Innovation is Vital for Maintaining MINDEF/SAF’s Capabilities and Future Readiness

Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing delivering the opening address at MINDEF’s IGNITE Innovation Symposium Awards Presentation Ceremony 2025.

Mr Chan presenting the Minister for Defence Award (MDA) to Chief Armour Officer Brigadier General (BG) Lim Han Yong.

Mr Chan viewing the CyberConverge booth by the Digital and Intelligence Service’s Cyber Threat-Intelligence Group.

Mr Chan viewing the Army Mobile Additive Manufacturing Lab booth at the IGNITE Innovation Roadshow.

Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing officiated at the IGNITE Innovation Symposium 2025 (IIS25) at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this afternoon. He presented awards to eleven Minister for Defence Award (MDA) recipients. A total of 139 individuals, teams and units from across MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) were recognised for their innovations and work improvement efforts, which have led to improvements in efficiency and safety, as well as a robust innovation ecosystem vital to sustaining MINDEF/SAF’s edge and future readiness.

During his speech, Mr Chan emphasised the importance of a culture of innovation, adding that “throughout history, most of the operations were fought because people can innovate and keep improving...It is not how well-equipped one side is versus the other side; it is not how many people or how much resources they have that counts...it is how fast people are able to innovate...The speed of our innovation is critical to our war fighting capabilities.”

Mr Chan also reaffirmed the commitment to being a nation that works together to solve challenges on the battlefield. He highlighted that both Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), and full-time National Servicemen were vital enablers to innovation within MINDEF/SAF. Mr Chan mentioned how NSF 3SG Mark Gowie Bosco had played a key role in developing the Digital Risk Assessment Checklist (Digi-RAC) software application for SAF-issued Fitbits, as well as NSman 3SG(NS) Pang Yan Wei who had supported the development of the Artificial Intelligence-Individual Physical Proficiency Test (aiPPT).

Reinforcing the importance of looking beyond MINDEF/SAF, Mr Chan also said “there will always be ideas that are beyond our defence establishment. This could be in the private sector, commercial companies, academia, or other institutions that are beyond MINDEF, and we must find ways to tap on their ideas and bring on board relevant concepts that we can customise for our own needs. I am happy to note that we now have a range of other partners, from academia to companies, and we have every intention to keep widening this network so that we can draw in the best ideas from anywhere in Singapore or beyond for our operational needs.” These include partnerships such as the Army-SIT System Engineering & Technology (ASSET) Living Lab, as well as SPOT-Safeguard; developed by Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) but made operational through Amazon Web Services.

IIS25 aims to recognise the achievements and contributions of units and personnel in innovation, provides a platform for cross sharing of ideas and bolster the spirit of continuous learning and improvement within the organisation. The theme for IIS25, “Redefining our Everyday through Innovation”, reflects MINDEF/SAF’s perpetual pursuit to apply technology and innovation to improve efficiency and operational readiness with lasting impact.

Also present at the awards presentation ceremony were Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Heng Kee, Chief of Defence Force Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, as well as senior officials from MINDEF and the SAF.

More Resources

Speech by Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, at the IGNITE Innovation Symposium on 30 Jul 2025 at the Ministry of Defence Auditorium

Fact Sheet: IGNITE Innovation Symposium 2025 Award Winners