Singapore Honours Innovation and Digital Readiness Trail Blazers
SINGAPORE – 5 November, 2019: 16 organisations were honoured for their efforts to transform the economy and strengthen Singapore’s digital readiness, in support of the digital economy.
10 organisations were recognised as Singapore’s most innovative at the 2019 Singapore Digital (SG:D) Techblazer Awards. The companies received their awards from the Minister for Communications and Information, Mr S Iswaran at the Tech Industry Night Gala dinner, jointly organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (“IMDA”) and SGTech.
Now in its second year, the SG:D Techblazer Awards is the nation’s highest accolade for tech innovation. In addition to corporate participants, three student teams received awards in the new Student Techblazer category, which seeks to recognise and encourage the next generation of tech innovators.
While businesses continue to innovate in technology, it is important to ensure that the community is also equipped with digital skills so as to be able to enjoy the benefits in the digital economy. As part of the Gala Night, organisations that pledged to help businesses, employees, customers and the community acquire skills and adopt technology were honoured in the inaugural Digital Participation Pledge (“DPP”) Awards. The DPP Awards is the nation’s highest recognition for organisations that made a positive impact on Singapore’s digital readiness.
Recognising Nation’s Most Innovative at the SG:D TechBlazer Awards
This year’s Awards saw close to 300 applicants. Seven companies and three student organisations emerged as winners in three categories – Most Promising Innovation, Best Adoption and Student Techblazer.
Deep learning and AI were a common theme with applications ranging from medtech to fintech. BioMind clinched the Gold award in the Most Promising Innovation category, for its deep learning diagnostic support system that helps doctors review MRI and CT images. In the same category, CashShield’s fraud-detection product and Tookitaki Holdings’ anti-money laundering solution both won the Silver award . Students from Singapore University of Technology and Design won the Gold award in the Student Techblazer category for their simulated data platform, Bifrost.
The public sector also demonstrated the impact of digitalisation, as the National Parks Board won Best Adoption (Public) category for its new digital tree management system that helps effectively manage its database of all the trees in Singapore. For more information on the winners and their winning solutions, please see Annex A.
"We are in an era of unprecedented disruptions and changes, both in technology and by technology. Through their innovative solutions, the winners have demonstrated how to lead the way to address today's challenges by exploiting technology. With the Student Techblazer category, it is our wish that participating in the Awards would spur our students to leverage their learning and experience from the competition, and inspire them in using tech disruptions to better lives," said Wong Wai Meng, Chairman of SGTech.
"There was a general improvement in the quality of submissions this year. What stood out was a handful of Singaporean entrepreneurs who demonstrated courage and foresight. They grew their start-ups in an unconventional direction - starting overseas to leverage favourable conditions such as easy access to large data sets, before bringing their solutions home. I look forward to seeing more deep-tech solutions competing in the field next year." said Mr Raymond Choong, Partner at FocusTech Ventures and an SGTech judge.
Organisations’ digital readiness efforts recognised through the Digital Participation Pledge
Since the launch of DPP in March, administered by Ministry of Communications and Information (“MCI”) and IMDA, close to 900 organisations from the private, people and public sectors have taken the pledge to help equip everyone with digital skills and adopt technology.
The DPP Awards was introduced to recognise Singapore-based organisations that have exemplified the spirit of digital readiness and made a significant impact in equipping Singaporeans with digital skills, to enable them to tap on the opportunities offered by technology to improve their quality of life.
The awards saw about 70 nominations entered for two award categories. Six organisations received the nation’s highest accolade today for their outstanding digital readiness efforts.
“I would like to offer my heartiest congratulations to all our award recipients. The SG:Digital Techblazer Awards and the Digital Participation Pledge Awards are our nation’s highest honours in their respective spheres. Through these awards, we celebrate the indomitable spirit of tech innovation as well as the heart shown by our industry to help the community better use technology. It is my hope that these awards will serve as a beacon to all as the industry continues to blaze the trail in Singapore’s journey towards a digital economy and a smart nation.” said Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer, IMDA.
Related Resources
Annex A: Write-ups of SG:D Techblazer Award Winners (358.38KB)
Annex B: Quotes from winners (167.62KB)
Annex C: SG:D Techblazer Awards overview and categories (176.76KB)
Annex D: Digital Participation Pledge Award Recipients & Companies’ Quotes (331.99KB)
Annex E: Digital Participation Pledge Awards Categories (81.36KB)
Annex F: Factsheet on Digital Participation Pledge (83.47KB)
ISSUED BY THE INFOCOMM MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore’s digital transformation with infocomm media. To do this, IMDA will develop a dynamic digital economy and a cohesive digital society, driven by an exceptional infocomm media (ICM) ecosystem – by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICM infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment, and enhances Singapore’s data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission.
For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.
About SGTech
SGTech is a premier trade association for the tech industry in Singapore that strives to create an ecosystem which anticipates trends and develops sustainable initiatives to strengthen and help the industry. SGTech’s close to 1000 members range from start-ups, SMEs, to MNCs that leverage technology as a core driver for business. The two fundamental value propositions of SGTech are:
Advocate for Industry -
A voice that actively and responsibly advocates for change that benefits members and the industry
Supports Singapore’s Agenda for Technology -
Contributes to the industry’s growth and transformation by supporting programmes and initiatives that enhance the Singaporean economy.
For more information, visit www.sgtech.org.sg or follow SGTech on Linkedin SGTech ; Facebook SGTechSocial ; Twitter @SGTechSocial
For media clarifications, please contact:
Patrick LIM (Mr)
Assistant Manager, Communications & Marketing, IMDA
HP: (65) 8163 2689
Email: Patrick_John_LIM@imda.gov.sg
Jasmine XU (Ms)
Assistant Manager, Communications & Marketing, IMDA
HP: (65) 8201 5741
Email: Jasmine_XU@imda.gov.sg
TAN Lay Ping (Ms)
Assistant Director, Communications & Marketing, IMDA
HP: (65) 8870 2688
Email: TAN_Lay_Ping@imda.gov.sg
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