Public spending on ICT boost jumps 30% to $3.5b

ICT systems on cloud and government ICT infrastructure are some of the projects included.

Singapore will spend an estimated $3.5b on ICT procurement in 2020, which is a 30% jump from $2.7b in 2019, according to the Government Technology Agency (GovTech). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be eligible to participate in 80% of its potential procurement opportunities.

The spending will focus on the development of tech tools to respond to COVID-19, citizen- and business-centric digital services, ICT systems on cloud, modernisation of government ICT infrastructure and use of data analytics, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors within the public sector.

The projected FY2020 procurement spending will also include ICT projects that have been brought forward by agencies because of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as Sport Singapore’s ActiveSG Circle launched in April, which aims to elevate the sporting industry in Singapore via technology.

Projects include the National Digital Identity (NDI) and Moments of Life (MOL) for citizens and businesses; continual migration of eligible ICT systems onto commercial cloud as part of the five-year (2018-2023) Government on Commercial Cloud initiative; modernisation of ICT infrastructure to empower public officers under the Digital Workplace Programme; and developing more applications and uses within Government and across the industry for AI and sensors.

Further, GovTech has soft-launched the Singapore Government Developer Portal, a centralised resource to help industry and developers learn more about the tech products developed by GovTech and how they can work with GovTech to co-create digital solutions. The portal claims to be a platform for the tech community to engage and share ideas on technology and their possible applications for public good.

GovTech will also continue to organise more STACK-X meet-ups to strengthen engagement and co-creation with the industry and tech community.

The agency is currently recruiting fresh graduates and experienced tech professionals as part of the SGUnited Jobs initiative. There are more than 400 vacancies in roles such as software engineers, digital business analysts, cybersecurity specialists, data scientists, AI engineers and infrastructure specialists.