Regional Built Environment Forum 2019

Regional Built Environment Forum 2019

Two significant announcements have been made at the Regional Built Environment Forum (BEF) 2019 on Tuesday, 4 June 2019.

1. IMDA, Australian Government sign built environment MoU

As part of the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) efforts to position Singapore as a global node for technology and innovation, IMDA will also help to strengthen business partnerships in developing the smart estates ecosystem. Witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Ms Sim Ann and Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore Mr Bruce Gosper, IMDA and Austrade signed a Memorandum of Understanding to focus on three key areas for Smart Estates:

  • Facilitate business matching and networking opportunities for Singaporean and Australian players in the Smart Estates cluster in Southeast Asia
  • Drive co-innovation technology projects for Smart Estates as part of digitalisation efforts for both Singapore and Australia
  • Co-develop a Smart Estates Guidance for the industry in the areas of smart environment and smart living

Mr Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive Officer, IMDA, said, “As we continue to develop a vibrant smart estates ecosystem in a digital economy, there is a strong need to foster greater collaboration with key players within the built environment cluster. We believe that companies from both Singapore and Australia can complement each other, leverage on each other’s strengths and co-develop smart urban solutions for Singapore, Australia and Southeast Asia.”

Ms Leonie Muldoon, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Austrade, said, “Australia has made significant investments in developing smart solutions in the built environment and this agreement will build a platform for collaboration with the Singapore ecosystem. Working together we can deliver better outcomes for both Singapore and Australia, and build a network to respond to opportunities across the region.”

2. Australian Government launches ASEAN Smart Cities Accelerator in Singapore

Singapore-based regional accelerator, Accelerating Asia, is the provider of the Australian Government’s Smart Cities Accelerator for ASEAN.

Launched on 4 June 2019 by Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Bruce Gosper at the Regional Built Environment Forum 2019, the ASEAN-Australia Smart Cities Accelerator is a seed-stage accelerator program that will select, fund, provide a residency program and a graduate program for qualified startups in order to give smart city startups in ASEAN a stronger chance of success through access to regional opportunities, knowledge, networks and resources.

The Accelerator is now on the hunt for next generation solutions that can be scaled across growing cities that:

  • Improve livelihoods through new business, career and economic opportunities
  • Improve access to safe and affordable housing, public spaces, infrastructure and transport
  • Consider environmental impact and/or are designed to be more effective with use of resources
  • Enable resources and services in cities to be accessible to all

Ms Amra Naidoo, Co-Founder of Accelerating Asia, said, “The Accelerator is designed to provide tailored support for early-stage startups working on solutions that enable better connected, sustainable and more resilient cities in South East Asia. We are excited to work collaboratively with cities, government agencies, entrepreneurs and innovators to foster an ecosystem that expedites the development of cities that work for everyone.”

“In many ways, the challenges facing our economies and communities, and those of the region, are ones that need the best built environment solutions. Working together and leveraging our respective expertise, Australia and Singapore have the opportunity and capability to collaborate with ASEAN to build our region’s future cities in smart, liveable and sustainable ways, supporting urbanisation and tackling climate and energy challenges.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore, His Excellency Bruce Gosper.