Mrs Tan Ching Yee, Chief Executive Officer Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore Speech - Java Tarik Day, Raffles City Convention Centre
Mrs Tan Ching Yee, Chief Executive Officer
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Speech - Java Tarik Day, Raffles City Convention Centre
Singapore, 23 August 2002
Good morning
Mr Mark Tolliver, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Sun Microsystems,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Introduction
1. I am happy to be here. Today marks another milestone for Java Tarik. How appropriate that Singapore has localized Java, to our very own flavour! The Java Tarik partnership was started in 1997 as a joint collaboration among the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Sun Microsystems, and other technology partners. The Java Tarik partnership has resulted in the establishment of Competency Centres within local Research Institutes and Centres (RICs) as well as Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). They include the Java Competency Centre and the Application Service Provider Centre. Their areas of focus are Java technology and Application Service Provision.
A Government - Industry Collaboration: The Java Tarik Partnership
2. The Java Tarik model of strategic collaboration among partners from both the public and private sectors has been valuable for Singapore. It has helped Singapore to build new capabilities in emerging technologies quickly so as to develop internationally competitive products and services. Our technology partners benefit too, by making good use of Singapore's advantages - a conducive living laboratory environment, technically skilled manpower and an infocomm savvy population - to build an initial market that can serve as their base as they expand into the region
3. As the market continues to look for total solutions, it is often necessary for various technology partners to come together in a collaborative framework. Our competency centers provide such a collaborative framework of partnerships between the industry and the government to build industry competencies and help foster greater innovation.
4. The Java Tarik partnership has proven that such collaboration reaps enormous benefits for all. It is no coincidence that Singapore has one of the largest concentrations of Java developers in Asia. This is due in no small measure to the inclusion of Java in the curriculum of the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). A total of fifty plus applications have been developed since the beginning of the partnership, with the expectation of at least another twenty to be delivered over the next two years. More than one hundred companies have also benefited from the test bedding of the emerging technologies in various projects for technology adoption since 1997.
Opening of the Java Wireless Competency Centre
5. Last year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Institute for Communications Research, Sun Microsystems and IDA to form the Java Wireless Competency Centre (JWCC) under the Java Tarik III. Its aim is to accelerate the development of wireless services on Java platform such as applications on-the-tap and wireless for mobility. Since its soft launch, the JWCC has produced several interesting projects.
Launch of the Java Smart Services Lab
6. Moving ahead, besides accelerating the wireless development, there is a trend of Web Services as the next engine of growth for the software and IT services industry. We believe that Singapore is poised to take a leading position in the development and adoption of Web Services in Asia.
7. Firstly, Singapore has a good infrastructure with nationwide broadband coverage. Secondly, we have one of the highest Internet penetration where 1 out of 2 Singaporeans are online, and 7 out of 10 residents are mobile subscribers. Thirdly, Singapore is one of the best connected city with excellent regional and international connectivity.
8. Singapore businesses have also been an early adopter of new technologies. For example, the TradeNet system which links the trading community is a pioneer in the use of technologies for business competitiveness. The government also leads in the usage of infocomm technologies with its various e-government initiatives such as the e-citizen and GeBiz portals. All these will provide a strong foundation for Singapore to embark on the development of Web Services.
9. Besides having a good infrastructure and early adoption of new technologies, Singapore also has the advantage of having many leading infocomm companies who are promoting web services. They provide the critical impetus to drive the development of web services. Many of them are also partners under IDA's infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Programme, or iLIUP. Through iLIUP, the technology providers have been collaborating with our local enterprises to pro-actively create and innovate new products leveraging on emerging technologies like Web Services.
10. I am happy to announce the launch of the fourth Java Tarik initiative, the Java Smart Services Lab (JSSL). This is a collaboration among the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) under A*Star, Sun Microsystems, IDA, and other technology partners. The lab will focus on developing Java based competencies for web services for the local manufacturing sector. In addition, IDA has also appointed the JSSL as the 5th Pilot and Trial Hot Spots (PATH) Assessment Centre to expedite the assessment of innovative pilots in this area.
Conclusion
11. In conclusion, it is important for key technology providers to work together with the IHLs, RICs and the local industry. As we say in Singapore, "Together, we make the difference". IDA will continue to support partnerships that can build up our capabilities and foster innovations, even as they benefit our partners in terms of proof of concept and proof of market tests. I will like to take this opportunity to thank Sun Microsystems and all the partners in making the Java Tarik initiatives a success.
Thank you.
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