- GovTech develops platforms like SingPass, AISAY, and CRISPr to support public services.
- It faces challenges in fast digital development, secure data use, and technology upgrades.
GovTech: Delivering digital infrastructure and platforms
GovTech started in 2016. It was created by merging three agencies: the National Computer Board, the Infocomm Development Authority, and the Telecommunication Authority. Now, it works under the Prime Minister’s Office. GovTech’s job is to make digital government systems that are simple and easy to use. These systems help people and businesses deal with government services. One of the main tools is SingPass. It is used by people in Singapore to log in to government websites. It also supports digital signatures and secure access. More than 4 million people use it today.
GovTech also makes tools for data sharing. It has a platform called CRISPr. This tool helps public agencies use data correctly and safely. GovTech launched AISAY too. This is an AI tool that pulls key information from documents. It has helped cut down time spent on manual tasks. It is used by five public agencies already. GovTech’s AI tools also include Gen-AI assistants, which help developers write code faster. These tools help younger staff do their work better. GovTech has also hosted events like STACKx to talk about cloud systems and security. These projects show how the agency is pushing Singapore’s Smart Nation goal.
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GovTech: Navigating industry challenges while innovating
GovTech has to work fast, but it also must follow many rules. It builds new tools, but public systems have old software. These systems do not always connect well. That makes it hard to share data between agencies. GovTech also needs to buy tools and hire people quickly. This is hard under public sector rules. CEO Goh Wei Boon said that the agency is trying to remove red tape and help teams work faster. He said the agency wants to work with partners in the tech industry. He said this can help solve problems more easily.
Another big challenge is data security. GovTech handles a lot of information. It must keep this data safe. The risk of cyber attacks is growing. At one event, Goh said that cybersecurity is “a team sport.” He wants more people and companies to work together to stop attacks. The agency has started new security projects and moved systems to the cloud. It now runs over 79% of systems on GCC 2.0, a secure cloud setup. GovTech is also working with schools and companies to train workers and test new ideas. It wants to make sure that digital government keeps up with people’s needs in a safe way.
