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22 March, 2017
The Singapore government is to set up a planning group to manage its digital technology strategies in a bid to boost its 'smart nation' initiative.
A Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) will be set up in the prime minister's office (PMO) from 1 May, and will join the government technology agency (GovTech) as part of a Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG), the PMO said.
Singapore's smart nation initiative was launched in late 2014, and aims to use digital solutions to provide better services for citizens and businesses. The SNDGG will coordinate the government's efforts in developing these services, the PMO said.
The group will work with other Singapore bodies to find ways that technology can improve citizens lives. For example, the Land Transport Authority has been using data analytics to manage bus fleets and reduce overcrowding, and the SNDGG will help it to exploit this, the PMO said.
The SNDGG also will build on work that has been done by GovTech in data sharing, and partner with the Monetary Authority of Singapore on e-payments, it said.
The group will be overseen by a committee chaired by deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean and minister for communications and information Yaacob Ibrahim.
Technology law expert Bryan Tan of Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore joint law venture partner of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com said: "There seems to be a big impetus from the government to drive innovation and to concentrate its efforts on a regulatory perspective. We have seen a number of instances where the government has taken a number of initiatives to push the boundaries from this angle."
For further information, please contact:
Ian Laing, Partner, Pinsent Masons
ian.laing@pinsentmasons.com
