Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat delivers an opening speech at Asia Tech x Singapore 2024, focusing on technology’s potential and responsible usage.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat delivered the opening speech at the Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) 2024 Opening Ceremony on May 30, 2024. Minister Josephine Teo, distinguished guests, and a diverse range of tech stakeholders attended the event.

In his speech, DPM Heng addressed the impact of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing on communities, emphasizing the dual nature of technological advancements which can both benefit and harm society. He stressed the importance of using technology responsibly and suggested three priority areas: building ecosystems for tech growth, using technology sustainably, and developing good governance.

Building Technology Ecosystems

DPM Heng highlighted the need to build ecosystems that nurture and grow new technologies through collaboration among researchers, startups, venture firms, and government agencies. He noted Singapore’s efforts over the past three decades to develop such an ecosystem, positioning itself as a Global-Asia node of technology, innovation, and enterprise.

He introduced Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy, which focuses on four strategic areas with a $300 million investment: strengthening scientific excellence, enhancing engineering capabilities, developing a quantum-ready workforce, and building a vibrant quantum industry.

Using Technology Sustainably

Acknowledging the environmental impact of the tech industry, DPM Heng launched the Green Data Centre Roadmap to optimize energy use and reduce the carbon footprint of data centers in Singapore. The roadmap aims to meet Singapore’s Net Zero target by 2050 while expanding data center capacity with green energy.

Good Governance

DPM Heng emphasized the importance of good governance to innovate safely and responsibly. He announced the release of Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI and highlighted regional and global collaborations to develop AI governance frameworks.

In conclusion, DPM Heng called for collective efforts to harness technology responsibly for the common good and encouraged participants to build new partnerships and explore Singapore’s tech ecosystem during the conference.

Source – PMO