Tech innovation, citizen participation key to emerge from crisis: Lee

National Development Minister Desmond Lee said this in a recent speech.

As cities face more crises, National Development Minister Desmond Lee underscored that city leaders must focus on citizen participation and technological innovation.

Under citizen participation, Lee advised that diversity must be managed to avoid disagreements amongst groups.

“We will need to tap on the diverse talents and energies of our people, and work together to address the difficult challenges of our time,” Lee said on World Cities Summit Day.

In fact, in Singapore, Lee cited that their long-term plan review involves citizens performing an exercise. The exercise reached out to more than 15,000 residents to review their goals for the future city.

For innovation, Lee said technology becomes an enabler for innovative response during crises. He said introducing more research and development amongst the government, research community, and private sector may heighten innovation for the built environment.