Speech - Welcome Address By Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, Science Centre Singapore, At Drone Technology For Urban Solutions Conference, 23 January 2018, 2.20pm, ITE College Central

Dr. Lam Pin Min,

Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport & Ministry of Health

Ms Low Khah Gek, Chief Executive Officer Institute of Technical Education

Distinguished Guests, Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am absolutely delighted to welcome you this afternoon to the inaugural Drone Technology for Urban Solutions Conference, organised by ITE Central and co-hosted by Science Centre Singapore here at the Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre, ITE Headquarters.

When Ms Low Khah Gek, Chief Executive Officer for the Institute of Technical Education, so graciously extended the invitation to the Science Centre to be co-host for this conference a few months back, my team and I responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes!”. The need for this conference to happen is particularly apt, given the rapid emergence of unmanned aerial systems as a game-changing and disruptive technology. It is very evident now in its growing integration within industries. From parcel delivery trials in China, to agriculture surveillance in Australia, to the delivery of medical supplies in Britain, new uses for drones are being imagined, tested and applied as solutions around the world. We are leveraging drones to find unique solutions to do things faster, cheaper and often, more safely than what was previously possible.

The coming together of our two organisations to make this conference a reality is also testament to the alignment of our efforts in playing our respective roles in supporting and nurturing the local drone ecosystem. The many industry players, schools, government agencies, drone associations and enthusiasts are now actively using drones to further promote innovation, providing new insights, possibilities and solutions. This is also why the Science Centre championed the “Drone Odyssey” initiative back in 2017. Our intention then and in fact still is to nurture the local drone ecosystem and in the process, advocate for greater awareness and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields to enable the next generation of Singapore’s workforce.

I will like to take this opportunity to thank ITE for being such a strong partner for our Drone Odyssey initiative. Our collaboration with ITE has been fruitful in bringing together future talents, industry leaders, and creating a platform for deeper exchange. We hope that through the sharing of knowledge and best practices, we can work on advancing drone development in Singapore and the region.

Today’s “Drone Technologies for Urban Solutions” conference gathers esteemed speakers from across our local drone ecosystem, comprising leading companies, regulators and organisations staying competitive with technology to share experiences and outcomes relating to drone technologies and applications. Like all in attendance today for the conference, I am excited by the breadth of topics to be covered this afternoon, the insights to be shared and the prospects that drone technological developments bring to Singapore.

That said, I thank everyone for being part of this inaugural conference. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I will. Have an enriching and inspiring time!