Foresights and Innovation
Sharing Singapore’s Experience
31 March 2009, Helsinki
Ms. SIM Phei Sunn
Strategist, Futures Group
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CONTENT
singapore context
futures group & network
process
outputs & contributions
lines of inquiry
video
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Singapore
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singapore context
• Singapore’s economy
grew by 1.1% in 2008
• GDP is SGD 257bn
(USD 170bn)
• Very open economy,
total trade is 3.5x GDP
Annual Economic Survey of Singapore, 2008, MTI
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innovation
Annual Economic Survey of Singapore, 2008, MTI
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http://www.international.ac.uk/resources/Insead200809.pdf
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http://www.itif.org/files/2009-atlantic-century.pdf
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http://www.bcg.com/impact_expertise/publications/files/
Innovation_Imperative_in_Manufacturing_March_2009.pdf

CONTENT
singapore context
futures group & network
process
outputs & contributions
lines of inquiry
video
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Futures Group founded in May 2006
“It is proposed that a unit be set up to strategise
on MTI-family wide direction and look at future
big ideas... … The unit would focus on big ideas
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with concrete feasibility and economic impact…”
- MTI Leadership Nov 2005
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We are the trendwatchers,
network builders, and
idea generators
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for the Singapore economy of the future
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singapore public service
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
SECURITY ECONOMIC SOCIAL
Ministry of Defence Ministry of Trade & Industry Ministry of Education
Ministry of Communications,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finance
Youth and Sports
Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Transport Ministry of Health
Ministry of the Environment Ministry of Information,
and Water Resources Communications and the Arts
Ministry of National
Ministry of Law
Development
Ministry of Manpower
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singapore government
futures network
ased
Broad b
National Security Coordination Secretariat Strategic Policy Office
(Horizon scanning & foresights capabilities) (National scenarios & methodologies)
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Ministry of Trade and Industry Futures Group Economic Development Board
(Trends and economic implications) (New economic clusters/ industries)
Niche topics
Infocomm Development Authority Energy Market Authority
(ICT trends and implications) (Energy trends & scenarios)
Ministry of Manpower Singapore Tourism Board
(Workforce and labour trends) (Tourism trends & scenarios)
Ministry of Defence
………
(Security and military issues)
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Pioneers
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CONTENT
singapore context
futures group & network
process
outputs & contributions
lines of inquiry
video
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FG Process
Ground
1 2
Desk
Sensing,
Research
Validation
Analysis,
3 Ideation,
Knowledge
Sharing
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FG Process
Literature,
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Publications Ground
1 2
Desk
Sensing,
Web Scans Research
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Validation
Blogs, Videos, RSS
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Feeds
Analysis,
3 Ideation,
Knowledge
Sharing
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FG Process
Interviews,
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Networks with Ground
1 2
Desk
private sector & Sensing,
Research
external agencies Validation
Foresight Sessions
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with experts
Conferences,
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Seminars, Study
Trips Analysis,
3 Ideation,
Knowledge
Sharing
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FG Process
Genesis & Genesis
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Plus Brainstorming Ground
1 2
Desk
Sensing,
Presentations to Research
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Validation
senior
management &
decision-makers
Ideas, Projects &
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Experiments
Analysis,
Other Meetings &
3
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Ideation,
Workshops
Knowledge
Sharing
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CONTENT
singapore context
futures group & network
process
outputs & contributions
lines of inquiry
video
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Outputs & Contributions
Research Project Teams/ Inputs
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Lines of Inquiry Strategies Global Demand
Country Highlights Methodology Communications
S. Korea Finland
Emerging Rise of the
Strategic Issues Rest Video FG Blog
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CONTENT
singapore context
futures group & network
process
outputs & contributions
lines of inquiry
video
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RESOURCE GLOBAL
CONSTRAINTS CITY
Food
Green Cities II
Cities I
UNDERGROUND;
FLOATING
Data Visualization
Enterprises
Trash Alternative Portable
Smart City
Spaces Power
LINES OF INQUIRY
Trends (5-10 years)
Economic Implications?
Jobs? Growth? So what?
Silver
TOOLS & $2,000
ECONOMY TECHNOLOGIES No-frills
Space
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Disaster
3D Mfg Participation Deviant
Little Gold
Red PEOPLE
COMMUNITIES
Cognitive
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Science Talent iBody
Youth
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RESOURCE GLOBAL
CONSTRAINTS CITY
Food
Green Cities II
Cities I
UNDERGROUND;
FLOATING
Data Visualization
Enterprises
Trash Alternative Portable
Smart City
Spaces Power
LINES OF INQUIRY
Trends (5-10 years)
Economic Implications?
Jobs? Growth? So what?
Silver
TOOLS & $2,000
ECONOMY TECHNOLOGIES No-frills
Space
!
Disaster
3D Mfg Participation Deviant
Little Gold
Red PEOPLE
COMMUNITIES
Cognitive
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Science Talent iBody
Youth
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The Future of Food
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Food headlines in The Economist so far
Aug 07 Dec 07 Mar 08 Jun 08 Today
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Vertical farming is a popular idea for cities
Proposed by Columbia Uni. No prototypes yet.
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Estimate for 150 30-storey vertical farms to feed NYC (pop: 8 mil)/year.
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China, Abu Dhabi and Korea exploring vertical farming.
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Pasona O2, Tokyo
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IDEAS
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New Agriculture?
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Future City
A flourishing global Singapore
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Power of Place
“The ability to attract people and talent is the
single biggest predictor of a city’s economic
success.”
- NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Mercer Human
Resource
Consulting
Worldwide
Quality of Living
Survey 2007
Top 50
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What Makes a Place THE PLACE
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
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“ New York City has good people, and you would need to
Hardware build up the infrastructure to hold them. Not the reverse.” –
Koh Lin-Net
Great Public Commons
Compact Grid
HARDWARE
Neighborhoods with Soul
3rd Places
Transport Options 33

“SGP can put the infrastructure down, throw money at it, buy successful people in
Software creativity and innovation, top up the citizens education bank accounts, invest in
broadband infrastructure, get the best Uni lecturers … the problem is we still need
that extra X factor to bring us to the next level.” – Ignatius Low, ST Money Editor
Well-Being
SOFTWARE
Hope
Openness
Content and Culture
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STRATEGIES 1. Broaden Catchment (1st &
3rd Touchpoints)
2. Improve Climate (Openness)
3. Improve Message (PR)
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iPOWER
the Future of Portable Power
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Key Secondary Battery Technologies
Strengths of Li Ion
Highest Energy Density
(High power, low weight)
Low self-discharge rate
Little memory effect
(Hence should never
Be fully discharged nor
Overcharged)
Relative low toxicity
Source : www.batteryuniversity.com
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II - Developments of Secondary Batteries
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Drivers for Intensified Green Car Movement
Way Forward
Internal Plug-in Electric
Hybrid
Combustion Hybrid Vehicles
Cars
Engines (ICE) (PHEV) (EV)
Fuel the car’s movement
Battery to
Power auxiliaries
Current
Battery (KWH)
Increased
EV 50.0
Environmental
PHEV60 26.4
PHEV40 20.8
Awareness
PHEV20 12.7
HEV 1.5
Runaway
Source : www.nrel.gov&Tesla
Oil Price
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III - Growth of Green Cars
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Most Car Manufacturers Getting into the Game
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III - Growth of Green Cars
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Besides Batteries, can we also play
in the game for Green Cars?
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V - Ideas and Implications
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We can also catch the wave via EVs (EVs & PHEVs)
Capitalise on our geographical location within the Asia and
Our unique traits to be the leader for Green Car Movement
• One of the highest cars per capital ratio in this region
• High turnover rate for cars – via COEs
• Highest cost of cars in the world • Strong Government commitment to green
• Green conscious population • Strong R&D sector
• Small country • Good base of electronics industry
Primary Research?
Trading?
Testbedding?
HQ Services?
Innovation?
Manufacturing?
Logistics?
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V - Ideas and Implications
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iBody ?
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“…genetic, robotic, information and nano processes…are
collectively creating a curve of change unlike anything we
humans have ever seen.”
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Joel Garreau, Radical Evolution

Cognitive Drugs
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Bio-regeneration
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“Enhancing
Physical
Functionality”
B i o – m e c h a n i c s 46

B i o ‐ m a t e r i a l s
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Bio- Power
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CONTENT
singapore context
futures group & network
process
outputs & contributions
lines of inquiry
video
49

Rise of the Rest Video
The Rise of the Rest is a term coined by Fareed Zakaria on the
post-American world. It is a world not marked by American
decline, but the rise of everybody else.
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Thank you
Contact:
sim_phei_sunn@mti.gov.sg
www.futuresgroup.wordpress.com
Rise of the Rest video:
http://futuresgroup.wordpress.com/downloads/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mxJZ6Jhnrk
Topics presented are on-going research and do not represent official policy statements or directions.
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