Address by Minister Desmond Lee at the Opening Ceremony of the 5th World Intelligence Congress

May 20, 2021

大家好。我很荣幸今天能够和大家一起见证《第五届世界智能大会》的开幕。
I am very happy to attend the opening ceremony of the 5th World Intelligence Congress today.

受到疫情的影响，我无法亲身到现场。不过，科技的发达，让我能够通过网络，和来自中国，包括天津市，以及世界各地的合作伙伴、企业家和专家们共聚一堂，推动知识分享、共同进步。
Due to the ongoing pandemic, I am unable to attend the event in person. However, with advancements in technology, I am joining you virtually with our partners, entrepreneurs and experts from China, including Tianjin, and from around the world, as we promote the sharing of knowledge and make progress in this domain together.  

今年大会的主题提到了《赋能新发展、智构新格局》。通过创新与科技，我们的确是能够克服种种挑战、制造新做法与新发展的机会、促进城市达到更高质量可持续的发展，让人民的生活更加美满。 
The theme for this year’s Congress is “New Era of Intelligence: Empowering New Development, Fostering New Pattern”. Through innovation and technology, we can overcome challenges, create new solutions and development opportunities to promote quality and sustainable urban development, and improve the lives of our people.

接下来， 我将以英语继续发言。
I will continue my speech in English.    

Leveraging on innovation and technology to find new ways to overcome challenges to meet the needs of citizens 

The World Intelligence Congress is an excellent opportunity for like-minded partners, businesses and experts to exchange ideas on using technology to improve our people’s quality of life. 

Let me briefly share two experiences from Singapore, on how we have sought to overcome our challenges with innovation and technology, and ensure that we develop sustainably. One on water, and another on public housing. 

Singapore is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. Long-term planning and technology have enabled Singapore to build a diversified and sustainable water supply from four water sources – also known as our Four National Taps (water from local catchment, imported water, NEWater, and desalinated water). 

First, with good land use planning, we were able to turn two-thirds of Singapore into a water catchment to collect rainwater, and channel them to our reservoirs. We also have two separate systems to collect rainwater and used water. Second, we harnessed technology, starting water reclamation studies in the 1970s, before membrane technology became cost effective in the 1990s. After extensive test and studies in the 2000s, we introduced NEWater – which is Singapore’s own brand of ultra-clean, high-grade recycled water. 

In addition, we invested continually in desalination technologies, and opened our first desalination plant in 2005 when advancements in technology made desalination viable and more affordable. Both NEWater and desalinated water are important weather-resilient sources that can cushion our water supply against dry weather.

Singapore’s water story continues with a smart roadmap to digitalise the water system to improve operational excellence and meet future water needs. Our national water agency uses robotics and artificial intelligence to monitor water in our reservoir and desalination plants, and smart water meters and sensors that help in early detection of leaks, and reduce water wastage. 

For households and businesses, smart water meters will provide timely information on their water usage, high usage notifications as well as suspected leaks. Based on past trials, households reported an average of 5 per cent water savings because they adopted good water-saving habits, and they were also able to fix leaks early. The first 300,000 smart water meters will be installed in households and businesses from early 2022, before we review for nationwide implementation. 

Now let me move on to talk about the role of technology in providing good and affordable homes for Singaporeans. In the 1980s, we started investing in precast and prefabrication technology to meet the growing demand for public housing. Fast forward a few decades later, we automated our precast systems and our government agencies are now working together to drive smarter construction through the development and adoption of 5G-enabled robots and drones. We will continue to build on technology and innovation, to improve productivity and enhance safety at construction sites.

Beyond construction, we are also using technology to improve the quality of the living environment for our residents. We are currently developing two new public housing developments¹, where smart and green initiatives are planned and designed from the onset. For example, one new town will feature centralised cooling systems, and use technology to optimise energy use and promote energy conservation. These will not only help residents to lower their carbon footprint, but also reduce costs. 

Building a model for smart and sustainable urban development through international cooperation

Innovation and technology will continue to help us find sustainable solutions to improve the lives of our people. To this end, Singapore has been working with Tianjin on the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, a Government-to-Government project between our two countries, bringing our experience and expertise together to build a model for smart and sustainable development.

I am pleased to announce that Keppel Land China, in collaboration with the Eco-City Administrative Committee, is launching the Eco-city’s Seasons Smart Vibrant Precinct at this year’s World Intelligence Congress. The Seasons Smart Vibrant Precinct will make use of technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence of Things, big data and augmented reality, to enhance the urban living experience in areas such as senior living and well-being, community services, public amenities and neighbourly interactions. 

For example, the Precinct’s Integrated Operations and Management Control Centre provides real-time data analysis and status updates to the estate’s facility management, public security and community management teams, so that they can provide better and more timely services to residents. Through the Precinct’s volunteers platform, elderly or disabled residents can indicate their different needs, such as for repair works, hairdressing, or buying groceries. The platform will then connect them with volunteers in the community. This platform also tracks and measures the impact of volunteer programmes in the Eco-City, which can be used to improve future community programmes. 

Conclusion

The Smart Vibrant Precinct is just the latest example of the positive impact that has come about from the close cooperation between Singapore and China in the Eco-City. Building on this strong foundation, the World Intelligence Congress provides a valuable platform for our friends from all over the world to learn from one another, and to showcase the many good efforts in using technology to overcome challenges. I wish everyone a fruitful exchange of ideas at the Congress, including the Eco-city Forum organised by the Eco-city on smart city development, and how to use innovation and technology to improve the quality of life in our cities.

Finally, I would like to wish the Congress every success.