Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad at the Brainhack Awards Ceremony on 11 Jun 2026

BrainHack participants,

School representatives,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

Introduction

I am happy to be here today at BrainHack 2026. Organised by the Defence Science and Technology Agency, or DSTA, BrainHack is a showcase of technology and innovation in defence.

Technology is evolving rapidly. The exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made it a powerful force multiplier in modern warfare, enabling new use cases such as autonomous robotics, drone swarms, and real-time battlefield decision support for defence. Many of you who have competed in the various competitions today have been exposed to and experienced the challenges that DSTA and the Defence Technology Community grapple with. I hope it has given you some insights into the types of problem statements and solutions we need for evolving defence scenarios.

It is clear that AI is disruptive, and we cannot afford to ignore it. Advances in cybersecurity AI models have dramatically shortened the time between vulnerability discovery and cyberattack, increasing the risks faced by interconnected digital systems that we rely upon today.

These developments reinforce the importance of building deep technological expertise here in Singapore. Yet at the same time, a generic application of AI alone is not enough. We need people who can combine deep AI expertise with defence domain knowledge to build solutions tailored for operational needs that continue to evolve rapidly.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is partnering with these technologists to transform how we operate and train. For instance, every new Full-Time National Serviceman is now trained in drone technology. It has become our baseline benchmark in terms of competency and skill within the SAF. Through hands-on drone operations, they gain practical skills in emerging technologies.

BrainHack as a Glimpse into Defence Tech

BrainHack plays a vital role by giving students hands-on opportunities to explore the diverse technologies shaping our future defence capabilities. Through this, we hope that students will gain an appreciation of the challenging problems faced by our defence engineers and our troops on the ground.

BrainHack began in 2019 with 1,500 participants. This year as we look across the room, over 4,500 students participated in BrainHack, which features four competitions and three workshops.

This year’s theme, "Beyond The Edge", reflects the need for our defence engineers to remain at the cutting-edge of technology and innovation, while constantly looking ahead to what comes next.

One challenge DSTA engineers are facing today is how to harness AI effectively, and that challenge is reflected across this year’s BrainHack competitions. In “Today I Learned AI”, teams applied Retrieval Augmented Generation with Large Language Models to solve complex question and answer tasks. In “CODE_E.X.P.”, many finalists used AI-assisted design and development workflows to rapidly iterate and refine their hackathon prototypes.

To expose students to autonomous drone technology, BrainHack has launched the new “RoboVerse” competition. Using computer vision, students programmed drones to tackle real-world inspired missions, such as reconnaissance and moving object detection.

BrainHack’s other activities span across diverse technology domains, including space technology, IT infrastructure, and extended reality.

Before coming on stage, I visited several rooms, and they were buzzing with excitement. I am glad to hear that the students found the friendly competitions and workshops fun and engaging.

Next Generation of Defence Engineers

One young engineer whose journey began through BrainHack is Linus Yeong. He first participated in the “Cyber Defenders Discovery Camp” (CDDC) in 2021, and he enjoyed it so much that he competed in CDDC four years in a row!

Today, Linus is a Cybersecurity Engineer in DSTA who identifies vulnerabilities in our digital systems and helps strengthen their resilience. He was inspired by the friendly and collaborative environment in DSTA, where he was exposed to a wide range of technologies beyond what he encountered in school. Linus is currently exploring how AI can be integrated into cybersecurity workflows effectively, while remaining mindful of its limitations, pitfalls and risks.

Students, this is a challenge that your generation of aspiring tech talents, will need to navigate. This is regardless of whichever sector you join, as there will always be those who seek to inflict harm on you. While we should embrace the opportunities that AI creates, we must remember to do so responsibly, securely, and ethically. I hope that this experience has given you an insight into how the real world functions, what threats are out there, and what you must do to defend Singapore and her infrastructure.

If this challenge excites you, I invite you to join Linus and many others in our Defence Technology Community, as we continue to push boundaries and look “Beyond The Edge” together.

In closing, I'd like to take a moment to congratulate our prize winners on your achievements today. For those who didn’t get a prize, I encourage you to keep learning, keep exploring and keep making mistakes. Come back again, and continue to expose yourself to the realities of emerging technology.

I would also like to thank our educators, mentors, and families for their unwavering support for all our students here. Finally, I would like to thank DSTA for putting this wonderful experience together.

Thank you very much and I wish you all the best in your studies and careers.