To mark this nationwide rollout, this year’s Parade will be fully streamed on 5G – showcasing Singtel’s enhanced mobile broadband capability to support ultra-high-definition content. On-site spectators will enjoy high-speed connectivity, enabling seamless streaming or uploading of high-resolution content from the Parade.
Mr Mark Chong, Singtel’s Group Chief Technology Officer said, “Deploying 5G at an event of this scale will seriously test the power and reliability of our network, especially its ability to distribute real-time ultra-high-definition content from multiple 5G-enabled devices that are concurrently streaming over global online mediums.
This is new for us, but we will prepare well and rise to the challenge. With our experience supporting the Parade over the years and our 5G trials in Sentosa, we’ve picked up important lessons on managing the complex technology to cater to the increasingly sophisticated demands of spectators that catch the show. With faster upload speeds, lower latency and more secure technology, people will get the full superior viewing experience of 5G. We’re excited to bring 5G to everyone at one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the Singapore calendar.”
Singtel has been making steady progress in commercialising 5G. To support the development of a whole host of public sector 5G use cases for the built environment, transport, and tourism industries, Singtel launched the 5G@Sentosa testbed last year, in partnership with multiple government agencies, including the Government Technology Agency and the Sentosa Development Corporation. Around 15 live trials are slated to be running by the end of this year, and at least 30 by the first half of 2023.
“Now that our nationwide 5G coverage is in place, we expect commercial adoption to accelerate. Our high speed, low latency 5G network with edge cloud and network slicing enables functions like real-time computing, data storage, data analytics and AI services at the edge – bringing to life more mission-critical enterprise applications than before, from automated quality inspection in factories, smart city planning, connected self-driving vehicles to supercharged IoT. Just like Singapore, which is known for its high standards, we’re deepening our expertise and establishing a strong presence in the markets we operate in. Working with our partners across the Asia Pacific, we’re extending more 5G solutions and use cases to enterprises and other telecommunication service providers in the region,” Mr Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Group Enterprise and Regional Data Centre Business, Singtel.
Earlier this year, Singtel launched Paragon – the industry’s first all-in-one orchestration platform that consolidates all the necessary resources required across 5G and edge computing into one touchpoint, thus significantly lowering the barriers to 5G adoption and integration for enterprises, from cost to complexity. Recent partnerships include AETOS, Micron and Hyundai who have deployed 5G solutions to improve operational efficiencies, drive innovation and enhance problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
On the consumer front, Singtel has successfully demonstrated 5G’s benefits and impact through use cases such as Singapore’s first 5G-powered remote racing in Sentosa and The People’s Gallery, an exhibition developed in collaboration with National Gallery that leverages augmented reality to transform more than 25 neighbourhood void decks into art galleries.
To celebrate this national 5G milestone, Singtel is giving customers a range of NDP exclusives including unlimited 5G data on 9 August as well as free access to the full range of programmes on Singtel CAST and Singtel TV from 6 to 9 August. Seniors will also get to purchase the latest Xiaomi Redmi 10 5G phone for just $57 during that period. More information can be found in Annex B.
“5G is for everyone and this National Day, starting with the National Day celebrations at the floating platform, we’re giving consumers a chance to experience its benefits. We’ll be using 5G to enrich our customers’ digital experiences as well as foster greater digital inclusion among the underserved. In the near term, we will unveil exciting new offerings that will enable more immersive, transformative digital experiences for all,” said Ms Anna Yip, Chief Executive Office, Consumer Singapore, Singtel.
Singtel is Asia’s leading communications technology group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, 5G and technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses. The Group has a presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 750 million mobile customers in 21 countries. Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses span 21 countries, with more than 428 direct points of presence in 362 cities.
For consumers, Singtel delivers a complete and integrated suite of services, including mobile, broadband and TV. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility solutions, data hosting, cloud, network infrastructure, analytics and cyber security capabilities.
Singtel is dedicated to continuous innovation, harnessing next-generation technologies to create new and exciting customer experiences and shape a more sustainable, digital future.
For more information, visit www.singtel.com.
During the recently held Golden Jubilee celebration of the DSO National Laboratories (DSO) tag as the DSO50 Technology Showcase (TSC), the public was given an opportunity to have a glimpse of the five key technology domains innovations initiated by the agency in the areas of Cryptography, Cybersecurity, Miniaturised Radio Frequency and Electronics, Artificial Intelligence / Data Analytics and Unmanned Systems.
Behind the opening of this technology showcase has been 50 years of steady progress and good achievements, and I would say that after half a century, DSO is indispensable to the SAF. It is because of leveraging technology, science, manpower, and intellect that we’ve been able to overcome many, many vulnerabilities. Of course, our inherent vulnerabilities are immutable. That’s never going to change. We’re never going to be large or have more manpower than necessary. So, we’re thankful that we’ve reached this position with DSO.
– Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence.
Dr Ng talked about how important DSO’s role in defence has been for the past 50 years and will be in the future. He said that it was a credit to the founding fathers and leaders who came after them that they saw its importance from the start.
He said that once the SAF was made, it needed the latest technology. They clearly didn’t have enough strategic depth. Singapore is a very small country with few people living there. And they realised very quickly that they needed to set up this group.
Many of these native technologies and solutions solve important operational problems and are often not available commercially. They can also be changed to meet specific and future operating needs. Most of these enabling technologies are usually hidden because they are built into systems to make them smarter and more reliable.
As Singapore’s national defence research and development organisation, DSO has the largest and most extensive technology show for guests from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), key public agencies, and industry partners.
The closed-door event had a unique exhibition about the DSO’s history, the capabilities it has built up over the past 50 years, and the R&D projects that MINDEF, the SAF, and the whole government will be working on in the future.
One important example is DSO’s work to make important electronic parts smaller and lighter while improving their performance in a variety of communication platforms and systems. Another important part of DSO’s solution is that it can find and stop AI that is trying to trick people by using fake news and fabricated media.
Meanwhile, Singapore recently launched its NeuSAR satellite into space under the direction of DSO. NeuSAR is a compact, high-performance satellite weighing 160 kg that has a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that is fully polarimetric. A SAR satellite “creates” photos by transmitting radio waves to the Earth’s surface and collecting the returns to create images, in contrast to optical cameras satellites that are limited to daytime and clear weather imaging circumstances.
NeuSAR is thus capable of taking images both during the day and at night, as well as in challenging weather due to dense cloud cover, precipitation, and even haze. It is a small satellite, offers consumers access to low-cost but high-quality satellite photos and is quicker, cheaper, and easier to manufacture.
The launch of NeuSAR represents a development in the Singapore space sector. It comes after the productive launches of the nation’s first satellite (X-SAT) in 2011 and its first industrial electro-optical satellite (TeLEOS-1) in 2015.
A recent report stated that Vietnam’s fintech market could grow to US$ 18 billion by 2024. The country is a leader among ASEAN members in terms of the volume of financing for fintech, second only to Singapore.
Over 93% of all venture investments in the country are directed at e-wallets and the e-money segment. The total number of fintech companies has grown to 97 since 2016, an 84.5% increase. However, the number of newly-launched start-ups each year decreased from 11 to 2. The market features high competitiveness and a high entry bar. Transaction volume has seen a 152.8% growth since 2016, with 29.5 million new fintech users. As a result, every second Vietnamese citizen uses at least one fintech service. Demand for digital services (transactions, payments, and wallets) in the country is high. According to industry analysts, Vietnam fintech sector is young and promising. The market valuation has increased from US$ 0.7 billion to US$ 4.5 billion since 2016.
The government will become more involved in fintech, evidenced by the growing favourable legislation for financial technologies. The fintech regulatory sandbox and the legal framework for digital assets and cryptocurrencies will also further developments in the industry.
Data from a recent report showed that the global fintech market size was US$ 110.57 billion in 2020 and is estimated will grow to US$ 698.48 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.3% from 2021 to 2030. Fintech increases the speed, transparency, and security of transactions, which is why governments and organisations around the world are investing in the sector. For example, investment in UK fintech was seven times higher in 2021 than in the previous year, boosted by a record number of deals.
In May, OpenGov Asia reported that the Vietnamese government targets that by 2025, the volume of mobile payment transactions will grow by 50-80% while transaction value will surge by 80%-100% annually. It also aims for at least 80% of the population aged 15 and above to have bank accounts, the number of Internet payments to increase by 35%-40% annually, and the rate of individuals and organisations using cashless payments to reach 40%.
Cashless payment methods like contactless cards, QR codes, and mobile banking for digital and e-commerce services are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, especially among young people. The country has witnessed a strong shift to electronic payment methods replacing cash, which is also a target of a plan for cashless payment development in Vietnam for the 2021-2025 period, Tuyen noted.
The plan has four major objectives. Firstly, the project aims to make non-cash payments a norm in urban areas and expand their coverage in rural areas. Secondly, it seeks to develop a safe non-cash payment infrastructure with various conveniences and facilities to meet the rising demand of firms and individuals. Thirdly, it strives to enhance the security and transparency of cashless payments, allowing authorities to better monitor economic transactions in the country. Lastly, it aims to realise growth targets set for non-cash payments in the short term, including 50% of transactions on e-commerce platforms being conducted through cashless payment methods.
Knowing when to trust a model’s predictions is not always easy for workers who use machine-learning prototypes to help them make decisions, especially because these models are often so complex. Hence, users may use a technique known as selective regression, in which the model estimates its confidence level for each prediction and rejects if it is too confident. A human can then manually examine those cases, gather additional information, and make decisions about each one.
While selective regression has been shown to improve overall model performance, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab discovered that it can have a reverse impact on underrepresented groups of individuals in a dataset. With selective regression, the model’s certainty grows, as does its chance of making the correct prediction, but this does not always happen for all subgroups.
A model predicting loan approvals, for example, may make fewer errors on average, but it may make more incorrect predictions for Black or female applicants. One reason for this is that the model’s confidence measure was trained on overrepresented groups and may be inaccurate for underrepresented groups.
After identifying the problem, the MIT researchers developed two algorithms to address it. They demonstrate, using real-world datasets, that the algorithms reduce performance disparities that have harmed marginalised subgroups.
Regression is a method for estimating the relationship between a dependent and independent variable. Regression analysis is commonly used in machine learning for prediction tasks such as predicting the price of a home based on its features (number of bedrooms, square footage, etc.) With selective regression, the machine-learning model has two options for each input: make a prediction or abstain from making a prediction if it lacks confidence in its decision.
When the model abstains, the coverage—the portion of samples on which it bases predictions—decreases. The model’s overall performance ought to increase by restricting its predictions to inputs about which it is quite certain. However, this can potentially accentuate dataset biases, which happen when the model lacks sufficient data from subgroups. Underrepresented people may make mistakes or poor forecasts because of this.
The goal of the MIT researchers was to guarantee that, as the performance for each subgroup improves with selective regression, so does the overall error rate for the model. This threat is identified as a monotonic selective risk. To deal with the issue, the researchers designed two neural network algorithms that impose this fairness criterion.
One algorithm ensures that the model’s features contain all important information regarding sensitive factors like race. Sensitive qualities can’t be used for judgments owing to laws or policies. The second procedure uses calibration to ensure the model generates the same prediction for an input, regardless of sensitive properties.
The researchers tested these algorithms on high-stakes real-world datasets. A crime dataset uses socioeconomic data to forecast the number of violent crimes in communities. An insurance dataset predicts total annual medical expenses invoiced to patients. Both databases have personal information.
Implementing their techniques on top of a standard machine-learning method for selective regression reduced inequities by lowering error rates for minority groupings in each dataset. This was done without considerably increasing errors.
The researchers want to adapt their answers to other challenges, such as predicting property values, student GPA, or loan interest rate. To prevent privacy risks, they intend to use less sensitive information during model training.
They also want to enhance selective regression confidence estimates to avoid scenarios where the model’s confidence is low, but its prediction is true. This could reduce human workload and simplify decision-making.
A project team led by the Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) Nursing Division has collaborated with a company that customises its PPE for hospital use. The hands-free solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the cloud to provide automated guidance and checks in accordance with SGH’s stringent PPE protocol.
PPE is the first line of defence against infectious diseases, according to Ang Shin Yuh, Deputy Director, Nursing Division, SGH, but it is only effective when worn correctly. Nurses assigned to the Community Care Facility at Singapore Expo in 2020 to care for COVID-19-positive migrant workers had to double-check each other’s PPE before entering the Halls.
“We also had to do a manual audit every single day to ensure compliance on the ground. It was labour intensive, and unsustainable. That realisation pushed us to think about automating the process using artificial intelligence and image recognition,” says Deputy Director Shin Yuh who also first mooted the project.
SGH is a not-for-profit institution that is wholly owned by the Singapore government. It is the flagship hospital of the public healthcare system that has identified problems and is actively working to resolve them.
Thus, SGH strives to ensure that all staff and visitors are properly wearing their PPE before entering an isolation facility. The nursing project team, on the other hand, had to first improve the solution to recognise Asian features and skin tones before tailoring it to the Hospital’s needs, including the types of PPE used.
The hospital was an ideal partner for deploying the cutting-edge PPE to train and monitor staff on infection control and prevention procedures. Hospitals save lives, and SGH is one of the institutions with innovative practices and improving nursing practises. This technology has now been fine-tuned and is ready to assist even more medical teams across Singapore and the region.
The customised solution consists of three modes – PPE Buddy, Train and Practice, and Visitor – that have been individually validated by the team with approximately 200 staff and visitors. When installed, the solution converts a tablet into a digital mirror that can be easily mounted on a tripod and carried into any area of need, or on any flat surface, such as a wall, with easy access to PPE supplies.
Using cutting-edge imaging technology, the system works hands-free to study clinicians and ensure that their PPE is properly applied. This improves infection control and lowers the risk to staff and patients.
The technology can be integrated into both existing and new infrastructure at the hospital. In the future, the solution can be further customised for disease-specific protocol, contact tracing, and image recognition for staff access. When the next pandemic strikes, SGH will be in the best possible position.
Meanwhile, SGH pioneers the 3D-printed chest implants in the region. Patients with moderate to severe symptoms may opt for the Nuss procedure, which is a minimally invasive surgery. The SGH was able to print the bioresorbable implant in collaboration with other medical institutions by using CT scan images of the patient processed by the SGH’s Department of Diagnostic Radiology for 3D printing. The fit was determined by placing a prototype model of the implant on SGH-printed chest wall models.
Currently, 3D models printed by SGH allow surgical teams to practise complex cases as well as pre-size and pre-shape implants prior to surgery. The SGH will capitalise on the potential of 3D printing and expand its use to improve patient care, beginning with the opening of its very own 3D printing Centre at the end of this year.
Under a new NSW Government program, NSW is working to push forward its place as a world leader in bushfire technology commercialisation and position itself for the international export of innovative bushfire solutions. The region’s Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology stated that the Bushfire Commercialisation Fund will help innovators translate their cutting-edge research into practical solutions that will improve bushfire detection, preparation and response.
Mr Henskens said that whether it’s artificial intelligence, drones or predictive mapping, the need is to commercialise disaster-resilient practical solutions, not just in NSW, but across Australia and around the world. By investing in local talent and their innovative research, the economy can be grown, jobs can be created and products can be developed that secure a brighter future for NSW.
A total of AU$ 16 million over three years has been allocated, with the first round of funding offering grants of between AU$ 200,000 and AU$ 8 million to individuals, companies, research institutions and universities, to help them commercialise their research.
The NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer said the program is the second initiative being rolled out under the Bushfire Response R&D Mission. He noted that the programme has been modelled on the highly successful Medical Devices Fund and Physical Sciences Fund, both of which have helped to scale businesses, attract investment from private capital and build the capability of NSW’s small-to-medium enterprises in key industry sectors.
About the Bushfire Response R&D Mission (BRM)
The NSW Bushfire Response R&D Mission (BRM) is the first NSW R&D mission recommended by the Turning ideas into jobs: Accelerating research & development in NSW Action Plan. The Action Plan recommended that the BRM focus on improving planning, preparations for and responses to bushfires – aligning with recommendation five of the recent NSW Bushfire Inquiry.
The NSW Government will direct $28 million into research and development and the promotion of new and emerging industries and technology to better prepare the state for future bushfires.
Based on the positive impact of the current innovation network and innovation programs, it is expected the BRM will generate roughly 200 new and sustainability technology jobs per year, equivalent to 2,000 jobs over the next decade.
The BRM has four objectives:
© 2022 OpenGov Asia – CIO Network Pte Ltd.