A week of innovation and cool tech!

Awesome speakers, mind-blowing solutions and disruptive tech – why this year’s Smart Nation Innovations Week is the event to see and be seen.

By Angie Low

Now in its fourth year, Smart Nation Innovations (SNI) Week shows no sign of slowing down.

It promises a week-long celebration of Asia’s most noteworthy tech developments and innovation case-studies for public and private sectors.

Whether you are a fan of cutting-edge tech or concerned about the business opportunities offered by tech disruption, here's why you need to catch it this year:

1. Family bonding over tech!

Tech Saturday (Upsized!), which will be held on 2 to 3 June, is the best opportunity for everyone in the family to enjoy and explore cutting-edge technology that impacts our lives.

Organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the festival will showcase new innovations and emerging tech under the theme “Living in the Digital Age”.

Don’t miss exhibits that demonstrate how technology is changing the way we work, live, learn and play as well as workshops that teach you some cool tricks of the tech trade.

These include learning how to create a mood lamp using the micro:bit microcomputer, and creating your very own augmented reality (AR) character.

Admission is free! More details here: www.techsaturday.sg 

2. Be inspired by movers and shakers at @innovfest unbound

Want to learn from the big names in tech from Asia and beyond?

Sign up for innovfest unbound (5–6 June), Asia’s largest innovation event organised by NUS Enterprise and unbound, in partnership with IMDA.

Hear how industry leaders have thrived through challenges by riding the wave of innovation.

Speakers include Anthony Tan, CEO & Co-Founder of Grab; Chatri Sityodtong, Founder and Chairman, ONE Championship; Parin Mehta, APAC Trips Operations Director, Airbnb; and Steven Chang, Corporate Vice President, Tencent.

Salesforce’s Chief Scientist and AI expert extraordinaire Richard Socher will be delivering the keynote speech.

Purchase your tickets here: www.innovfestunbound.com

3. Discover the next big, disruptive thing in tech

There’s more to innovfest unbound than exciting talks and panels.

Hundreds of exhibitors will fill the halls with the latest products and solution demos.

See the latest virtual reality (VR) and AR gear, next-gen robotics, supercomputing-powered data analytics and other disruptive technologies that might change our future.

The exhibition areas also provide excellent networking opportunities if you're in the market for new technologies or business partners.

4. Get serious about disruption at convergence

Business concerns amidst technological disruption will be discussed and addressed at convergence, with its inaugural session of the QED Changemaker Series.

It brings together senior management and leaders from enterprises to engage in dialogue and discussion around critical industry issues, which will challenge and chart the future for their organisations. 

Happening alongside innovfest unbound, this new pillar event of SNI Week is organised and presented by QED Consulting.

You can register for convergence at www.innovfestunbound.com

5. Explore an entire innovation ecosystem under one roof

About 20,000 local and international participants across different industries and communities are expected to come together at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre to dive into the impact of disruptive technology.

Besides the events mentioned above, there’s so much more happening during SNI Week – for example, innovfest unbound contains four satellite events: convergence, futurenow, arise and einstein. Government-related events include the Digital Government Exchange, and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Industry Briefing.

For start-ups and aspiring technopreneurs who have made the shortlist, there’s the Pitch@Palace ASEAN platform that might give their business ideas a strong boost.

You can certainly benefit from taking part in any of the pillar events of SNI Week.

Check out www.sniweek.com and pick the right event for you – it’s a great way to understand where the digital economy is heading and what are the possibilities that the Smart Nation has in store for everyone in Singapore.