The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has adopted an open and nurturing approach to accelerating change in the local infocomm industry, similar to the Suzuki Method of learning music. Through its Infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Programme (iLIUP), IDA bridges local technology companies with multinational technology providers to create innovative IT solutions easily and naturally. The iLIUP allows local companies like dotERP and iCo-op.net to bring products to market faster with the support of partners like Software AG and Computer Associates. IDA aims to present local solutions developed through iLIUP partnerships globally and help Singapore become a leader in infocomm innovation.

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iLIUP Home > From Learning Music to Creating Accelerated Infocomm Change
From Learning Music to Creating Accelerated
Infocomm Change
How the infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Programme (iLIUP) creates an efficient
and creative platform to bridge technologies and ideas together
When you think of music education, you may imagine that there is only one way to
do it, by learning how to read music notation, and then progressing to playing a
musical instrument, such as the violin.
However, Dr Shinichi Suzuki, a notable Japanese violinist, believed that every child
has infinite potential and should be exposed to music much as he or she may be
exposed to the learning of speech. He developed the "Suzuki Method" of teaching
music at the middle of the twentieth century.
First, the parent of the child is taught how to play the instrument, while the child
observes. Because of the natural affinity of the child to the parent, the child will then
attempt to copy the parent. And instead of trying to teach the young child music
notation, music is taught by ear, where the child is trained to recognize pitch and
tone, much as we would learn a language when we were young. Using the Suzuki
Method, instructors demonstrated that it is easy to learn a musical instrument and
produce decent-sounding music without first going through music notation until later
on.
What has music education got to do with the progress of open platforms and
information technology in Singapore?
Nurturing Accelerated Change
When you think of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), you
would imagine that it plays the strict role of a regulator, with strict rules and
procedures, akin to the conventional learning of music through the reading of music
notation.
However, the IDA has instead
adopted an open and nurturing approach. Through its empowering Infocomm Local
Industry Upgrading Programme (iLIUP), it bridges multinational technology providers
(iLIUP MNCs) with local technology companies (local iLIUP partners). You will see
the resemblance of the iLIUP to that of the Suzuki Method of learning music by
listening rather than learning notation, where accelerated change in the creation of
innovative information technology solutions is brought about in a natural and easy
way without resorting to tightly regimented methods.
Similarly, increasing adoption of the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) for Web
services and content uses an open platform. By catering to human users'
requirements rather than adapting to how computers work, XML allows quick
changes without resorting to proprietary systems and technologies.
One local iLIUP partner that has benefited from both the iLIUP as well as its MNC
partner is dotERP Pte Ltd (www.doterp.com). DotERP Pte Ltd works with
commercial off-the-shelf Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions from world-
class vendors and creates extended capabilities using industry-standard XML and
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2. XML-compliant database platforms.
One example is the Tamino XML
Server from Software AG
(www.softwareag.com.sg), an
established participating iLIUP MNC.
According to Mr Srinivasan Srikanth,
Vice President of Marketing for
dotERP Pte Ltd, "When we started
our product development, XML was
a fledgling technology struggling to
find industry acceptance. We took a
gamble in deciding to base our
entire architecture on XML. Software
AG, being the leader in XML
technologies, provided us with
quality help in overcoming technical
obstacles and teething issues. When
our fledgling company went to
market with our XML-based
solutions during the dotcom crash,
the solid presence of Software AG
behind us lent us the credibility to
penetrate the market."
Launching Pad to the World
Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
solutions help companies streamline
their logistics and administrative
management processes. As such,
ERP can provide the mission-critical
tool for any company to save costs, reduce redundancy, and become better
managed. The iLIUP, as a partnership bridging programme, is therefore an excellent
platform where IDA can lend a hand to present viable solutions developed within the
iLIUP's partnership environment to the rest of Asia Pacific and the world.
Srinivasan of dotERP added, "Through iLIUP, the partnering MNCs and their
technologies become more accessible to us. A dedicated person taking care of our
interests within the MNC also helps tremendously. In addition, the various IDA
industry development programmes in enhancing local enterprises' capabilities to
become global players are helping us to move beyond the Singapore market to
embrace the ASEAN market. Already, we have moved into the Malaysian market,
and are looking at offices in other countries in this region. The presence of an iLIUP
MNC partner like BEA systems in all of these countries means that we can co-
market our solutions, with a drastic reduction in our setup time, with an instant
credibility together with our MNC partner."
Noted Dr Ng Kok Loon, a noted scientist and engineer in Singapore, and the CEO of
local iLIUP company iCo-op.net Pte Ltd (www.ico-op.net), "The single most
compelling reason for joining iLIUP and working with our iLIUP MNC partners is the
ability to bring our product from concept to commercialisation in just six months,
which would otherwise have taken us one to two years. At the same time, our
product is assured of quality, flexibility, reliability, scalability and extensibility. I can
also see four key benefits of such a programme, of providing technical expertise,
resources, technology upgrading and commercialisation for us. Through the iLIUP,
we have now gone regional in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines."
Dr Ng is working with Computer Associates (www.ca.com) as well as Software AG
(www.softwareag.com.sg). His solution caters to business planning, customer
relationship management (CRM) and loyalty programs (patented by iCo-op.net) to
improve revenue, as well as analysis and reporting modules. The solution was
developed using Computer Associates' CleverPath Portal, patented neural network
Neugents' technology based CleverPath Predictive Analysis Server and CleverPath
Forest & Trees reporting tool. It is also XML compliant with the support Software
New Ways to Make Music: Assistant Chief
Executive of the IDA says Singapore is composing
the technology symphony by bringing companies
together in evaluating, designing and deploying
cutting-edge technologies for the local infocomm
industry
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3. AG technologies.
iLIUP Strikes A Chord with the Industry
"We are indeed fortunate that Singapore has tapped the infocomm innovations from
the onset of the Internet, and today rides high in the midst of economic uncertainty
worldwide. This gives us an educated headstart when evaluating, designing and
deploying cutting-edge technologies as they become available," said Mr Khoong
Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive of Infocomm Development, Infocomm
Development Authority of Singapore. "Through the iLIUP, we are able to accelerate
the local industry's capability and development to compete effectively in international
markets, and to create greater mindshare in international technology vendors to
participate in our infocomm industry's rapid growth together. With standards-based
technologies reaching the hands of anyone, it is conceivable that we can become
the knowledge capital in the region and beyond, and give rise to innovative solutions
that any industry or enterprise can lean on."
The IDA is creating a nurturing and synergistic force that complements the efforts of
its MNCs and local companies. In creating next-generation information technology
applications, the iLIUP may become the "Suzuki Method" that pushes the envelope
for technological leadership and the diversity of innovation out of Singapore.
* This article is courtesy of The Business Times
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© 2003 IDA Singapore. All Rights Reserved.
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