Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Izzat Najmi, Journalist, AOPG.

To celebrate its 15^th anniversary in Singapore and Singapore Cloud Region’s 5th birthday, Google held the first-ever “Google for Singapore” event this week, where the global cloud provider made numerous momentous announcements.

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, who was present and presided over the Google event, spoke about the nation’s rapid development over the past 15 years, and the challenges and uncertainties that came along with it.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong

When looking at Singapore’s next steps of development, he said that there are still tremendous opportunities here in Singapore and all over Asia, in particular, Southeast Asia. “In fact, the digital economy in Southeast Asia is only just getting started – fuelled by a huge, untapped but fast-growing digital consumer market. Singapore, located at the heart of Asia, is well placed to capitalise on these opportunities,” he added.

Google then outlined its plans to strengthen Singapore’s position as a regional and global technology innovation hub and advance the country’s mission to empower Singaporeans today and tomorrow, across four primary key elements.

Investing in Our Home in Asia

When Google Singapore first originally opened its doors on Collyer Quay back in 2007, it only had 24 employees. Now, there are about 3,000 people working for Google Asia-Pacific headquarters here in the Lion City, whose works are responsible for providing the finest of services to the rest of Asia.

In 2018, Google initially announced its intent to construct a third data centre in Singapore. The investments in technical infrastructure also included cloud regions and undersea cables that connect Singapore to the other parts of the globe. Totalling approximately USD $850 million, the goal of the long-term venture was to put Singapore as one of the powerhouses of data centres in Asia. Today, the now completed and fully operational facility complements Google’s already built, two data centres in Jurong, both of which will benefit significantly from the expansion. The establishment of the third data centre will help to boost Singapore’s economic activity to USD $216 million as per a commissioned report by Oxford Economics.

Singapore’s Third Google Data Centre Facilities

Online Safety for the Vulnerable

The pandemic has led to an increase in kids’ time spent online, where they are increasingly vulnerable to unwanted predators. Having the proper information and abilities to deal with various cyber hazards is more important than ever for families today. To ensure the safety of its youngest users, Google has announced a partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Media Literacy Council to offer the Be Internet Awesome (BIA) curriculum to primary schools across Singapore over the course of the next year, to train parents and children on online safety measures.

By collaborating with teachers and bringing the Google Online Safety Park to schools like CHIJ Katong and West Grove Primary, Google hopes that it can help kids to become competent and safe users of the internet. Google’s goal in cultivating a community of online safety advocates is to increase the number of adults and children who are armed with knowledge about how to stay safe while using the internet.

The Google Online Safety Park to be at schools all over Singapore

Economic Opportunity for All

In addition, Google is dedicated to helping more people in Singapore acquire marketable skills that will help them secure high-demand jobs. More than 5,500 people have improved their employability and become certified through the Skills Ignition SG (SISG) initiative, which was initiated by the government of Singapore in 2020. Three-quarters of the previous SISG cohort found jobs within six months of graduation, and many have gone on to successful careers at local and worldwide organisations like Google.

To further improve the program, Google announced three major updates to the SISG initiative:

1. Improved traineeship programme for 60 Singaporeans – To match the needs of the business world as it stands now, the chosen trainees will participate in a 12-month, full-time training programme in either Digital Marketing or Professional Cloud Architecture, an increase from the previous term of nine months. Selected trainees will receive Google staff supervision, a more in-depth growth plan, and a greater stipend to keep up with rising market rates thanks to Google’s ongoing relationship with IMDA under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative
2. A fifth certificate (Digital Marketing and E-Commerce) – Singaporeans will soon have access to a fifth Google Career Certificate in Digital Marketing and e-commerce to aid in the development of transferable skills outside of the classroom.
3. Expands employer consortium – The number of participating employers has grown, allowing SISG alumni to gain immediate access to employment possibilities. Prior to January’s SISG graduation, Google had assembled 16 businesses into the Employer Consortium to consider hiring SISG alumni. The number of participating businesses has more than doubled to 37 since the consortium’s inception. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has helped in this initiative by facilitating communication with numerous financial institutions.

Meanwhile, the corporation is increasing its work to ensure that Singapore remains at the forefront of AI development. It was announced today that Google Cloud and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) will be working together to develop innovative AI solutions that will enhance the working and living conditions of Singaporeans, expand the use of AI in government, and influence the development of AI policy and ethics. The SNDGG’s National AI Office has formed the first public-private AI relationship with a major international tech firm.

A Sustainable Future for Tomorrow

The absence of trustworthy data and evidence to inform where and how to execute programmes at the appropriate pace and scale has been a key obstacle for non-profit organisations attempting to address the current climate crisis. To address this, Google’s philanthropy arm, Google.org, will donate USD $1 million in grant funding (approx. SGD $1.4 million) to Mandai Nature, which was formed by Temasek and Mandai Wildlife Group. This grant from Google.org is the organisation’s first of its kind in Singapore, and it focuses on environmental responsibility.

The funding will go towards Mandai Nature’s efforts to support the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solutions (SCeNe) Coalition, an alliance of eight prominent environmental and conservation NGOs working to increase financial support for climate solutions that are good for both people and the environment across Southeast Asia.

The Coalition plans to allocate the funds in three ways over the following 18 months:

1. Create a free and public web mapping tool to locate Southeast Asian areas with high biodiversity, where people live, and where carbon emissions can be reduced. The Coalition will also receive help from Google personnel, who will donate their time and knowledge to the project.
2. Disseminate data from active initiatives to show how Nature-based Solutions may be effectively planned, implemented, and monitored. All of this information will be compiled into a report that will serve as a guide for anyone looking to more quickly put into action and invest in high-quality solutions based on the region’s natural environment.
3. Attempts to spread the word about and attract funding for at least three Nature-based Solutions initiatives in Southeast Asia that will have a positive impact on the region’s climate, biodiversity, and population.

Singapore as the Centre of Google Asia Pacific

Scott Beaumont, President, of Google Asia Pacific commented on Singapore’s significance to Google, “Singapore is at the centre of the world’s most dynamic region, with digital and tech innovation central to its growth strategy. It was a natural step to make Singapore Google’s Asia Pacific headquarters, invest in the country, and power the rest of Asia-Pacific. Over the past 15 years, we have been deeply conscious of our responsibility to contribute to Singapore’s advancement. The commitments we’re making today, including the completion of our third data centre facility, reflect our confidence in Singapore’s technology leadership for the region and the world. They also anchor all of us at Google more deeply to a community we truly love being part of. We’re ready to build on our progress, pursue new opportunities ahead, and shape a strong, shared future.”

Scott Beaumont, President, Google Asia Pacific

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