A crowdsourcing tool for solving business problems, the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) connects Problem Owners and Problem Solvers launched by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) with the goal of giving Singapore-based businesses access to multidisciplinary talent, knowledge, and technology to speed up their digitalisation efforts.
A physical innovation facility that can support rapid prototyping and other innovation activities, as well as a structured innovation process from ideation to commercialisation, support this platform.
The IMDA’s OIP, now in its fifth year and involving 12,000 solution providers and over 300 problem statements, aims to connect technology companies with organisations that could use new technologies.
Businesses benefit from game-changing solutions, and passionate innovators gain experience working with dynamic organisations such as a wildlife reserve group. With the assistance of the IMDA OIP, the organisation has been able to leverage innovative technology to support various stages of its operations.
The reserve group was able to connect with technology companies through the programme to develop new solutions and improve park operations. These solutions include an intelligent aviary mesh inspection system, environmental monitoring devices, animal monitoring devices, and a staff food delivery system that operates autonomously.
Although these new technologies are still in the proof-of-concept stage, they are expected to improve the park’s operational efficiencies and employee productivity.
Furthermore, IMDA issues Innovation Calls on the OIP every few months, with each Innovation Call containing a set of business challenges from various Problem Owners. Each challenge is accompanied by monetary prizes for winning solutions, which will be chosen based on Problem Owners’ criteria.
The Problem Owner proposes the challenge category, which is then published along with a description of each problem statement.
The two major types of challenges are:
- Proof-of-Concept (POC) This necessitates demonstrating the technical viability of concepts or features of the proposed solution in a lab setting or as a standalone exercise.
- Prototype This necessitates the testing of a working prototype in an intended or simulated environment, as well as the extension of the prototype to a pilot.
For both types of challenges, the winning Problem Solver can continue developing, commercialising, and deploying the solution beyond the OIP.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and its statutory boards, as well as the Smart Nation Digital Government Group (SNDGG), awarded scholarships to 107 recipients.
This is the first joint scholarship award ceremony hosted by the MCI and SNDGG families, both of which fall under the portfolio of Josephine Teo, Minister of Communications and Information -who is also the Minister-in-Charge of the Cyber Security Agency and Smart Nation Initiative.
The scholarships are part of a larger effort to develop talent in technology, media, library and archives services, communications, and translation. Six scholarships were given out.
- IMDA SG Digital Leaders
- IMDA SG Digital Scholarship
- Smart Nation Scholarship
- MCI Information Service and Translation Scholarship
- MCI Postgraduate Scholarship
- NLB Scholarship
Minister Teo announced the IMDA’s new SG Digital Leadership Accelerator at the recent joint scholarship awards ceremony, with the goal of developing a strong and sustainable local core of digital leaders to drive Singapore’s digital future.
To accelerate their development, IMDA will open doors to opportunities for them to connect with other leaders, learn from the best in the industry, and secure mentorship and career coaching throughout their professional leadership journey.
IMDA has also added a new focus area to the SG Digital Scholarship to develop world-class translational research capabilities in future communications. Post-graduate local students will be given additional support to pursue research and translational projects related to future communications technologies such as 5G and beyond.
