A Smart Nation of Opportunities

Singapore is pushing ahead in our Smart Nation journey. To achieve this, we will build a world class infrastructure for pervasive connectivity, lead in the use of technology for our daily lives and nurture a larger research and innovation system, to create value for the economy.

• Smart Systems Strategic Research Programme

• Looking into Disruptive Technologies

Enhancements to Wireless@SG

MCI will continue to improve our connectivity, and enhance Wireless@SG. Today, Singapore is the second most “hotspot dense” global city in 2015 after Tokyo.

We will:

1. Upgrade the speed of the Wireless@SG programme from 2Mbps to 5Mbps and

2. Double the Wi-Fi hotspots from 10,000 to 20,000 by 2018

Review of Public Service Broadcasting

Keeping up with media convergence and shifting consumer viewing trends, MCI will embark on a review of Public Service Broadcasting, to ensure that our public service broadcasters are equipped to produce good quality local content for Singaporeans.

Read the MCI Budget Debate Speeches

1. Building a Singapore Core in Infocomm Media

2. A Smart Nation of Opportunities for All

3. Connecting People and Community

4. Reading for our Future

Our Strategy

To address the manpower challenges and seize the opportunities in the sector, the Government will focus on:

• Ensuring that our local infocomm professionals are equipped with updated and relevant skills to remain employable

• Building a pipeline of highly skilled infocomm workforce with a strong Singapore core

Building a Pipeline of Singapore Infocomm Professionals

1. As part of the strategies to address the manpower challenges, a series of programmes and initiatives have been introduced. The target audiences of the programmes and initiatives range from school children and tertiary pre-graduates to fresh and experienced working professionals.

Developing coding and computational thinking as national capability

2. To build the future pipeline of infocomm professionals, efforts must begin from the young. Through the Code@SG Movement launched by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), the government will continue to develop in our students coding and computational thinking skills. To date, more than 110,000 students have benefitted from the movement since it was launched. The existing outreach by Code@SG initiatives is about 22,000 students per year. The new target will be increased to about 24,000 students per year. Schools will continue to tap on the movement to nurture interest in technology among our young.

Developing industry-ready talent

3. To meet employers’ needs, it is crucial to ensure a pipeline of industry-ready graduates. Internship and mentorship opportunities will be offered to more students through IDA’s Industry Preparation for Pre-Graduates (iPREP) Programme. iPREP will allow students to work on industry projects to gain experience and skills as well as build up their portfolios. The programme used to take in an average of 130 students per year. From this year, IDA will target to increase the intake to 800 students per year over the next three years. These 800 places will be nominated by the Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs).

INDUSTRY PREPARATION FOR PRE-GRADUATES (‘IPREP’) PROGRAMME

4. The iPREP programme aims to prepare and equip pre-graduates with relevant skillsets and work experience to ensure a pipeline of industry-ready graduates to meet industry manpower needs.

Programme Coverage

5. Pre-graduates will have internship and mentorship opportunities to gain work experience by embarking on industry infocomm projects to prepare them for the workplace. They will also be encouraged to build up their portfolio to showcase them to their prospective employers. They will receive funding support for the development of skillsets and technical competencies. To encourage experience and knowledge transfer, pre-graduates will also be invited to interact with industry experts through IDA’s network of partners, infocomm seminars and events.

6. The programme includes:

   a. Industry courses or certifications: Pre-graduates will receive funding support to take industry courses or certifications recommended by their Post-Secondary Education Institutes (PSEIs), or sourced by themselves, subjected to IDA’s approval.

   b. Meet the Mentor Sessions: IDA will invite experienced tech professionals and key infocomm industry leaders to hold talks and breakout sessions for pre-graduates to provide them insights to the tech industry.

   c. Local or Overseas Internships: Pre-graduates will have opportunities to work on industry infocomm projects. The programme also funds pre-graduates for overseas internship.

   d. Invitation to Events: Pre-graduates will receive invitations to networking events and events where they can showcase their completed projects. There will also be invitation to infocomm seminars or workshops held by IDA, IDA’s partners and PSEIs.

Eligibility Criteria

7. The programme is open to Singapore Citizens. Only current ICT pre-graduates, nominated by their PSEIs, will be invited to apply for the programme. More information is available at www.infocommtalent.com.sg

Visit the MCI COS Budget Debates 2016 Microsite for more information: www.mci.gov.sg/budget-debates-2016

Ensuring Tech Skills Keep Pace In a Fast Moving Sector

1. Next, to ensure that working adults continually acquire new skills, and sharpen their competencies, existing programmes will be scaled up and new programmes implemented.

   Accelerating professional development

2. One such programme that will be scaled up is the Company-Led Training (CLT) programme by IDA. The programme provides structured training for fresh professionals with three years or less of working experience after graduation in ICT or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) disciplines. Since FY2011, it has benefited 459 professionals. Last year, the number of fresh professionals who benefited from this programme reached 160. Given the success of this programme, the target is to train 900 fresh professionals per year over the next three years. More information is available at www.infocommtalent.com.sg

Enabling continuous skills acquisition and validation

3. The Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme Plus or CITREP+ is another programme by IDA that will be expanded. It began as a programme that supports training providers to offer professional specialist-level courses and certifications to the ICT workforce to enhance technical skillsets. Approximately 3,000 ICT professionals benefit from this programme on an annual basis. The new CITREP+ will be expanded to include entry-level courses and certifications, and skills validation, targeting about 5,600 per year over the next three years. The courses will be refreshed and added according to the industry skills in demand, identified through the National Infocomm Competency Framework.

4. With the enhancements, CITREP+ can better provide infocomm professionals with varying experience levels more opportunities and courses to select from to upgrade their skills. It can also channel existing infocomm professionals to acquire and deepen key skillsets to meet industry demand more effectively. More information is available at www.infocommtalent.com.sg

Increasing the addressable pool

5. The Tech Immersion and Placement programme is a new initiative by IDA to convert non-ICT professionals, especially graduates from STEM disciplines into industry-ready ICT professionals. The trainees will be placed into tech job roles, after undergoing a short duration of intensive and immersive training courses delivered by industry practitioners.

6. The programme was piloted in Nov 2015 with General Assembly (GA). 81 non-ICT professionals have participated in the pilot programme, with 36 graduates in the first batch and 45 graduates in the second batch. The first batch of graduates recently completed their immersive training in Feb 2016. IDA will be working with other partners to ramp up Tech Immersion and Placement programmes to approximately 350 trainees per year over the next three years, with the aim to attract even more Singaporeans from STEM disciplines to join the infocomm sector. More information is available at www.infocommtalent.com.sg

7. A total of S$120m will be set aside to scale up and accelerate the development of infocomm manpower capabilities, particularly in the key growth areas of software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, as well as network and infrastructure. The S$120m will target to train about 20,000 infocomm professionals by the end of three years.

Visit the MCI COS Budget Debates 2016 Microsite for more information: www.mci.gov.sg/budget-debates-2016

TechSkills Accelerator

1. The Technology Skills Accelerator or “TechSkills Accelerator” aims to address the immediate skills shortage and increase the supply of infocomm manpower in a wide variety of skills. It will look into skills development and job placement for the ICT sector

2. The industry will play a pivotal role in defining the type and number of tech jobs in demand, and to determine the skills required. Industry associations including Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF), the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) and the IT Management Association (ITMA) will partner IDA in this effort. This will allow fresh entrants to be fast-tracked to meet current industry’s needs, and allow experienced professionals to be reskilled to stay relevant to the industry.

3. The TechSkills Accelerator is targeted at fresh infocomm graduates employed in companies, existing and displaced infocomm professionals, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) professionals converting to ICT careers.

4. The roles and responsibilities of the TechSkills Accelerator are to:

   • Identify specific skills in demand and work with a network of specialised training providers to meet these complex demands for ICT skills in start-ups and in sectors such as finance and healthcare.

   • Develop industry-recognised skills standards and certification. This will guide ICT professionals to acquire industry-relevant skills and help employers assess skills proficiency of its employees.

   • Work with anchor employers to commit to hiring and paying based on certified skills proficiency rather than academic qualifications alone. Several employers have agreed to come on board, including the new Government Technology Agency (GovTech), Singtel, ST Electronics, Integrated Health Information Systems, DBS and UOB.

5. The TechSkills Accelerator will pioneer new ways of enabling Singaporeans to be at the frontiers of learning and knowledge, and to seize opportunities in new growth areas. These efforts will be expanded to more sectors in the coming years.

6. The TechSkills Accelerator will be governed by a Council of representatives from government, industry associations, and key hirers.

Visit the MCI COS Budget Debates 2016 Microsite for more information: www.mci.gov.sg/budget-debates-2016

Developing Infocomm Manpower

“We will hence set aside $120million to support training efforts in developing infocomm manpower capabilities, to address immediate and future manpower needs.”

- Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information

Read full speech here

More than $120 million for ICT Manpower Development Programmes

Building a Strong Singapore Core for the Infocomm Sector

As the demand for infocomm professionals rise, Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim talked about how the government will be building a strong Singaporean core for the infocomm sector.

Meet Joshua Tan Computer Science Student NTU and IDA Scholar

Meet Joshua Tan - In his teens, he discovered the joy of coding and is now pursuing his dreams of a future in the infocomm sector through an IDA scholarship. Watch the video for Joshua's story.

Visit http://bit.ly/ictopportunities for more info on how you can benefit from the Infocomm Manpower Strategy and SkillsFuture Study Awards.

Developing Spaces for Collaboration and Digital Content Creation

Creators’ Space

1. Creators’ Space at the Pixel Building in one-north will be opened by end 2016. It will provide a meeting place for digital content creators to learn, experiment and collaborate. Partners like Autodesk, digital creative agency Brand New Media, online video platform Dailymotion and Maker Studios will offer training programmes and digital resources. It will be a hub that serves our media companies and professionals in the different sectors that are looking to develop content for digital platforms. Creators’ Space will also help media professionals develop story-telling skills.

2. As part of the efforts to equip talent with skills in online content creation, one of MDA’s partners, Brand New Media, will launch two cycles of brand hackathons in May 2016. The programme will teach participants how to deliver compelling solutions to brand owners, to secure new sources of funding. More details on the brand hackathons will be released closer to date.

Expansion of the Games Solution Centre (GSC)

3. In the past five years, the GSC at “Block 71” has offered budding game developers mentorship programmes, support for them to take their ideas overseas, as well as business networking and financing opportunities. The GSC has benefitted close to 50 Singapore game companies, by incubating local game start-ups and developing game prototypes.

4. MDA plans to build on the GSC’s success and increase support to game developers. The GSC will be expanded and the number of services available to game developers will be increased. This includes providing more technical training, mentorship programmes, business development and marketing support, creating more investment opportunities and opening joint calls-for-proposals with partners. There are also plans to forge more partnerships with global gaming brands.

Visit the MCI COS Budget Debates 2016 Microsite for more information: www.mci.gov.sg/budget-debates-2016

Deepening Skills in Storytelling and Content Production

Story Lab

1. Under the Story Lab initiative, MDA will launch several new programmes this year to develop story-telling capabilities and nurture a new breed of story-tellers in Singapore. A master class on writing for games (titled “Game Writing vs. Narrative Design: A Masterclass on Understanding the Game Content Industry”) was conducted on 11 March 2016. More than 40 participants benefited from the programme, where media and literary professionals learnt game writing techniques and tools to develop game stories. The event was held in partnership with NTUC and the National Book Development Council of Singapore.

2. Upcoming pilot programmes under Story Lab include WritersLab, a four-month advanced scriptwriting programme for local TV screenwriters. Participants will be mentored by international experts and given the opportunity to pitch their story ideas to producers for further development. This is the first such programme focused on story incubation that will be available in Singapore. Subsequent runs will be extended to other media subsectors such as film and games.

3. MDA also plans to work with partners such as the National Library Board to roll out programmes that foster an appreciation for story-telling among other target groups such as emerging writers, students and the general public.

Mentorship opportunities for film talent

4. MDA will collaborate with industry partners such as mm2 Entertainment to run project development programmes for filmmakers, producers and scriptwriters. The collaboration with mm2 Entertainment saw a recent four-day scriptwriting development programme for films conducted in Mar 2016, which was open to the public. In July 2016, a select group of promising Singaporean scriptwriters of Chinese scripts will be mentored by accomplished regional writers through a six month long workshop. Up to three scripts will be selected for production following the workshop.

Capability Development Partnerships with MNCs

5. MDA partnered global media companies such as FOX and HBO to introduce a series of workshops in 2015, that gave Singapore media professionals the opportunity to learn from leading talent worldwide. Over a hundred media professionals benefited from the workshops, which will continue this year. Following these workshops, FOX will partner several promising local production houses to produce content for the National Geographic Channel. More details on the selected partners and projects will be released at a later date.

Visit the MCI COS Budget Debates 2016 Microsite for more information: www.mci.gov.sg/budget-debates-2016

Reaping Synergies through Co-location

• The Games Solution Centre and Story Lab will be co-located at Creators’ Space at Pixel, bringing game developers close to story-tellers and online content creators to better reap synergies and partnerships.

Transforming the Media Sector

“I am pleased to share that this year, MDA will expand on its efforts to help enhance the capacity of the media sector to create new content, for new platforms, so that we can transform the media sector to be future ready.”

- Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information

Read full speech here

Key Points on SkillsFuture Study Awards

• A total of 310 SkillsFuture Study Awards will be open for application by Singaporeans who are interested in deepening their skills in the infocomm, media and design sectors

• The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) and DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) will be giving out 150, 70 and 90 SkillsFuture Study Awards respectively

• IDA, MDA and Dsg’s SkillsFuture Study Awards will be open for application from 15 April 2016 to 14 June 2016

• Each award, valued at S$5,000, can be used to defray the recipients’ out-of-pocket training expenses for their courses. The award is bond-free and can be used on top of existing Government course fee subsidies.

• Applications are to be submitted via the SkillsFuture portal at www.skillsfuture.sg/studyawards.

Courses Supported

The courses supported by the award include:

• Infocomm: Software Development, Cybersecurity, Network and Infrastructure, and Data Analytics

• Media: Diploma courses in Film, Sound and Video or Multimedia and Animation, degree courses in Game Design or Digital Filmmaking

• Design: Business, Design Management, Digital Design, as well as Service Design or Experience Design

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for SkillsFuture Study Awards (Infocomm, Media and Design Sectors)

INFOCOMM SKILLSFUTURE STUDY AWARDS

• Singapore Citizens only
• Not a previous recipient of any SkillsFuture Study Award
• At least 3 years of working experience
• Applicants who have started their course at the point of applying for the SkillsFuture Study Awards but have not completed their studies at the point of application are eligible to apply
• Courses applied should be relevant to the needs of the infocomm sector

MEDIA SKILLSFUTURE STUDY AWARDS

• Singapore Citizens only
• Not a previous recipient of any SkillsFuture Study Award
• At least 3 years of experience as a media practitioner
• Must have started or have been accepted into a full-time or part-time media course in Singapore leading to diploma, degree or post-graduate qualifications
• Applicants who have started their course at the point of applying for the SkillsFuture Study Awards but have not completed their studies at the point of application are eligible to apply
• Courses applied should be relevant to the needs of the media sector. Online courses are not applicable

DESIGN SKILLSFUTURE STUDY AWARDS

• Singapore Citizens only
• Not a previous recipient of any SkillsFuture Study Award
• At least 3 years of work experience in design
• Committed to deepening skills in the design sector
• Track record of contributing to the learning and training of self or others
• Applicants who have started their course at the point of applying for the SkillsFuture Study Awards but have not completed their studies at the point of application are eligible to apply
• Courses applied should be relevant to the needs of the design sector. Online courses are not applicable

[Note: The SkillsFuture Study Award for the design sector is open to those who are non-design trained, but have at least three years of design work experience. It is not applicable for those in other creative industries such as media and art professionals. This is because the SkillsFuture Study Award for the design sector is targeted at design professionals in the early to mid-stages of their careers and are looking to further develop their design careers and deepen their skills. Design enthusiasts who do not meet the criteria may consider other initiatives such as the SkillsFuture Credits to take up design courses.]

Visit the MCI COS Budget Debates 2016 Microsite for more information: www.mci.gov.sg/budget-debates-2016

CosArticle

Read More Read Widely and Read Together

“One of the most indispensable tools for learning in a knowledge economy is reading. We can read to learn, to broaden our minds and perspectives of the world around us, or simply for leisure and enjoyment. It can also be a means to open new doors and opportunities for our lives.

NLB will launch a National Reading Movement this year to galvanise Singaporeans into Reading More, Reading Widely, and Reading Together, so as to create a vibrant reading culture in Singapore”

- Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information

Read full speech here

Building first class Smart Nation infrastructure

“We will double the number of Wireless@SG hotspots from 10,000 to 20,000 across Singapore by 2018. We will focus on public places. These include government spaces such as community clubs, hospitals, polyclinics, government service centres, MRT stations, and even hawker centres. We will also increase coverage at voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and retail and tourist spaces. This will increase the penetration and pervasiveness of Wireless@SG. Already today, our hotspots-to-population ratio is second only to Tokyo. All these will help Singaporeans stay more connected.”

--Dr Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Education

Read full speech here

Data on the Usage of Wireless@SG

In April 2014, SIM login was introduced. After a one-time set-up process, new and existing users will be able to connect to Wireless@SG automatically using a supported device with a local SIM card, without the need to register for an account.

The number of Wireless@SG users has increased rapidly since.

In June 2015, the Wireless@SG app, was launched. The app configures users’ smart devices and connects them to the secure Wireless@SG network seamlessly. It also helps users locate the nearest hotspots, and allow them to rate the hotspots and more.

Ensuring long term viability of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB)

“The successful transformation of PSB will require persistence and hard-work. Our industry players like Mediacorp need to have a steadiness to ride through business cycles, and not allow short-term commercial ups and downs to affect their longer-term goals of producing good quality content, building strong capabilities and developing effective channels.”

-Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health

Read full speech here

Transforming Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) through Content, Capabilities and Channels

Minister of State for Communications and Information Chee Hong Tat talked about how the government will be strengthening PSB in a digital age.

Transforming Public Service Broadcasting through Content, Communities and Channels

• Content: Focusing on our cultural heritage and featuring interesting aspects of Singaporean society from a Singaporean perspective and with a Singaporean heart

• Capabilities: Supporting Mediacorp and local media companies through PSB funding and opportunities for international collaborations, so as to attract, train and retain talent needed to produce compelling content

• Channels: Embracing new channels especially online platforms - to reach audiences who are consuming news and entertainment through non-traditional channels and to engage audiences more effectively.

Community in Translation

The Community-in-Translation is a new initiative introduced by the National Translation Committee (NTC) this year. It is part of the NTC’s outreach efforts to create a collaborative platform among the public, private and people sectors, and work with the community to boost translation capabilities, so as to raise overall translation standards in Singapore.

Looking into Disruptive Technologies

With the increasing pace of technological development, the future economy will be characterised by “disruption” – a state where new technologies create the potential for economic displacement, or provides opportunities for completely new economic sectors to emerge.

As such, Minister-of-State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Education, Dr Janil Puthucheary, is working together with representatives from the technology sector within the ambit of the Committee on the Future Economy to look into disruptive technologies.

The effort will focus on examining the impact of disruptive technologies on the Singapore economy and recommend proposed responses for both the government and private sector.

Cyber Security Act

As governments from other nations have been strengthening their cyber security legislation, Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim spoke about the need for Singapore to strengthen its cybersecurity legislation as well.

Digital Inclusion

In order to take on the digital revolution and ensure no segment of the community is caught in the digital divide, Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary elaborates about the inclusive approach to e-government services, which are meant to serve all Singaporeans.