Opening speech by SMS Tan Kiat How for the buildingSMART International Summit
Mar 18, 2025
I am happy to join you at the 2025 buildingSMART International Summit.
I would like to thank buildingSMART International and the Singapore chapter for organising this Summit, and for partnering the Government and industry to drive digital transformation across the Built Environment sector.
The last time Singapore had hosted the buildingSMART International Summit was 10 years ago, and we are honoured to be able to host this global dialogue again this year.
Many countries face similar challenges in achieving interoperability and seamless digital workflows within the Built Environment sector.
Different jurisdictions adopt various approaches to address these challenges, and we look forward to hearing from experts, sharing our experiences and learning from best practices.
Today, I will speak on our experience in two areas:
First, in leveraging technology to drive Integrated Digital Delivery, or IDD; and
Second, in supporting firms to enhance their digital capabilities.
The Importance of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD)
The Built Environment is a highly complex and interdependent ecosystem that involves many stakeholders.
As a result, stakeholders in the sector must deal with fragmented workflows, data silos and inefficiencies from coordinating across multiple parties involved in a project.
IDD is part of the solution
IDD involves a “digital spine” linking project stakeholders throughout the building lifecycle.
It leverages technologies such as Building Information Modelling, or BIM, data standardisation and open data standards, to enable seamless information exchanges, improve stakeholder collaboration, and support data-driven decision-making.
Beyond improving efficiency and productivity, IDD advances the sector’s goals in environmental sustainability.
An example of such an application is digital carbon management, which integrates tools such as BIM, energy simulation and carbon calculation software.
This allows project teams to perform digital calculations of carbon emissions, simulate operational carbon outputs, and visualise carbon data associated with building projects.
These capabilities allow the sector to better manage and reduce the carbon emissions from building works.
Leveraging Technology to Drive IDD
The Built Environment sector in Singapore is keen to benefit from the value of IDD.
Together with industry partners, the Government has been pushing for IDD adoption in the sector
For example, we have developed data standards, providing funding support to firms adopting digital solutions that enable IDD and importantly promoting the use of IDD in regulatory submissions.
Existing Processes under CORENET
We have made some good progress over the years.
Singapore’s CORENET revolutionised regulatory submissions for building works when it was launched more than 20 years ago. Back then, we were the first in the world to introduce electronic plan submissions.
Over the years, we made improvements to the CORENET platform.
For example, the Building and Construction Authority, or BCA, was the first regulator in the world to accept 3D BIM submissions when this function was introduced in 2009.
BIM enables project parties to reference and collaborate on the same digital building model.
Putting stakeholders on the same page not only allows design conflicts and miscommunication to be resolved at a much earlier stages, but also streamlines processes to save time and cost.
This is why since 2013, we have included a requirement for plan submissions with Gross Floor Area, or GFA, of 5,000 sqm and above to adopt BIM.
This accounts for about 90% of the total GFA of all building plans in Singapore.
However, the existing process still involves architects or engineers making separate plans submissions to different regulatory agencies.
These would include submissions to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) that checks for compliance to fire safety regulations, to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) that regulates drainage and sewerage works, and to the National Parks Board (NParks) that checks for greenery provision.
This could lead to conflicting requirements imposed by different regulatory agencies and could in turn result in abortive works that incur significant additional time and cost.
CORENET X
To address these issues, we have recently undertaken an extensive change in the regulatory approval process for building works under CORENET X.
CORENET X is the next generation digital system that replaces CORENET. CORENET X serves as a one-stop, integrated digital platform that streamlines regulatory approvals and enhances coordination across the BE value chain.
It will be implemented in phases, with the first phase launched in December 2023.
Submissions via CORENET X will be mandatory for larger new projects with GFA of at least 30,000sqm from October this year.
This will account for about 75 to 85% of the total GFA of new building plans submitted in a year in Singapore.
Under CORENET X, the industry and government agencies have worked together to streamline the current approval process into a new coordinated approval process of three key submission gateways.
CORENET X will require the industry to collaborate and coordinate their designs upfront to make joint submission at the key gateways.
The agencies will then jointly review the submission and provide a consolidated response.
At its core, CORENET X promotes interoperability, and collaboration amongst all stakeholders. It represents a major step forward in our push for digital transformation.
A key milestone in the CORENET X journey was the introduction of the IFC SG, Singapore’s localised addition to the international Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard, developed by buildingSMART International.
IFC SG acts as an enabler in enhancing collaboration amongst project parties.
Being vendor-neutral, all parties are able to read and use the BIM models, regardless of the software that they use to work with such models.
By standardising the information required, all parties will also be able to use the models throughout the different phases of the project lifecycle.
The BIM model developed by consultants at the design stage can be passed onto contractors to guide construction, and eventually to facility managers that manage the buildings.
For a start, we will only require certain larger projects to make their submissions in CORENET X in this IFC SG format, but we encourage the industry to do so, even if it may not be mandatory for their projects.
I would like to take the opportunity today to thank buildingSMART International, as well as the Singapore Chapter, for their involvement in the development and support of these IFC SG standards.
We are developing new technologies under CORENET X to deliver productivity gains for both the industry and regulatory agencies.
For example, we will be progressively introducing an Automated Model Checker (AMC), which leverages automation to validate building design.
This would facilitate the pre-checking of submissions by architects and engineers, to review their designs and correct any non-compliances before making their submissions.
We also intend to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the future, to further improve efficiency and productivity in the regulatory approval process.
Supporting Firms in Enhancing Digital Capabilities
Fundamentally, digital transformation is not just about technology, it is about people.
That is why we are committed to supporting firms, and its employees, as they build up their digital capabilities.
To this end, we have made a range of resources and support available to the industry.
First, we have the Digital Delivery Management Accreditation Scheme, under the Built Environment Skills Framework.
The Skills Framework provides individuals with a structured pathway to upskill and advance their careers in digital delivery, by providing information on the competencies needed in the different roles.
By being accredited under the Accreditation Scheme, employees with the relevant skillsets will be recognised professionally, positioning those who invest in digital upskilling for more rewarding roles in the sector.
We also have the BE Industry Digital Plan, or IDP.
Recognising that firms may face challenges in adopting digital solutions due to limited resources or expertise, the IDP was first introduced in 2020, and more recently refreshed in 2024, as a national initiative to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the sector in navigating their digital transformation journey.
It provides structured guidance to help SMEs identify digital solutions that can enhance their operations, improve productivity and enable more seamless collaboration.
The refreshed Digital Solutions Roadmap under the BE IDP introduces new and advanced technologies to further drive IDD, and how firms can leverage the latest innovations such as AI-powered project management tools, digital twin technology, and cloud-based collaboration platforms.
Additionally, the refreshed Digital Skills Training Roadmap provides a framework for employees to build competencies in digital adoption. It offers targeted training programs at different stages of an employee’s career, helping workers gain the necessary expertise to implement digital solutions effectively.
Some digital solutions within the Industry Digital Plan come with Government funding support, such as through the Productivity Solutions Grant.
This grant co-funds firms’ purchase of pre-approved digital solutions to improve their productivity.
As of Dec 2024, it has supported over 1,000 construction and facilities management SMEs in adopting pre-approved solutions in the BE IDP since 2020.
Earlier this month, the Government also announced the new $100 million Built Environment Technology and Capability (BETC) grant, that will be available over the next five years.
The BETC will provide funding support to eligible firms, in the following three key areas: Enterprise, Technology and Manpower.
The technologies supported under the BETC will include those that help to drive IDD. These include solutions related to BIM, virtual reality, augmented reality, Remote Site Supervision, data-driven performance monitoring and Artificial Intelligence, amongst many others. The grant will support qualifying costs such as software, equipment, and professional services.
The BETC will be open for applications from 1 Apr onwards, and I encourage our local firms to check out BCA’s website for more information.
The Need for Collective Effort
In order to realise the full benefits of digitalisation, we need the buy-in and effort of all parties in the sector.
In this regard, developers play an important role.
Developers can specify digital requirements in their project tenders and actively participate throughout the project lifecycle.
The Government, as the largest developer in Singapore will take the lead.
We are glad to see many progressive developers such as CapitaLand doing so as well. We look forward to more developers being part of this effort.
Conclusion
The future of the built environment will increasingly be digital, data-driven, and deeply interconnected.
Singapore is committed to being at the forefront of this transformation and look forward to sharing our experience and learning from other jurisdictions at forums like the Summit today.
Thank you, and I wish you all a fruitful and engaging Summit.