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Building public trust is essential for creating a stable society and a thriving economy. When governments gather, keep and use data, there are significant real and perceived risks.
Singapore’s ability to accelerate its public sector transformation programmes and maintain its competitive edge as one of the top smart nations in the world is due, in large part, to the high degree of public confidence that its government enjoys.
Data that has been given to the public must be processed in a way that is trustworthy, secure, and ultimately serves the common good. Public sector data executives are constantly considering how to uphold data trust throughout the full data lifecycle, including data consent and collection, data utilisation and analysis, data sharing and access.
Current strategies must consider the realities of IT in the present day, including a fragmented data landscape, rising cloud adoption, and a diversifying range of data formats, standards and usage situations.
A trusted data environment may be quickly created by democratising data and promoting increased, albeit secure, data sharing. A reliable platform can increase public trust and provide flexibility for many forms of data exchange, including inter-agency, public-private, citizen-government and more. In the envisioned future, the government, and the people it serves may create a vibrant ecosystem of data-driven innovation.
The OpenGov Breakfast Insight on 18 August 2022 offered the latest information on the uses and benefits of cloud data management for Singapore’s public sector.
Data Trust Boosts Public Confidence
Kicking off the session, Mohit Sagar, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, OpenGov Asia, acknowledges that Singaporeans have a high level of confidence in their government, “Singapore focuses on creating and implementing policies and procedures for activities that serve its people and communities and garners confidence.”
He noted that keeping the public’s confidence in the government’s use of data will be a critical success factor in many future government efforts, as these activities and interactions have shifted more and more into the digital sphere.
The main goal of the data trust is to make it possible to collect and share data for public use. Respect for persons with legal rights to data, as demonstrated by the ethical management of information, is an essential component of data trust.
In addition, when done through the cloud platform, data management may democratise data while ensuring that it is reliable, private and safe. Additionally, the use of cloud technology increases public confidence and allows governments to innovate and enhance services and their delivery.
Mohit believes that economic growth that is sustained and inclusive can advance society, produce good jobs for all and raise standards of living. Likewise, a circular flow of value creation and confidence-building between the government and the people it serves is the end outcome of the entire process.
As digital disruption reframes the privacy debate, organisations must consider how and to what extent they evolve their information governance strategies and capabilities. They must ensure that the mechanisms chosen to balance competing interests generate trust and confidence among their stakeholders and the public.
Digitalisation is a key tactic for achieving inclusive and long-term economic growth. As countries like Singapore strive to reinforce their position as smart nations, government organisations continuously move toward a more robust data-driven strategy.
The public sector is under increased pressure to implement effective data governance processes to increase public trust.
Creating a trusted data environment can quickly democratise and encourage greater data sharing. A trusted platform can boost public trust and provide flexibility for different data sharing between constituents. Thus, it gives efficiencies that are critical to long-term economic development.
Government Data Management for the Digital Age
According to Jon Teo, Data Governance and Domain Expert at Informatica, a digital society provides every person with an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of differences or circumstances. It encourages people to dream bigger as they become more connected to the rest of the world through technology.
Digital transformation utilises digital technology to develop or adapt new or existing company processes, culture and customer experiences to meet evolving business and market requirements. “This reimagining of business in the digital age is digital transformation.”
Jon offers Singapore as an illustration of how a country may adopt and use technology to reap the rewards of digitization, “Singapore is making good progress toward becoming a smart nation.”
He added that Singapore had set its sights on becoming a world-class, tech-driven city-state. It is transforming itself into a Smart Nation, harnessing technology to transform how its people and businesses live, work and play.
During their encounters with various data leaders and analytics managers, the phrase “data governance” is frequently used in addition to the initiatives for analytics and cloud data platforms.
The capacity to locate sensitive and personal data, safeguard the data and data access and frequently offer evidence of compliance with privacy regulations that have been passed or updated in the region during the past few years is the most frequently heard requirement for data governance in this context.
Additionally, data trust and how data processes may improve the consistency and dependability of the inputs and outputs of analytics and BI activities.
“These needs are certainly important, but ultimately, they are pieces of the overall data puzzle. Supporting these needs, and many more besides, can only begin with a dynamic, shared view of our data universe, that is useful to all constituents,” Jon points out.
Some analysts have called this Data Intelligence – an activity of employing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to evaluate and transform enormous databases into intelligent data insights, which may be used to enhance services and investments.
Jon shared the benefits of a governed, shared view of enterprise data assets with Informatica. “For an analytics data user, there are many issues that a one-stop view into our data universe could help to address.”
First is the search and discovery to quickly identify the best data sets for an analytics project across the entire available assets. Second is the understanding of the context of data; this is to ensure that analytics output is ultimately relevant. It is critical to thoroughly understand the business problem domain and surrounding context, as well as the dataset. The third is data preparation. Benefit from reusable, trustworthy data cleaning and quality functions that may be applied immediately to data assets with known data quality profiles.
A catalogue of catalogues that spans the environment will provide a powerful view of data assets across cloud and on-premises environments. On the other hand, upstream systems expedite smart data migration or ingestion. Jon added insights for the data engineering teams, data platform owners and more.
All the steps mentioned above are taken to ensure that the platform’s data usage adheres to security and classification policies and is safeguarded. Utilise the unified view of the data environments to automate and facilitate the transition from the analytics development environment to the production environment.
“This single view is made possible through the active use of metadata which represents our technical assets, business context, and people throughout the organisation,” Jon explains.
He added that the unified view combines this into the trusted metadata graph, which drives and underpins all these benefits. “This may sound like a data catalogue, but it is so much more.”
Jon differentiates the various forms metadata could take, “There’s technical metadata like schemas, there are business metadata like policies, there’s operational metadata, usage metadata, social metadata.”
Bringing all of these together delivers data understanding by leveraging all the sources of metadata within an enterprise from Business Intelligence platforms, Big Data, legacy ETL, tools, mainframes and applications, among others.
Fireside Chat: Data Governance Helps Public Organisations Gain Public Trust
Chris Ng, Group Chief Data Governance and Protection Officer, National University Health System feels that the way a company manages data throughout its life cycle determines how well it will be able to build, maintain and uphold the public’s trust.
The increased challenges in preserving data integrity have led to an increase in the demand for stronger data governance frameworks. Moreover, data governance strategies assist public organisations in enhancing public confidence.
Building, sustaining and upholding public trust depends on how an organisation handles data throughout its life cycle. Growth in the need for better data governance frameworks resulted from the growing difficulties in maintaining data integrity.
Although the ability to manage a huge amount of data has become critical to the success of businesses, most enterprises are grossly behind the curve. The current situation shows how data breaches are prevalent, rogue data sets spread in silos have become rampant and corporations’ data technologies have recently been falling short of expectations.
According to Chris, “each organisation has different frameworks.” Hence, there is no one framework for constructing a robust data strategy that is applicable across industries and maturity levels. What is sure, however, is that the chosen methodology will help managers determine whether their statistics are “defensive” or “offensive”.
Data defence minimises downside risk by maintaining regulatory compliance, employing analytics to detect and minimise fraud and constructing systems to prevent theft. Data offence aims to promote company objectives like revenue growth, profitability and customer happiness.
Chris furthered that optimising the “data value chain” is the same as making the data useful. This idea of a value chain refers to a process of turning data into information and then turning that information into business insights that aid decision-making and planning.
He emphasised that data is valuable because it has several qualities that make it worthwhile. “So, organisations need to know how the world of data has changed from a linear value chain to a complex ecosystem of information.”
High-value data, also known as data assets, can support strategy, insights and business decisions. Any internal or external sources can provide data that can be gathered, prioritised and sorted. It might be not easy to distinguish between useful data assets and those that are not.
But thanks to automated tools and procedures, big data has increasingly been easier to sort through. Incoming data can be organised according to its utility in addition to being sorted and prioritised generically.
A large body of data is a valuable resource. Any single piece of data is valuable in relation to other data or measurements.
Overarching data sets are divided into three categories based on their usefulness: business management, application and business integration and monitoring. In other words, value extends beyond the data pieces themselves. The entire value includes the reporting, analytics, insights and value people receive from having access to data.
Organisations have recognised that data is a core business asset. Teams oversee managing and analysing data in departments and roles based on data while managing, storing and making sure that data is safe and can be accessed correctly are important business challenges.
As a result, more application-based and Software As A Service (SaaS) solutions are being made to help deal with the vast amount of information that comes with big data.
Comparatively, data stewardship is the administration and control of an organisation’s data assets to offer business users conveniently accessible, high-quality data that is consistent. Data stewardship focuses on tactical coordination and implementation, whereas data governance often focuses on high-level policies and procedures.
A data steward is responsible for implementing data usage and security standards as specified by enterprise data governance initiatives. This serves as a link between an organisation’s IT department and its business side.
The position demands various technical and business-oriented abilities, such as data modelling and programming, as well as knowledge of data warehousing and storage ideas and enterprise strategy. Data stewards are also valued for their communication and cooperation skills.
Chris also shared that a data strategy is a comprehensive plan and policy for transforming an organisation’s culture into one that is more data-driven. Although a data strategy is frequently thought of as a technical exercise, a current and thorough data strategy is a road plan that outlines people, processes and technology.
It is necessary because the company’s many divisions will have varying perspectives on data-related skills without a unified vision and framework.
On the other hand, the execution and enforcement of authority over the administration of data and data-related assets are known as data governance. Data governance is concerned with how individuals behave when it comes to data-related activities and focuses on increasing the value of data and information.
Closing Remarks
“Different organisations are on different paths. We have determined that data governance and privacy are the foundation for all data,” says Steven Seah, Managing Director – ASEAN, India & Korea, Informatica.
The challenges that evolve around the organisations belong to the PPT framework or the people, processes, and technology.
The PPT framework focuses on the interactions between the three components. The task is done by individuals. Processes improve the effectiveness of this effort. People can complete their activities more easily and more efficiently thanks to technology.
Firms can attain organisational efficiency by striking a balance between the three and improving the interactions between people, processes, and technology.
The complete value stream of people, processes and technology should be mapped. This enables complete control and visibility over high-performing teams so that they may streamline operations and deliver products more quickly. Most businesses used it to raise the productivity of their workers and equipment.
“Informatica is attempting to collaborate with you in terms of your challenge. We can assist you with your people and processes and have the technology,” Steven reiterates to the delegates.
Mohit stressed the importance of digital collaborations as vital for expanding an enterprise. He added that before investing in a solution, strategic alliances with digital service providers or digital experience platforms might be an excellent method to learn about it.
“No organisation possesses all information, resources, or expertise. Many businesses still lack the internal capabilities required to drive digital transformation – this is true for both agencies and corporations,” Mohit concludes.
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The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) recently unveiled the pivotal insights gleaned from its inaugural Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report 2023. Conducted between May and August of the previous year, the survey canvassed the opinions of 2,036 organisations spanning various sises and sectors.
The objective was to gauge the landscape of cybersecurity readiness across local entities and inform CSA’s strategic initiatives. The importance of bolstering cybersecurity resilience within these organisations cannot be overstated, as they play a critical role in shaping the digital experiences of Singaporeans through their services and products.
The findings unveiled a mixed landscape: while the majority of organisations demonstrated an awareness of cybersecurity imperatives, there remains substantial room for improvement in adoption rates. On average, organisations reported implementing around 70% of essential cybersecurity measures across various categories. Additionally, a significant proportion, approximately 75%, acknowledged CSA’s cybersecurity certification programmes, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust, which serve as national standards for prioritising cybersecurity measures.
Despite these positive indicators, CSA sounded a cautionary note, emphasising the inadequacy of partial adoption. Without the full spectrum of essential measures, organisations remain vulnerable to unnecessary cyber risks. Alarmingly, only a third of organisations had fully implemented at least three of the five categories outlined in Cyber Essentials. This underscores the urgency for comprehensive adoption to fortify cybersecurity posture effectively.
A prevalent challenge cited by organisations hindering full adoption was a lack of knowledge and experience, echoed by 59% of businesses and 56% of non-profits. This is compounded by the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, exacerbated by a shortage of skilled cyber professionals. Moreover, a prevailing perception of being unlikely targets of cyber-attacks and resource constraints further impedes progress in bolstering defences.
The consequences of inadequate cybersecurity measures were starkly evident, with over 80% of organisations reporting encountering cybersecurity incidents annually, including prevalent threats like ransomware and social engineering scams. These incidents invariably inflicted a negative business impact, with disruptions, data loss, and reputational damage among the most commonly cited consequences.
While the cost of implementing cyber hygiene measures may seem daunting, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it pales in comparison to the potential financial ramifications of cyber incidents. CSA emphasises the importance of viewing cybersecurity investment as essential insurance against potentially catastrophic losses.
In response to these challenges, CSA has rolled out a comprehensive suite of initiatives aimed at bolstering organisational cybersecurity resilience. These include cybersecurity resources to raise awareness, tailored health plans delivered by cybersecurity consultants, and certification programmes such as Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust. Additionally, the collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority has led to the introduction of the Cybersecurity Health Check, providing organisations with a self-assessment tool to benchmark their cyber hygiene and access remedial resources.
Mr. David Koh, Chief Executive of CSA, stressed the imperative for organisations to prioritise cybersecurity and leverage available resources and funding support. Delaying proactive measures until after an incident occurs, he cautioned, would prove significantly more costly in the long run.
The release of the Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report underscores the urgent need for organisations to fortify their cybersecurity posture comprehensively. By embracing a holistic approach to cybersecurity and leveraging available resources and support, organisations can mitigate risks and safeguard against the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats of the digital age.
The Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report 2023 is available at www.csa.gov.sg/cyberhealthreport and the Cybersecurity Health Check can be accessed at https://www.csa.gov.sg/cyberhealthchecktool.
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In a remarkable leap forward in the field of neuroscience, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have introduced a groundbreaking algorithm known as the Unique Brain Network Identification Number (UBNIN). This innovative algorithm is poised to revolutionise the analysis of brain connectivity patterns, offering profound insights into both healthy brain function and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The human brain, with its intricate network of neural connections, is a marvel of complexity. Each individual possesses a unique pattern of brain connectivity, akin to a fingerprint of the mind. Recognising the significance of these individualised brain networks, the researchers at IIT Guwahati set out to develop a method capable of decoding and quantifying these intricate patterns.
The UBNIN algorithm represents a paradigm shift in how we understand and analyse brain connectivity. Drawing upon data from structural MRI scans, the algorithm constructs a network model of the brain, with each region of the brain represented as a node. These nodes are interconnected by edges, reflecting the strength of connectivity between different brain regions.
What sets UBNIN apart is its ability to distil this complex network into a single numerical identifier. This unique identifier, akin to a digital signature for the brain, encapsulates the individualised connectivity patterns of each person. By quantifying these patterns into numerical values, UBNIN offers a powerful tool for understanding the structural organisation of the brain.
The implications of UBNIN are far-reaching. One potential application lies in the realm of brainprinting, where individual brain signatures could be used for identification purposes. Much like a fingerprint uniquely identifies an individual, UBNIN could serve as a digital identifier for the brain, with applications in personalised medicine, biometrics, and cognitive neuroscience.
Moreover, UBNIN holds promise as a biomarker for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Early detection of Parkinson’s is crucial for initiating timely interventions and improving patient outcomes. By analysing changes in UBNIN values over time, researchers may be able to identify subtle alterations in brain connectivity associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease.
To validate the utility of UBNIN as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, researchers conducted a comprehensive study involving structural MRI scans from both PD patients and healthy individuals. The results were promising, with UBNIN values exhibiting distinct patterns in PD patients compared to healthy controls. This suggests that UBNIN has the potential to serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, offering new avenues for early diagnosis and disease monitoring.
Furthermore, the researchers explored the impact of age on brain connectivity patterns. Aging is associated with changes in brain structure and function, which may contribute to the development of neurological disorders. By analysing structural MRI data from individuals across different age groups, the researchers found that brain connectivity patterns indeed change with age. Specifically, they observed a decrease in the clustering coefficient—a measure of network connectivity—with increasing age. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of brain plasticity and aging.
Dr. Cota Navin Gupta, Assistant Professor at the Neural Engineering Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, commented on the significance of these findings. “UBNIN offers a unique window into the structural organisation of the brain,” he remarked. “By quantifying individualised brain connectivity patterns, UBNIN has the potential to transform our understanding of brain function and dysfunction.”
Looking ahead, the researchers envision further applications of UBNIN in diverse fields, ranging from personalised medicine to cognitive neuroscience. By harnessing the power of UBNIN, researchers may unlock the mysteries of the human brain, paving the way for new insights into neurological disorders and brain health.
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Bushfires represent one of the most formidable challenges faced by firefighters worldwide. With their unpredictable behaviour and rapid spread, combating these blazes demands innovative solutions to ensure the safety of both responders and communities at risk. In a groundbreaking initiative, researchers are harnessing the power of robotics to revolutionise bushfire response, paving the way for more effective firefighting strategies and enhanced situational awareness.
At the heart of this endeavour lies the Silvanus Project, an ambitious international collaboration aimed at developing ground robots capable of navigating fire fronts and gathering crucial data in real-time. Led by researchers from Data61’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, this project represents a pioneering effort to address the inherent dangers associated with traditional firefighting methods.
Bushfires, fueled by factors such as vegetation density and weather conditions, can escalate rapidly, outpacing conventional firefighting techniques. To stay ahead of the inferno, firefighters require accurate information about fire location, direction of spread, and potential hazards. However, obtaining such data often entails placing personnel in hazardous environments, risking their safety in the process.
Drones have emerged as a promising tool for aerial reconnaissance, offering valuable insights into fire behaviour from above. However, their effectiveness is limited by factors such as smoke interference, high winds, and restricted flight times. Recognising these limitations, researchers turned their focus to ground-based solutions, envisioning robots capable of operating in the most challenging of conditions.
The ground robots developed as part of the Silvanus Project are equipped with advanced sensors and navigation systems, allowing them to traverse rugged terrain and navigate through smoke and debris. Some robots are designed to move on legs, mimicking the mobility of insects, while others utilise tracks for increased stability and manoeuvrability. These robots venture into the heart of the fire, gathering critical data such as fire intensity, fuel availability, and environmental conditions.
During a demonstration conducted for fire service representatives and researchers, the capabilities of these ground robots were showcased, highlighting their potential to transform firefighting operations. With the ability to transmit data in real-time to a cloud-based platform, these robots provide firefighters with unprecedented situational awareness, enabling more informed decision-making and proactive firefighting strategies.
Senior experimental scientist Tom Lowe emphasises the significance of these ground robots in enhancing firefighter safety and operational effectiveness. By deploying robots into areas deemed too hazardous for human intervention, firefighters can access vital information without exposing themselves to unnecessary risks. Furthermore, the integration of remote sensing technologies allows robots to assess vegetation density and predict fuel availability, further aiding in fire suppression efforts.
While the technology is still in the developmental stage, researchers are optimistic about its potential impact on future firefighting practices. Navinda Kottege, Cyber-Physical Systems Research Director, underscores the life-saving potential of ground robots, particularly in high-risk firefighting scenarios where human intervention may be impractical or unsafe.
The Silvanus Project represents a collaborative effort involving researchers from across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, and Brazil, united in their mission to develop innovative solutions for forest management and fire prevention. By harnessing the power of robotics and cutting-edge technologies, this initiative aims to bolster preparedness and response capabilities, ultimately saving lives and protecting communities from the devastating impact of bushfires.
As ground robots continue to evolve and mature, fueled by ongoing research and international collaboration, the vision of leveraging technology to mitigate the impact of bushfires grows ever closer to reality. With each technological advancement, firefighters gain new tools and capabilities to confront one of nature’s most formidable adversaries, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called upon the youth to take the lead in propelling Vietnam’s digital transformation, emphasising their crucial role in shaping the nation’s future amidst the burgeoning digital economy. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a dialogue held in Hanoi on March 26, where he engaged with 300 outstanding young individuals from various regions of the country.
With the digital economy projected to contribute 30% to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, PM Chinh underscored the urgency for Vietnam to embrace digitalisation as an indispensable global trend. He highlighted digital transformation as a cornerstone alongside the green economy, circular economy, sharing economy, and intellectual economy, essential for realising the nation’s development objectives of transitioning into a modern, upper-middle-income country by 2030 and achieving developed, high-income status by 2045.
In his address, PM Chinh urged the youth to champion digitalisation by raising public awareness, advocating for policy reforms, driving administrative modernisation through digital technologies, and advancing research and development efforts in the digital domain. Emphasising their role as pioneers, he expressed confidence in the youth’s ability to contribute, innovate, integrate into society, and pursue personal growth.
Moreover, PM Chinh called upon the youth to collaborate with the government in establishing a digital government, digital economy, digital society, and nurturing digital citisenship. This collaborative approach is deemed essential for harnessing the full potential of digital technologies to address societal challenges and drive inclusive growth.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s call, the youth presented recommendations to the government, emphasising the need to refine the legal framework governing digital platforms and establish effective communication channels to engage citisens in the digital transformation process. They stressed the importance of inclusivity and transparency in policymaking to ensure the successful implementation of digital initiatives.
During the dialogue, PM Chinh addressed queries from the youth regarding data protection, cybersecurity measures, integration of public services with the national population database, and strategies to preserve cultural identity in the digital age. Acknowledging these concerns, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding data privacy, enhancing cybersecurity, and promoting cultural heritage preservation in the digital era.
Furthermore, PM Chinh instructed relevant ministries, authorities, and localities to expedite the implementation of the National Digital Transformation Programme, refine existing mechanisms and policies, and create an enabling environment for youth-led initiatives. This concerted effort aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy among the younger generation, thereby ensuring their active participation in shaping Vietnam’s digital future.
The dialogue served as a platform for meaningful exchanges between the government and the youth, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in driving Vietnam’s digital transformation agenda. With the youth at the forefront, Vietnam is poised to harness the opportunities offered by digital technologies to achieve sustainable development and prosperity for all.
As reported by openGov Asia, Vietnam is undergoing a digital revolution, characterised by concerted endeavours to advance the country’s digital transformation. With aspirations to attain high-income status by 2045, Vietnam’s digital technology sector focuses on mastering technology, fostering innovation, and developing domestic manufacturing capacities.
In this context, inclusivity and collaboration are essential, serving as key drivers to unleash the transformative power of technology and foster economic expansion, ensuring broad societal participation and contribution to the nation’s advancement.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising transformative solutions to complex challenges across various domains. Recognising its potential to revolutionise industries and improve societal well-being, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has inaugurated the NUS AI Institute (NAII). Led by Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, NAII aims to accelerate AI research and its practical applications, fostering collaboration, innovation, and societal impact.
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, AI has emerged as a powerful tool with the capacity to reshape diverse sectors, ranging from healthcare to finance, education, logistics, and beyond. The establishment of NAII underscores NUS’s commitment to harnessing AI for the greater good, addressing critical issues facing Singapore and the global community.
At the core of NAII’s mission is the advancement of fundamental AI research, aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities and exploring novel applications across various domains. Through foundational research initiatives, scientists at NAII will tackle complex AI problems, spanning hardware and software systems, AI theory, responsible AI, reasoning AI, and resource-efficient AI. By delving into these areas, the institute seeks to develop cutting-edge AI technologies that address real-world challenges and drive innovation.
Moreover, NAII will prioritise research into the ethical and societal implications of AI, aiming to develop robust governance frameworks that ensure responsible AI development and deployment. This includes examining issues related to transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in AI systems. By fostering dialogue and research on AI ethics and governance, NAII aims to guide the responsible use of AI technology and mitigate potential risks.
In addition to foundational research, NAII will spearhead applied research initiatives, focusing on developing AI-driven solutions for specific application domains. Collaborating with experts from diverse fields, including healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, finance, urban sustainability, and education, the institute will tackle pressing challenges and explore opportunities for AI-driven innovation. From optimising supply chains to improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing urban infrastructure, NAII’s applied research efforts aim to deliver tangible benefits to society.
Furthermore, NAII will serve as a hub for AI talent development, providing comprehensive education and training programs for students, professionals, and policymakers. By offering hands-on learning experiences and internships, the institute seeks to nurture the next generation of AI leaders and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation in AI.
To support its research and educational endeavours, NUS has allocated significant resources to NAII, including external research grants and institutional funding. Moreover, the institute will collaborate closely with government agencies and industry partners to amplify its impact and drive innovation. Strategic partnerships with leading companies such as IBM and Google Cloud will enable NAII to leverage industry expertise and resources, accelerating the translation of research outcomes into real-world applications.
In alignment with Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) strategy, NAII aims to contribute to the nation’s AI ecosystem by fostering collaboration, innovation, and talent development. By positioning NUS as a global leader in AI research and application, the institute seeks to drive positive societal change and economic growth.
The establishment of NAII represents a significant milestone in NUS’s journey towards harnessing the power of AI for societal benefit. Through cutting-edge research, education, and collaboration, the institute aims to unlock the full potential of AI and pave the way for a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive future. With its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to excellence, NAII is poised to make a lasting impact on Singapore and the global AI landscape.
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The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has reached a significant milestone with its artificial intelligence (AI) platform, VNPT eKYC, logging over 1 billion user authentication requests. This accomplishment solidifies VNPT’s position as a pioneer in electronic identification and verification solutions within Vietnam.
Since its inception, VNPT eKYC has been at the forefront of electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) services for over five years, serving a diverse range of clients including banks, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and e-commerce entities. With over 100 organisations utilising its services, VNPT eKYC has facilitated electronic identification for more than 40 million individuals across the country.
On average, the VNPT eKYC system processes an impressive 600,000 requests daily, with peak days witnessing over a million requests being handled seamlessly. This demonstrates the platform’s robustness and reliability in managing high volumes of authentication transactions efficiently.
The significance of VNPT eKYC extends beyond its technological capabilities, particularly in the context of evolving regulatory requirements. The State Bank of Vietnam’s decision mandating biometric authentication for transactions exceeding 10 million VND (approximately 416 USD) and other significant transactions from July 1, 2024, underscores the critical role of advanced authentication solutions like VNPT eKYC in ensuring compliance and security in financial transactions.
Moreover, the platform’s success highlights the increasing importance of domestically developed solutions in the banking and financial sector. Domestic solutions such as VNPT eKYC offer several advantages, including rapid implementation, cost-effectiveness, adherence to global technology standards, scalability, and high readiness to meet evolving regulatory requirements.
Central to the effectiveness of VNPT eKYC is its advanced AI models, which enable the verification of facial biometric data with an impressive accuracy rate of up to 99.99%. This high level of accuracy not only enhances the security of authentication processes but also contributes to building trust and confidence among users and regulatory authorities.
As Vietnam’s digital economy continues to grow and evolve, the role of advanced authentication and verification solutions like VNPT eKYC becomes increasingly indispensable. Beyond facilitating seamless and secure electronic transactions, these solutions contribute to enhancing the overall digital infrastructure and ecosystem of the country, paving the way for further innovation and economic growth.
Looking ahead, VNPT remains committed to advancing its AI platform and expanding its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its clients and the regulatory landscape. With a strong focus on innovation, reliability, and security, VNPT eKYC is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of electronic identification and verification in Vietnam’s dynamic digital economy.
VNPT’s achievement of logging over 1 billion authentication requests with its AI platform, VNPT eKYC, marks a significant milestone in Vietnam’s journey towards digital transformation.
Amid a swiftly changing global landscape, Vietnam emerges as a frontrunner in a digital revolution, strategically positioned to harness technology’s transformative power for economic progress and societal development.
It is embracing its digital transformation journey, highlighting collaborative efforts to drive the nation’s digital transformation. The nation’s digital technology industry aims to propel Vietnam towards high-income status by 2045 through technology mastery, innovation, and indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
Moreover, the nation is working to harmonise its regulations, streamline laws, and promote consistency in its legal framework to foster a more favourable and appealing cyber environment.
As the country continues to embrace technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges, VNPT eKYC stands as a testament to the potential of domestic innovation in driving progress and excellence in the digital era.
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In a significant scientific breakthrough in a space sector, Dr Sarah Kessans has developed hardware designed to operate autonomously in orbit, transforming the study of protein crystallisation in microgravity. This technology provides scientists on Earth with unprecedented insights into protein behaviour, with far-reaching implications for developing more effective medicines and vaccines, among other applications.
Minister for Space Dr Megan Collins lauds Dr Kessans’ research as an inspiring example of how space technology can drive innovation on Earth. This achievement follows the recent successful launch of MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to track and monitor global emissions from space, highlighting the significant potential of space technology in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges while bolstering our globally competitive space sector.
The MethaneSAT satellite will be equipped with a highly sensitive spectrometre that can detect concentrations as low as two parts per billion, and it will have high-spatial resolution coupled with a broad, 200-kilometre view path, allowing it to quantify even small emission sources over large areas.
Dr Kessans’ research culminated in successfully launching her hardware on a rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, USA. This mission also included protein experiments from leading New Zealand universities, including Canterbury, Otago, Victoria, and Waikato, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the country’s academic institutions in advancing space science and technology.
The launch of Dr Kessans’ project results from a strategic agreement between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the US commercial space company Axiom Space. This partnership aims to facilitate New Zealand researchers’ advancement in space science and technology, fostering innovation and driving collaboration between academia, government, and private enterprise.
Dr Kessans’ project has also received government funding for further development through the MBIE-administered Endeavour Fund, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge research and innovation in the space sector. This collaborative effort between academia, government, and private enterprise is a testament to New Zealand’s growing presence in the global space economy, positioning the country as a key player in space research and technology development.
Previously, New Zealand had collaborated with several countries, including Australia, to advance space research, as reported by OpenGov. The collaboration between SmartSat and the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) is an important development. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities aims to accelerate the growth and technological advancement of the Australian and New Zealand space industries, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of space exploration and innovation in the Australasian region.
This partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to fostering innovation, driving research and development (R&D), and nurturing a skilled workforce capable of propelling technological breakthroughs in the space sector. The MoU, ceremoniously signed at the NZSA headquarters in Wellington, signifies a strategic alignment between SmartSat and NZSA to leverage their combined resources and expertise.
At the core of this collaboration, it is designated to support joint research initiatives in three key technological domains: Earth Observation, Space Situational Awareness, and Optical Communications. These areas represent the forefront of space exploration, offering immense potential to revolutionise humanity’s perception and interaction with the cosmos.
Minister Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Minister for Space, praised the new agreement as a testament to the enduring collaboration between Australia and New Zealand in space exploration. In a statement on her official website, she reiterated her commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, recognising the transformative potential of space technology in addressing global challenges.
Minister Collins reaffirmed the government’s dedication to developing the country’s space sector, promoting innovation, and strengthening partnerships with the New Zealand research community, international space agencies, and commercial collaborators. These collaborative approaches underscore New Zealand’s commitment to advancing space science and technology to benefit society and the economy, paving the way for future breakthroughs in the field.