26 September 2012 - The new Green Mark for Data Centres was launched today by Ms Grace Fu, Minister in Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources and Foreign Affairs at the opening of the International Green Building Conference and BEX Asia, which are anchor events of the Singapore Green Building Week.
Singapore, 26 September 2012 | For Immediate Release
Global experts from APEC economies convened in Tokyo, Japan to discuss a wide range of important issues associated with people with special needs (seniors and people with disabilities), and the emergence of the "Silver Economy". The focus of the workshop was to discuss how member economies can best mobilise innovation and research, anticipate and transform the global challenge into an opportunity for active and productive ageing, and people with disabilities for new sources of sustainable growth.
Jointly organised by APEC, Waseda University and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), the workshop was held in Tokyo, Japan from September 13 to 14. Participants included representatives from over 14 APEC economies, NGOs, VWOs and WHO.
The objective of the workshop was to develop coherent and forward-looking international policies, and a comprehensive strategy to promote research and innovation of services for the elderly and people with disabilities in sectors such as health and nursing care, education and training, transportation, and community development, including smart cities.
The workshop concluded that to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and to mitigate the health, social and economic impacts of people with special needs, economies must innovate. This includes social and organisational innovation, as well as unlocking the potential of information technologies through increased research and innovative new models.
Professor Toshio Obi of Waseda University said during his opening remarks "The workshop is aimed at learning lessons from best practices and to create grand designs and policy implications for the future smart society with convergence between ageing and information societies."
The participants at the workshop agreed that proactive and broad-based steps must be developed now. In particular, it highlighted accelerating innovation, boosting investment, aligning policies with user-driven needs, promoting scalable solutions, recognising the need for increased cross-cutting research, and raising social and political awareness about ageing and disabilities as one of the most important societal challenges of our time.
Mr James Kang, Assistant Chief Executive of IDA said, "Growth in the silver population has great potential to generate economic benefits and opportunities for social integration, and ICT can lower cost and improve quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities."
The workshop expressed particular concern over the slow pace of digital inclusion to address the rapidly accelerating global crisis related to people with special needs. Other specific outcomes of the conference included encouraging policy reforms to support interoperability of technologies and universal design; enabling new mechanisms for the sharing of large data sets for ageing and disability research; highlighting the roles of entrepreneurship and innovative financing; showcasing the role of new ICT-led technologies for ageing populations; recognising the need for "user-led" and solutions-oriented innovation approaches, and developing age-friendly living, workplace environments and communities.
The workshop made a strong call for a whole-of-government approach to achieve policy coherence, as well as for strengthening public-private partnerships and promoting collaboration among multiple actors and systems. Both local and international action will be condensed in a series of policy recommendations for APEC member economies on social inclusion for the ageing and the handicapped.
For more information about APEC, please visit: www.apec.org
Event photos can be viewed and downloaded at www.flickr.com/photos/idasingapore/sets/72157631626170277/. If images are used, please attribute to IDA Singapore.
JOINTLY ISSUED BY WASEDA UNIVERSITY AND
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About Waseda University
Waseda University is one of the biggest and most comprehensive universities in Japan with 13 Undergraduate Schools, 23 Graduate Schools, and other Research and Affiliated Institutes. The flexible and innovative mindset in the pedagogy and spirit of Waseda University has ensured that Waseda stands firm at the forefront in the information society. Furthermore, the APEC e-Government Research Center led by Professor Toshio Obi at Waseda University annually organizes the well-known global e-Government ranking survey which provides useful information for the government to referee and design the ICT strategy. For more information about Waseda University and APEC e-Government Research Center, please visit: www.waseda.jp and www.e-gov.waseda.ac.jp/apec.htmAbout Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is committed to growing Singapore into a dynamic global infocomm hub. IDA uses an integrated approach to developing infocommunications in Singapore. This involves nurturing a competitive telecoms market as well as a conducive business environment with programmes and schemes for both local and international companies. For more news and information, visit www.ida.gov.sg.
For media clarification, please contact:
Waseda University
Naoko Iwasaki (Dr)
Professor
Waseda University
Tel: +81 3 5286 8032
Email: Obi.waseda@gmail.com
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Malini Nathan (Ms)
Manager
Corporate & Marketing Communication
Tel: +65 6211 0660
Email: malini_nathan@imda.gov.sg
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