The Singapore InfocommMedia Development Authority’s
(IMDA's) Open Innovation Platform (OIP) has launched an Innovation Call
to tackle challenges during and after COVID-19. The OIP, introduced in
2018, supports companies in getting quality and
multidisciplinary ideas, talent and resources to meet their innovation
and business needs effectively. Together, they co-create innovative
digital solutions that are not commercially available in the market.
The Innovation Call, with the theme COVID-19 & Beyond – Innovation for Social Good, seeks
to develop solutions to address the challenges faced by vulnerable
Singaporeans and businesses. Through the Innovation Call, IMDA and its
industry partners aim to inspire the innovation community to apply
digital technology to solve COVID-related problem statements.
Examples
would include developing a better food distribution network for
underprivileged households, to efficiently test workers while minimising
any disruption to business operations, and helping migrant workers
access self-help resources.
Tan Kiat How, Chief
Executive, IMDA, said, “COVID-19 has had and will continue to have a
profound impact on lives and livelihoods, especially for the more
vulnerable segments of our society. Through this special Open Innovation
Call, we are reaching out to our innovator community to crowdsource
solutions to challenges that our people and businesses face, and help us
adapt to a post-COVID ‘new normal’.”
Melissa Kwee,
CEO, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), said,“Every
crisis amplifies a nation’s strengths and weaknesses, and COVID-19 has
brought the needs of many marginalised groups to our attention. Social
innovation initiatives can foster greater 'whole of community'
collaboration that identifies unmet needs and opportunities to rethink
solutions and question our assumptions of what works in creating a truly
inclusive society for hidden groups at the last mile.”
The
OIP will host six challenges to address some of the problems aggravated
by COVID-19, with total prize monies amounting to S$90,000. To help
alleviate some of the initial risk of innovation, IMDA will co-fund 70%
of each challenge’s prize money, with the remaining 30% supported by the
partner.
The OIP has launched six Open Innovation Calls so far. To date, more
than 6,500 registered solvers have signed up to participate in the 123
problem statements hosted, and more than S$3 million in prize monies has
been distributed.
Details:
The call will close on 5 June 2020. Interested applicants can submit their proposals online.
Challenges
National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC)
- Enhancing neighbourhood-based volunteerism and enabling regular social
support for the vulnerable within the neighbourhood community
How can we enhance trust and reliance within the neighbourhood
communities so as to promote a culture of giving and support, especially
for the vulnerable families, by the community for the community?
- Smarter food resource management to alleviate food wastage and ensure food is distributed to the ones who need it
How
might we leverage on digital solutions to create a food rescue or
repurpose ecosystem, made up of the food industry, charities and
supporting industry to minimise food wastage in Singapore?
NVPC and GlobalSign.In
“As an integral part of the society, migrant workers in Singapore help
to build and make the country the modern metropolis it is today. The
COVID-19 crisis is truly unprecedented and has placed the health and
safety of many at risk. During these trying times, this is when we need
to come together and innovate to better the lives and living conditions
of people. As a start, ensuring the right information and relevant
resources are made available to those who need it, is key,” said Veemal
Gungadin, CEO & Founder, GlobalSign.In, an event management specialist.
- Assisting migrant Workers to gain access to resources and enable self-help
How
might we reduce the barrier for migrant workers to gain access to
healthcare services, food, shelter, information and rights independently
so that they are aware of the help available and can ask and receive
help in time?
Golden Energy and Resources
“It
is important that we emerge from this crisis more resilient as a
society. That's why it is imperative now more than ever to collaborate
with the larger community to find innovative solutions that can help
workers go back to work safely, while helping those displaced find new
ways to contribute,” said Tan Toi Ngee, Head of Innovation, energy and
mining company Golden Energy and Resources.
- Avail resources to better utilise skills and time of displaced workers for supply chain transformation
How
might we avail resources or platforms to better utilise the skills and
workforce who may be displaced so as to transform the supply chain to
meet the demands of societal needs, leading to more sustainable,
efficient and resilient business models through deeper public-private
partnerships?
- Decreasing the effective cost of testing our workforce to ensure they are safe and protected
How
can we balance the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of testing the
workforce to ensure their safety and protection while minimising
disruption to business operations?
ABM Media
“Charity
goes beyond just monetary donations for most corporate entities and
individuals nowadays. We at ABM are looking into more innovative and
integrated practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and
exploring how we can leverage each other’s strengths to create more
impactful shared value engagements.
"We hope through
the development of a platform to connect the community more people can
start to come together to collaborate and create good stories. The more
wisdom that is collected and shared, the more we can lead more
meaningful lives," said Gary Hong, Founder, ABM Media, a B2B marketing
and media group.
- Digital platform for community participation, engagement & management
How
might we bring all stakeholders into a single platform to offer
sponsored resources and rally their communities for a better match of
skills-based volunteering, delivering impactful social activities and
accountability of sponsored resources?
