Speech by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence And Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman, at the Amazing Science-X Challenge Awards Presentation Ceremony on 25 August 2016 at Science Centre Singapore

Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) Mr Ng Chee Khern,
Chief Executive Officer DSO National Laboratories Mr Cheong Chee Hoo,
Chief Executive Science Centre Singapore Associate Professor Mr Lim Tit Meng,
Professor Goh Say Song, Vice Dean, Faculty of Science 
Distinguished Guests, 
Teachers,
Colleagues,
Parents and Students,

A very good afternoon,

Indeed, this is my first time attending the Amazing Science-X Challenge despite it being the 8th edition, and I can't wait to see your exhibits a bit later. I am pleased to know that there is a significant increase in participation this year. Compared to 125 teams in 2015, we have 162 teams this year! This is really and indeed delightful news! I hope your passion about science will continue to grow and lead you to into the exciting world of innovation.
In recent years, we have seen a huge focus on science and technology, from the recently concluded Singapore Science Festival to the Smart Nation initiative. At the opening of the Singapore University of Technology and Design last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also noted how Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or better known as STEM, played an important role in taking Singapore from Third World to First, and how in the next 50 years, strong STEM capabilities will continue to be important.

In fact, the best part about science and technology is that great ideas can be sparked by almost anything! And we are surrounded by examples of scientific innovations and inventions that started from a simple idea, and now are part of our everyday lives. Take the Internet, or the speed camera for example. How did they come about? Let me share their stories with you.

Scientific Discoveries Can Take Place Anywhere

The Internet first started off as a military communication tool. Invented by the people at the U.S. Department of Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, the Internet started as ARPANET as a means to allow multiple computers to communicate in a single network in 1969. Many of you certainly would not been around then. Maybe your parents were not either. The computers back then were large and bulky and so having such a network was a huge plus! It wasn't until 1991 when it truly became the Internet that we know today. That year, Swiss computer programmer, Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, leveraging the concept of ARPANET to create a "web" where people can share information and is easily accessible by the masses.

Today, we use the Internet for everything. From doing research to keeping in contact with family and friends, to leisure activities, like shopping or catching Pokemons, of course. It is hard to imagine life without the Internet. "Google" has moved from a noun to a verb when people just say "let me google" to find out something from the internet. Could the people responsible for ARPANET have foreseen it to be such a revolution?

I also wanted to talk a little bit about the speed camera. This brings us back to the 1950s. Maurice Gatsonides was very passionate about racing cars or motor racing. He is widely regarded as the world's first professional rally driver. His passion for the sport fuelled his obsession for speed; he started looking for ways to improve his driving abilities. And this included coming up with an early version of the speed camera, the Gatsometer, which uses two pneumatic tubes spaced apart on the track. Inspired by his need to perfect his cornering, the device tracked the time it took for him to go from one tube to another, thereby measuring his speed. After several iterations, a camera function was incorporated into the device. That is how the speed camera came to be.

It is now used worldwide to improve road safety. The Singapore's Traffic Police revealed that speed-related accidents fell by 12% last year and they attributed this drop to the new speed traps deployed.

These innovations have come a long way from their humble beginnings to make a real impact on the world. They would not have come so far without scientists and engineers along the way who had a passion for science and the motivation to improve our lives.

Towards a More Innovative Singapore

Singapore is a small country with very limited resources. To overcome our limitations, we have always leveraged science and technology to do things better, smarter and with fewer resources. We must continue to evolve, to find ways to improve, to have that competitive edge above the rest and to stay successful. It would also inspire our young generation to always be prepared to explore the unknowns. This means that we must cultivate an innovative mindset and continue to be curious about the world around us.

In the area of defence, we have a strong community that has been constantly working to develop home-grown and unique solutions for our military. The Defence Technology Community, which is made up of more than 5,000 defence engineers and scientists, works to enhance the Singapore Armed Forces' fighting edge, creating cutting-edge technologies that cannot be easily purchased in the market.

Earlier this year, our Defence Minister commissioned the Software Defined Radio system, or SDR. The system was designed to enhance the Army Battlefield Internet; increasing its bandwidth to four times that of a conventional hardware radio and allowing it to simultaneously talk and send files, images and, even videos to the Brigade and Division Headquarters. This enhancement ensures that our soldiers get timely and accurate information while on the battlefield, force multiplying the SAF's defence capabilities.

Just last year, our Defence Minister also launched the Navy's first Littoral Mission Vessel, or LMV. The LMV is a smarter and faster ship, equipped with sharper capabilities to provide for seaward defence of Singapore. Among some of the features of the LMV include numerous sense-making and decision support systems to help operators identify, track and counter threats. All these functions are integrated in user-friendly multi-touch displays and app-based software to enhance operators' awareness, decision-making and responsiveness. Because of the way it was conceptualised and designed, a typical crew size of over 30 can now be reduced to about 20, and this is on a ship that is almost 50% larger. In the long run, this translates to greater efficiency in taking on complex and challenging missions.

Earlier last year, we also saw our Air Force declaring Full Operational Capabilities for the Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which means you now can do what you are supposed to do. The Hermes 450 is one of the most capable UAVs in its class and indeed, in the world. Compared to the older UAVs, the Hermes 450 enhances our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to meet the needs of the SAF and help us undertake a wide spectrum of operations. To many scientists, it's the passion for science to make an impact in society that drives their everyday. The domain of defence science is where their creativity and tenacity meet social impact. For example in our context, with the NS system, any technology to improve training simulation, warfighting platforms and administration is immediately felt by every Singaporean son going through the NS system. Unlike commercial technology that are developed primarily for profit, much of our indigenous developments goes to creating our special edge to defeat emerging threats like global terror and safeguard Singaporean lives. This is indeed a noble mission.

Singapore's defence scientists have worked on pioneering developments like the unmanned surface vessel that win praise from more established militaries like the US for its contribution to multinational maritime security operations in the Middle East. Closer to home, DSTA engineers have fused mobile video cameras and mapping software to provide SCDF with an Advanced Command, Control and Communications Emergency System, enhancing its capability to respond to civil emergencies, making their job of saving lives timelier. From Thomas Edison to the Wright Brothers and Elon Musk, all great innovators aspire to make the world a better place through their discoveries. Singapore depends on budding scientists and engineers like you to develop tomorrow's answer to cyber and homeland security. These technologies that await their development will secure their loved ones and protect Singapore's way of life.

Besides defence, we have started to embrace an innovative culture in other aspects of our lives too. The Smart Nation initiative is one great example of how we are building a future-ready Singapore that incorporates technology seamlessly into our lives to improve the way we live, work, play and interact. One remarkable innovation under this initiative is the My Smart HDB Home@Yuhua, which is just around the corner from here. This innovation connects the residents in their homes with Smart Systems like the Utilities Management System and the Smart Elderly Monitoring and Alert System (SEMAS). The Utilities Management System allows residents to monitor their electricity and water usage in real time and even switch appliances on and off using their mobile phones! Equally amazing is the SEMAS that alerts caregivers on the status of their elderly relatives at home.
All of these can only be possible if we stay passionate about science and technology, be fearless in the face of challenges and continue to embrace an innovative culture to make Singapore a better home for all of us.

Closing

What started as a network to connect two different computers together evolved into something that we depend on, in our daily lives. What was developed as a means to help a racer drive faster has become a machine that helps keep our roads safe.
This shows that any situation can spark an idea, which can be made into reality, evolved into a bigger concept, and even spark a revolution. These innovations have not only transformed the way we view technology, but have also vastly improved our lives. In our current day and age, we need such innovations more than ever, be it in defence or to work towards our dream to be the world's first Smart Nation.

I urge you to embrace this spirit of innovation to make a difference. Because one day, while you're working on your next exhibit submission for Amazing Science-X Challenge 2017, you might stumble upon an alternate use for the science phenomena you were exploring. And who knows? You might be the first person who invents a teleportation device which can bring us to another country for a holiday in mere seconds, or a powerful 3D printing machine that can build a few blocks of HDB flats overnight. It just might happen one day. The possibilities are endless. In the spirit of invention, stay curious and keep innovating!

Thank you. Have a pleasant day.