SINGAPORE - Singapore will remain steadfast in it commitment to facilitating innovations and partnerships, so as to advance global security.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said this on March 19 as he laid out the nation’s approach to technological development, at a time when emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies offer both unprecedented opportunities and risks in areas such as defence.
In a keynote speech at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit (SDTS), DPM Heng said the accelerated pace of technological advancement has irrevocably reshaped the security environment, given the rise of asymmetric threats enabled by dual-use technologies.
For instance, innovations meant for civilian use can also serve disruptive military purposes, such as cyberattacks that target critical infrastructure, AI-enabled disinformation campaigns, and the use of autonomous systems in contested environments, he noted.
Such tech advances have happened in parallel with an increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape, where strategic competition between superpowers has become more pronounced and technology itself has become more contested.
Nationalism in tech development, such as protectionist policies and tighter export controls, have also raised critical questions about the long-tern sustainability of global technological progress, he added.
In this environment, Singapore is committed to unlocking the power of emerging technologies, while safeguarding trust and security, DPM Heng said at the biennial summit, which is organised by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and held at Shangri-La Hotel.
This is as progress in exploiting technological advancements will create new possibilities across multiple domains - from the digital economy to national security - and ensure that Singapore remains competitive and secure, said DPM Heng, who is also the chairman of the National Research Foundation.
He cited how AI developments have led to a paradigm shift in the field of defense, where drones and AI-powered cybersecurity systems have led to enhanced situational awareness and enabled faster, more informed responses to threats.
Another key growth area is quantum computing, said DPM Heng, of the technology which has the potential to perform complex calculations some 100 million times faster than conventional computers.
DPM Heng noted that Singapore has invested over $500 million in research and development into AI since the country’s inaugural AI strategy was launched in 2019, and that the Republic is working on its Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan to enhance applied AI reseatch and use in sectors such as healthcare, finance, education and transport.
But such tech can also be used to erode trust and disrupt societies, for instance by rapidly spreading misinformation through AI-generated content.
Quantum, for instance, promises to further turbocharge generative AI capabilities, but also to render today’s cyber defenses obsolete.
DPM Heng Swee Keat delivering a speech at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit on March 19, 2025.
DPM Heng Swee Keat delivering a speech at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit on March 19.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
That is why Singapore is taking proactive steps to address such challenges through governance frameworks, responsible innovations, and international collaboration, he said.
One such step is the AI Assurance pilot launched by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in February, which will serve as a testbed to conduct technical testing for deployment of generative AI applications in areas such as healthcare and finance.
Singapore recently amended its cybersecurity laws to strengthen the protection of its critical information infrastructure, which includes both public and private-sector digital assets critical to national resilience, said DPM Heng.
The changes that Parliament passed in May 2024 included mandatory reporting of cybersecurity outages and attacks on designated critical information infrastructure or their supply chains, as well as expanded oversight powers for the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).
In 2025, CSA will also unveil guidelines to help businesses transition to quantum-safe systems, thereby ensuring that the Republic’s digital defences evolve in step with emerging threats, he added.
“By building trust in technology and mitigating risks, we can ensure that innovation remains a force for progress while safeguarding the security and stability of both civilian and defence ecosystems,” said DPM Heng.
Singapore will also with international partners to shape governance frameworks and promote responsible tech development so that technology enables security and stability, rather than become a tool for exploitation and conflict, he added.
He noted that Singapore co-hosted the second Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit in 2024 that brought together global leaders, experts and stakeholders to discuss military AI governance and ensure that tech advances are aligned with global security norms.
The Republic also recently co-sponsored of a United Nations General Assembly Resolution on military AI that supported international efforts to strengthen norms for the safe, ethical, and transparent use of AI in defence, he added.
He also highlighted platforms such as SDTS and the Shangri-La Dialogue as useful multilateral forums for dialogues and fostering partnerships across governments, industries and academia. This year’s SDTS brought together more than 40 speakers from 14 countries to discuss the most pertinent challenges facing the global defence technology sector.
DPM Heng Swee Keat (right) looking at the hovering autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit on March 19, 2025.
DPM Heng Swee Keat (right) looking at the hovering autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) at SDTS.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Additionally, Singapore will foster public-private partnership to develop a resilient dual-use innovation ecosystem, said DPM Heng.
To this end, economic agencies here are launching Stage One, a new platform to connect local and global start-ups in defence and emerging technologies with industry leaders.
To support this push, he said the Government provided a $440 million top-up to the Startup SG Equity Scheme in 2024 to catalyse venture capital investment into deep-tech start-ups here in fields such as quantum and space.
Close to $3 billion has been invested in over 330 start-ups under the scheme so far, he added.
At the heart of these efforts is a fundamental principle: that technology must serve the common good, said DPM Heng.
“A shared vision—where technology not only enhances the readiness of national defence capabilities but also reinforces peace and stability—is crucial for shaping the future,” he said.
“The choices we make today, the partnerships we build, and the governance frameworks we establish will define how technology impacts global security for generations to come.”
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