Depth report

　　

Asia Tech Singapore 2024 (ATxSG) will be held at the Singapore Exhibition Centre from May 29 to 31. The exhibition attracted more than 1,300 technology research and development and application enterprises from all over the world, as well as technology suppliers and system integrators from the field of artificial intelligence and communication.

During the exhibition, Singapore announced the launch of a digital enterprise blueprint, the first "National Quantum Strategy" and a large language model testing tool, fully demonstrating Singapore's willingness to build a high-tech power.

Ninety per cent of Singapore's businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (smes), which employ about 70 per cent of the workforce. The Digital Enterprise Blueprint, which aims to integrate a range of programmes and resources that can benefit local smes in line with digital technology trends, will enable smes to use technology to optimise the way they work and strengthen the digital resilience and cyber security of the entire ecosystem.

The Digital Enterprise Blueprint is divided into four areas: artificial intelligence, cloud digital solutions, cybersecurity and skills enhancement, and is expected to benefit at least 50,000 smes over the next five years. In terms of artificial intelligence and cloud technology, the government will work with technology practitioners to roll out more solutions for small and medium enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises can choose the right plan according to their own business and management model, just like shopping. Under the Digital Enterprise Blueprint, Singapore's small and medium enterprises (smes) will receive more government assistance to apply technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud systems according to their needs.

On cyber security and skills upgrading, the Digital Enterprise Blueprint will provide smes with cyber security resources, including cyber security solutions and testing tools, consulting services, and industry cyber security guidelines, to promote the development of the technology ecosystem, and enable enterprises to comprehensively enhance their competitiveness and accelerate the pace of corporate transformation by actively applying digital technologies and training professionals provided by the Government.

The Singapore government's first national quantum Strategy plans to invest nearly S $300 million over the next five years to develop quantum technology, including the launch of the first Singapore-made quantum computer, with a view to taking a share of the global quantum market. Singapore has invested S $400 million in quantum research since 2007. In 2019, Singapore launched the Quantum Engineering Research and Development Program to more quickly transform quantum technology research results into quantum technology products or software.

Quantum computing is more than 150 million times faster than existing supercomputers and can even translate the thoughts of the human brain into words. Although the development is fast and the potential is huge, it is still in the trial stage of research and development. Singapore's goal is to be able to design and produce quantum processors, equivalent to the command center of quantum computers, strive to produce a trial prototype quantum computer within three years, and firmly grasp the huge scientific and economic value that quantum technology will bring, and strive to occupy a place in the global quantum technology, artificial intelligence technology, the Internet and other competitive fields.

In terms of talent pool, Singapore currently has about 200 researchers in four institutions, and 150 doctoral students engaged in quantum technology research. Singapore plans to step up its efforts to cultivate talents in quantum research, offering 200 doctoral and master's scholarships over the next five years. Authorities will also work with practitioners at home and abroad to explore and implement quantum applications, especially in finance, biology, chemistry and other fields.

The large language model testing tool announced in Singapore can be used to test basic AI models and related applications, identify weaknesses that can be improved and fixed for improvement, and help enterprises that are developing relevant models and applications to conduct pre-launch testing and adjustments. The initiative expands the tools of Singapore's AI verification system, AI Verify, from traditional AI to the realm of generative AI, aiming to address security challenges associated with the use of large language models.

Google's AI Economic Impact report for the Singapore market, released at the Singapore Tech Asia event on May 30, pointed out that Singapore could achieve up to S $198.3 billion in economic benefits by 2030 if it fully utilises AI technology, equivalent to nearly 30% of Singapore's 2023 gross domestic product.

In recent years, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence and other technologies, Singapore has actively increased its efforts in policy formulation, capital investment, personnel training and international cooperation, improved various supporting measures and facilities, and constantly moved toward the goal of becoming a scientific and technological power.