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Dr. Portia Grace Fernandez-Marcelo (Image credit: NTHC )
OpenGov had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Portia Grace Fernandez-Marcelo, Director of the UP (University of Philippines) Manila-National Telehealth Center (NTHC) about using ICT to provide equitable access to quality healthcare for all, specially in isolated and disadvantaged communities.
NTHC is one of the pioneers in the Philippines developing cost-effective ICT tools and innovations for improving healthcare and deploying solutions in communities where they are required most urgently. The Center partners with various government and non-government institutions in the areas of eMedicine, eRecords, eSurveillance, eLearning and eHealth Policy Advocacy, .
Dr. Marcelo has occupied the position of Director at NTHC since 2011. She has extensive experience and deep expertise in community medicine and global health, and is concurrently an Associate Professor at UP Manila’s College of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine since 1993.
Can you provide us a bit of background on the NTHC?
In the late 90s, there was an emerging desire to connect with communities online. NTHC was established in 1998, as a means for UP Manila to reach out across the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, looking at new ways of supporting health professionals and engaging with communities, going beyond the conventional physical face-to-face events.
NTHC is the e-Health research and development institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH [1]), which is also part of UP Manila.
NTHC explores innovations in the use of ICT for health. As a state university, it is part of UP Manila’s mandate to do research for finding better ways to address the problem of inequity and offer real solutions to pressing problems.
In the initial years, people were just beginning to grapple with the use of ICT for healthcare in a non-traditional way. Internet connectivity in Philippines was very poor. Mobile phones were just becoming popular.
The ICT infrastructure in the university itself was being improved. Awareness raising that ICTs can help improve health became a campaign. Research opportunities were tapped in order to prove that technology works, that health workers will use it and that it will improve their efficiency and help them care better for their patients. A lot of the research began small, with pilot tests.
At that time, NTHC was already working with government and international grant providers. Through its initial R&D output, NTHC already raised issues of the need for ICT standards and national health ICT architecture but these were hardly appreciated.
The faculty went abroad to study in the late 1990s. Then they came home to Philippines and continued their research, and pushed for the formalisation of education in medical / health informatics in the university.
When I came on board as the director in 2011, I built on all that work, essentially expanding footprint and building on the technologies and operations that were developed previously. These heightened further UP Manila's national policy advocacy work for eHealth as an enabler and driver of national health development.
What are the areas of focus for NTHC?
Philippines’ geographic character of an archipelago of islands poses one kind of challenge for healthcare access. Filipino health professionals are world-class, yet there is mal-distribution of capacities and expertise across the country, concentrated mainly in urban centers. Other social problems and political neglect shape health inequity; the urban poor, in particular, also do not have access to healthcare.
Telemedicine is a key channel for improving access to healthcare for isolated and disadvantaged communities. We spent the first 15 years demonstrating that it can work, extending reach by rural remote communities to the clinical experts of the UP Manila, the national health sciences center. Albeit still at infancy stages, regional medical experts have come on board to serve their respective regions through telecare.
The next step would be to formalise telehealth as a modality of care in the Philippines, specially for our remote and disadvantaged communities. Government legislation must be revised and the Medical Act of 1959 has to be updated to account for the use of ICT in healthcare. While ICT has become pervasive in all walks of life, current and future health professionals – and even those in other relevant disciplines such as engineering, computer science, and the social sciences - have to be trained better to be capable of using the ICT tools in a safe and ethical manner.
The legislation needs to be supportive of the health system and protective of patients. Two House Bills on telehealth were filed in 2012 and 2014 Congress of the Philippines, but were not legislated. They have yet to be re-filed under this current government administration to ensure continuity and full integration in the Philippine health care delivery system.
Also among our pioneer projects is the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS) - an electronic medical record (EMR) system to improve tracking and improving patient care, and facility level health information management at the primary care Rural Health Unit (RHU) level. Its efficacy is recognized through its adoption by over 200 RHUs, as well as two international and five Philippine national awards in the last decade.
What are the projects NTHC is currently working on?
Telehealth and CHITS provided the base for subsequent research and innovations, including exploring how mobile phones could work for health care.
We linked CHITS and mobile phones to put together for Real-Time CHITS or rCHITS, as part of a UNICEF funded project and implemented in a few towns in Mindanao, south of the Philippines. It was meant to link midwives posted in the barangays or villages. Public health workers, such as midwives were trained in using cellphones and computers to document and report health data. We linked them to a single database, and allow real-time monitoring of maternal and child health indicators. Data is displayed in a local government health dashboard.
Immediate action can be done by respective authorities if necessary. rCHITS was intended to empower local governments. Based on rCHITS, local leaders can take evidence-based decisions to improve health outcomes in their local communities.
With partners, we modelled a telehealth-enabled service delivery network for pregnant mothers. This was a response to the major problems of transfer of patients needing more complex care across health facilities. For the longest time, clinicians can only give a referral slip and ask patients to go to a hospital of their choice. The poor patient, who lacks the medical expertise, decides for himself where to go. More often than not, his decision will be driven his (lack of) monetary resources. This is actually a cop out on part of the health system.
But if the health facilities are better governed, adequately funded, equipped and organised in a system, poor patients can receive quality care, with the guarantee he will still be cared for in the best possible way even if he transfers from one clinic to another. The health system becomes truly accountable, We saw encouraging results in Quezon City's campaign for better maternal and child health, aided by the Mag-Ina (mother & child) Telereferral System, or MiNTS. It draws relevant maternal data from the CHITS-EMR, alerts the hospitals of the referral of a high-risk pregnant mother, and notifies the primary care clinic where the patient originated from the outcomes of care. The Quezon City Health Office is able to monitor these high risk patients.
On another front the RxBox research program linked a diagnostic medical device to CHITS, and from CHITS to teleconsultation. If you needed to refer certain cases to specialists, EMR data, including relevant physiologic signals drawn from the medical device,can be transmitted seamlessly.
We also started discussing the issue of Unique identifier. Now that the ICT has gone from demonstrating potential to delivering benefits, it is leading to new concerns. How do you ensure that the “Portia Marcelo” in one hospital is the same as the one in another hospital? Our campaign for standards and governance was driven by these issues, raised by the health workers and IT engineers.
We - the UP Manila - contributed to the work in setting up the National eHealth Steering Committee (NESC) in 2013. The Committee is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department Health (DOH) and the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as well as the Commission on Higher Education are members, likewise.
The eHealth community has expanded considerably in the Philippines, if one is to judge the many health “apps” that sprung in the recent years. This governance body ensures eHealth investments contribute to national health development in a more deliberate and integrated way. The Philippine National eHealth Strategy 2014 to 2020 was articulated, a product of broad participation and nationwide consultation. Defining standards and a national health ICT architecture integrated and cognisant of the country's national eGovernance framework are among foundations of the Strategy. More work needs to be done, but we've taken the fundamental steps.
NTHC is also convenor of the International Open Source Network ASEAN+3, created by the United Nations Development Program in 2007, and the Asia eHealth Information Network, in cooperation with the WHO-Western Pacific Regional Office in 2012.
The Philippine Health Information Exchange
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) controls the funding for public investments in ICT. DBM, along with the DOST ICT Office, encouraged the various sectors to organise themselves and integrate systems. For the healthcare sector, one of the outcomes was the Philippine Health Information Exchange (PHIE). It was set up jointly by NESC to bring together all players, including health facilities, health care providers, health information organizations, and government agencies.
PHIE became a driver for encouraging frontline primary health care centers to automate. Whereas in its infancy, the PHIE promises to ensure seamless health information transfer to allow continuity of care and administrative efficiency.
PhilHealth is turning out to be another important driver. PhilHealth, which runs the country's social insurance program, provides a sizable amount of money to primary care government facilities and it requires the submission of electronic information from primary care facilities through the PHIE. Those who already have EMRs are beefing up their systems. And those who have no EMRs are considering various systems that are available to them. March 2017 is the deadline. We have around 2500 government-funded health facilities in the municipalities. Around 1000 of them are using one form of EMR or another from one of 6 EMR providers. NTHC covers around 200, the Department of Health itself covers over a 1000.
At the moment, data integration remains elusive. Part of the discussion is about all the EMRs using the same ICT standards. The idea is that there would be one data entry and multiple uses through the information exchange. The GovCloud could hold all the data.
Can you tell us a little bit more about these cybersecurity and privacy concerns?
It is important for patients to believe we are trustworthy and that we can and will protect their information. Cybersecurity and privacy was always a part of the discussion for us. They were central to the way we were introducing and propagating technologies. Our projects are peer reviewed and they have to get clearance from the research ethics board at the university.
When the NESC was organised in 2013, a technical working group on privacy was also set up, since we want to exchange data through the PHIE. This expert group organised policies to protect the privacy of patients based on the Data Privacy Act, 2012. In fact, one of our faculty who sits in this expert group, Dr. Ivy D.Patdu eventually became a Deputy Commissioner of the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
The NPC was finally constituted in 2016 because the NESC campaigned for it, among others. Implementing rules and regulations were subsequently articulated. For the university, we had exhaustive discussions to discuss and disseminate the new rules and upgrading the university’ processes. This will be a continuing discussion.
Integral to all of NTHC's healthcare solutions is training and discussions on ethical use of these solutions and ethical health information management.
How does NTHC work with local administrations?
We have a small team of around 55, but our footprint appears big. That’s where local administrations come in.
As an example, we are partners with Quezon City and Navotas City, both invested in citywide CHITS; their health leaders and health workers collaborated to design what is the current version of CHITS. Pasay City was the birth place of CHITS in 2004, where the UP worked alongside health workers to shape an EMR that addressed their clinical as well as administrative reporting needs.
In Quezon City, the local government took it upon themselves to say we really want to take care of our mothers and children. Thus together, along with regional DOH office and the UNICEF, we prototyped the MiNTS. We were able to demonstrate successful transfer of patients, moving beyond tele consultations. We began with two lying-in clinics, MINTS will now be implemented in all of its 79 facilities city-wide.
We are going to try and replicate this in the provinces of Iloilo and Sultan Kudarat, where the RxBox and CHITs are already in place, again upon the initiative of their progressive physicians and their mayors. Now we are linking them better into the service delivery network.
Today, local governments have better awareness about the need to integrate health systems. It’s a good start. And communities themselves are witnessing success stories and appreciating the potential of these solutions.
[1] The National Institutes of Health (NIH) was created on January 26, 1996 by the UP Board of Regents to strengthen the research facility of UP Manila, and serve as an institutional home of a network of researchers and research institutions. NIH was established as a national health research center by the Philippine Government in 1998. In 2007, NIH became one of the four core agencies of the Philippine National Health Research Systems (PNHRS). PNHRS is part of a global movement, initiated by the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) to establish national health research systems in country setting.
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The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) recently unveiled the pivotal insights gleaned from its inaugural Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report 2023. Conducted between May and August of the previous year, the survey canvassed the opinions of 2,036 organisations spanning various sises and sectors.
The objective was to gauge the landscape of cybersecurity readiness across local entities and inform CSA’s strategic initiatives. The importance of bolstering cybersecurity resilience within these organisations cannot be overstated, as they play a critical role in shaping the digital experiences of Singaporeans through their services and products.
The findings unveiled a mixed landscape: while the majority of organisations demonstrated an awareness of cybersecurity imperatives, there remains substantial room for improvement in adoption rates. On average, organisations reported implementing around 70% of essential cybersecurity measures across various categories. Additionally, a significant proportion, approximately 75%, acknowledged CSA’s cybersecurity certification programmes, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust, which serve as national standards for prioritising cybersecurity measures.
Despite these positive indicators, CSA sounded a cautionary note, emphasising the inadequacy of partial adoption. Without the full spectrum of essential measures, organisations remain vulnerable to unnecessary cyber risks. Alarmingly, only a third of organisations had fully implemented at least three of the five categories outlined in Cyber Essentials. This underscores the urgency for comprehensive adoption to fortify cybersecurity posture effectively.
A prevalent challenge cited by organisations hindering full adoption was a lack of knowledge and experience, echoed by 59% of businesses and 56% of non-profits. This is compounded by the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, exacerbated by a shortage of skilled cyber professionals. Moreover, a prevailing perception of being unlikely targets of cyber-attacks and resource constraints further impedes progress in bolstering defences.
The consequences of inadequate cybersecurity measures were starkly evident, with over 80% of organisations reporting encountering cybersecurity incidents annually, including prevalent threats like ransomware and social engineering scams. These incidents invariably inflicted a negative business impact, with disruptions, data loss, and reputational damage among the most commonly cited consequences.
While the cost of implementing cyber hygiene measures may seem daunting, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it pales in comparison to the potential financial ramifications of cyber incidents. CSA emphasises the importance of viewing cybersecurity investment as essential insurance against potentially catastrophic losses.
In response to these challenges, CSA has rolled out a comprehensive suite of initiatives aimed at bolstering organisational cybersecurity resilience. These include cybersecurity resources to raise awareness, tailored health plans delivered by cybersecurity consultants, and certification programmes such as Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust. Additionally, the collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority has led to the introduction of the Cybersecurity Health Check, providing organisations with a self-assessment tool to benchmark their cyber hygiene and access remedial resources.
Mr. David Koh, Chief Executive of CSA, stressed the imperative for organisations to prioritise cybersecurity and leverage available resources and funding support. Delaying proactive measures until after an incident occurs, he cautioned, would prove significantly more costly in the long run.
The release of the Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report underscores the urgent need for organisations to fortify their cybersecurity posture comprehensively. By embracing a holistic approach to cybersecurity and leveraging available resources and support, organisations can mitigate risks and safeguard against the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats of the digital age.
The Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report 2023 is available at www.csa.gov.sg/cyberhealthreport and the Cybersecurity Health Check can be accessed at https://www.csa.gov.sg/cyberhealthchecktool.
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In a remarkable leap forward in the field of neuroscience, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have introduced a groundbreaking algorithm known as the Unique Brain Network Identification Number (UBNIN). This innovative algorithm is poised to revolutionise the analysis of brain connectivity patterns, offering profound insights into both healthy brain function and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The human brain, with its intricate network of neural connections, is a marvel of complexity. Each individual possesses a unique pattern of brain connectivity, akin to a fingerprint of the mind. Recognising the significance of these individualised brain networks, the researchers at IIT Guwahati set out to develop a method capable of decoding and quantifying these intricate patterns.
The UBNIN algorithm represents a paradigm shift in how we understand and analyse brain connectivity. Drawing upon data from structural MRI scans, the algorithm constructs a network model of the brain, with each region of the brain represented as a node. These nodes are interconnected by edges, reflecting the strength of connectivity between different brain regions.
What sets UBNIN apart is its ability to distil this complex network into a single numerical identifier. This unique identifier, akin to a digital signature for the brain, encapsulates the individualised connectivity patterns of each person. By quantifying these patterns into numerical values, UBNIN offers a powerful tool for understanding the structural organisation of the brain.
The implications of UBNIN are far-reaching. One potential application lies in the realm of brainprinting, where individual brain signatures could be used for identification purposes. Much like a fingerprint uniquely identifies an individual, UBNIN could serve as a digital identifier for the brain, with applications in personalised medicine, biometrics, and cognitive neuroscience.
Moreover, UBNIN holds promise as a biomarker for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Early detection of Parkinson’s is crucial for initiating timely interventions and improving patient outcomes. By analysing changes in UBNIN values over time, researchers may be able to identify subtle alterations in brain connectivity associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease.
To validate the utility of UBNIN as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, researchers conducted a comprehensive study involving structural MRI scans from both PD patients and healthy individuals. The results were promising, with UBNIN values exhibiting distinct patterns in PD patients compared to healthy controls. This suggests that UBNIN has the potential to serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, offering new avenues for early diagnosis and disease monitoring.
Furthermore, the researchers explored the impact of age on brain connectivity patterns. Aging is associated with changes in brain structure and function, which may contribute to the development of neurological disorders. By analysing structural MRI data from individuals across different age groups, the researchers found that brain connectivity patterns indeed change with age. Specifically, they observed a decrease in the clustering coefficient—a measure of network connectivity—with increasing age. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of brain plasticity and aging.
Dr. Cota Navin Gupta, Assistant Professor at the Neural Engineering Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, commented on the significance of these findings. “UBNIN offers a unique window into the structural organisation of the brain,” he remarked. “By quantifying individualised brain connectivity patterns, UBNIN has the potential to transform our understanding of brain function and dysfunction.”
Looking ahead, the researchers envision further applications of UBNIN in diverse fields, ranging from personalised medicine to cognitive neuroscience. By harnessing the power of UBNIN, researchers may unlock the mysteries of the human brain, paving the way for new insights into neurological disorders and brain health.
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Bushfires represent one of the most formidable challenges faced by firefighters worldwide. With their unpredictable behaviour and rapid spread, combating these blazes demands innovative solutions to ensure the safety of both responders and communities at risk. In a groundbreaking initiative, researchers are harnessing the power of robotics to revolutionise bushfire response, paving the way for more effective firefighting strategies and enhanced situational awareness.
At the heart of this endeavour lies the Silvanus Project, an ambitious international collaboration aimed at developing ground robots capable of navigating fire fronts and gathering crucial data in real-time. Led by researchers from Data61’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, this project represents a pioneering effort to address the inherent dangers associated with traditional firefighting methods.
Bushfires, fueled by factors such as vegetation density and weather conditions, can escalate rapidly, outpacing conventional firefighting techniques. To stay ahead of the inferno, firefighters require accurate information about fire location, direction of spread, and potential hazards. However, obtaining such data often entails placing personnel in hazardous environments, risking their safety in the process.
Drones have emerged as a promising tool for aerial reconnaissance, offering valuable insights into fire behaviour from above. However, their effectiveness is limited by factors such as smoke interference, high winds, and restricted flight times. Recognising these limitations, researchers turned their focus to ground-based solutions, envisioning robots capable of operating in the most challenging of conditions.
The ground robots developed as part of the Silvanus Project are equipped with advanced sensors and navigation systems, allowing them to traverse rugged terrain and navigate through smoke and debris. Some robots are designed to move on legs, mimicking the mobility of insects, while others utilise tracks for increased stability and manoeuvrability. These robots venture into the heart of the fire, gathering critical data such as fire intensity, fuel availability, and environmental conditions.
During a demonstration conducted for fire service representatives and researchers, the capabilities of these ground robots were showcased, highlighting their potential to transform firefighting operations. With the ability to transmit data in real-time to a cloud-based platform, these robots provide firefighters with unprecedented situational awareness, enabling more informed decision-making and proactive firefighting strategies.
Senior experimental scientist Tom Lowe emphasises the significance of these ground robots in enhancing firefighter safety and operational effectiveness. By deploying robots into areas deemed too hazardous for human intervention, firefighters can access vital information without exposing themselves to unnecessary risks. Furthermore, the integration of remote sensing technologies allows robots to assess vegetation density and predict fuel availability, further aiding in fire suppression efforts.
While the technology is still in the developmental stage, researchers are optimistic about its potential impact on future firefighting practices. Navinda Kottege, Cyber-Physical Systems Research Director, underscores the life-saving potential of ground robots, particularly in high-risk firefighting scenarios where human intervention may be impractical or unsafe.
The Silvanus Project represents a collaborative effort involving researchers from across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, and Brazil, united in their mission to develop innovative solutions for forest management and fire prevention. By harnessing the power of robotics and cutting-edge technologies, this initiative aims to bolster preparedness and response capabilities, ultimately saving lives and protecting communities from the devastating impact of bushfires.
As ground robots continue to evolve and mature, fueled by ongoing research and international collaboration, the vision of leveraging technology to mitigate the impact of bushfires grows ever closer to reality. With each technological advancement, firefighters gain new tools and capabilities to confront one of nature’s most formidable adversaries, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called upon the youth to take the lead in propelling Vietnam’s digital transformation, emphasising their crucial role in shaping the nation’s future amidst the burgeoning digital economy. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a dialogue held in Hanoi on March 26, where he engaged with 300 outstanding young individuals from various regions of the country.
With the digital economy projected to contribute 30% to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, PM Chinh underscored the urgency for Vietnam to embrace digitalisation as an indispensable global trend. He highlighted digital transformation as a cornerstone alongside the green economy, circular economy, sharing economy, and intellectual economy, essential for realising the nation’s development objectives of transitioning into a modern, upper-middle-income country by 2030 and achieving developed, high-income status by 2045.
In his address, PM Chinh urged the youth to champion digitalisation by raising public awareness, advocating for policy reforms, driving administrative modernisation through digital technologies, and advancing research and development efforts in the digital domain. Emphasising their role as pioneers, he expressed confidence in the youth’s ability to contribute, innovate, integrate into society, and pursue personal growth.
Moreover, PM Chinh called upon the youth to collaborate with the government in establishing a digital government, digital economy, digital society, and nurturing digital citisenship. This collaborative approach is deemed essential for harnessing the full potential of digital technologies to address societal challenges and drive inclusive growth.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s call, the youth presented recommendations to the government, emphasising the need to refine the legal framework governing digital platforms and establish effective communication channels to engage citisens in the digital transformation process. They stressed the importance of inclusivity and transparency in policymaking to ensure the successful implementation of digital initiatives.
During the dialogue, PM Chinh addressed queries from the youth regarding data protection, cybersecurity measures, integration of public services with the national population database, and strategies to preserve cultural identity in the digital age. Acknowledging these concerns, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding data privacy, enhancing cybersecurity, and promoting cultural heritage preservation in the digital era.
Furthermore, PM Chinh instructed relevant ministries, authorities, and localities to expedite the implementation of the National Digital Transformation Programme, refine existing mechanisms and policies, and create an enabling environment for youth-led initiatives. This concerted effort aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy among the younger generation, thereby ensuring their active participation in shaping Vietnam’s digital future.
The dialogue served as a platform for meaningful exchanges between the government and the youth, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in driving Vietnam’s digital transformation agenda. With the youth at the forefront, Vietnam is poised to harness the opportunities offered by digital technologies to achieve sustainable development and prosperity for all.
As reported by openGov Asia, Vietnam is undergoing a digital revolution, characterised by concerted endeavours to advance the country’s digital transformation. With aspirations to attain high-income status by 2045, Vietnam’s digital technology sector focuses on mastering technology, fostering innovation, and developing domestic manufacturing capacities.
In this context, inclusivity and collaboration are essential, serving as key drivers to unleash the transformative power of technology and foster economic expansion, ensuring broad societal participation and contribution to the nation’s advancement.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising transformative solutions to complex challenges across various domains. Recognising its potential to revolutionise industries and improve societal well-being, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has inaugurated the NUS AI Institute (NAII). Led by Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, NAII aims to accelerate AI research and its practical applications, fostering collaboration, innovation, and societal impact.
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, AI has emerged as a powerful tool with the capacity to reshape diverse sectors, ranging from healthcare to finance, education, logistics, and beyond. The establishment of NAII underscores NUS’s commitment to harnessing AI for the greater good, addressing critical issues facing Singapore and the global community.
At the core of NAII’s mission is the advancement of fundamental AI research, aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities and exploring novel applications across various domains. Through foundational research initiatives, scientists at NAII will tackle complex AI problems, spanning hardware and software systems, AI theory, responsible AI, reasoning AI, and resource-efficient AI. By delving into these areas, the institute seeks to develop cutting-edge AI technologies that address real-world challenges and drive innovation.
Moreover, NAII will prioritise research into the ethical and societal implications of AI, aiming to develop robust governance frameworks that ensure responsible AI development and deployment. This includes examining issues related to transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in AI systems. By fostering dialogue and research on AI ethics and governance, NAII aims to guide the responsible use of AI technology and mitigate potential risks.
In addition to foundational research, NAII will spearhead applied research initiatives, focusing on developing AI-driven solutions for specific application domains. Collaborating with experts from diverse fields, including healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, finance, urban sustainability, and education, the institute will tackle pressing challenges and explore opportunities for AI-driven innovation. From optimising supply chains to improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing urban infrastructure, NAII’s applied research efforts aim to deliver tangible benefits to society.
Furthermore, NAII will serve as a hub for AI talent development, providing comprehensive education and training programs for students, professionals, and policymakers. By offering hands-on learning experiences and internships, the institute seeks to nurture the next generation of AI leaders and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation in AI.
To support its research and educational endeavours, NUS has allocated significant resources to NAII, including external research grants and institutional funding. Moreover, the institute will collaborate closely with government agencies and industry partners to amplify its impact and drive innovation. Strategic partnerships with leading companies such as IBM and Google Cloud will enable NAII to leverage industry expertise and resources, accelerating the translation of research outcomes into real-world applications.
In alignment with Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) strategy, NAII aims to contribute to the nation’s AI ecosystem by fostering collaboration, innovation, and talent development. By positioning NUS as a global leader in AI research and application, the institute seeks to drive positive societal change and economic growth.
The establishment of NAII represents a significant milestone in NUS’s journey towards harnessing the power of AI for societal benefit. Through cutting-edge research, education, and collaboration, the institute aims to unlock the full potential of AI and pave the way for a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive future. With its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to excellence, NAII is poised to make a lasting impact on Singapore and the global AI landscape.
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The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has reached a significant milestone with its artificial intelligence (AI) platform, VNPT eKYC, logging over 1 billion user authentication requests. This accomplishment solidifies VNPT’s position as a pioneer in electronic identification and verification solutions within Vietnam.
Since its inception, VNPT eKYC has been at the forefront of electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) services for over five years, serving a diverse range of clients including banks, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and e-commerce entities. With over 100 organisations utilising its services, VNPT eKYC has facilitated electronic identification for more than 40 million individuals across the country.
On average, the VNPT eKYC system processes an impressive 600,000 requests daily, with peak days witnessing over a million requests being handled seamlessly. This demonstrates the platform’s robustness and reliability in managing high volumes of authentication transactions efficiently.
The significance of VNPT eKYC extends beyond its technological capabilities, particularly in the context of evolving regulatory requirements. The State Bank of Vietnam’s decision mandating biometric authentication for transactions exceeding 10 million VND (approximately 416 USD) and other significant transactions from July 1, 2024, underscores the critical role of advanced authentication solutions like VNPT eKYC in ensuring compliance and security in financial transactions.
Moreover, the platform’s success highlights the increasing importance of domestically developed solutions in the banking and financial sector. Domestic solutions such as VNPT eKYC offer several advantages, including rapid implementation, cost-effectiveness, adherence to global technology standards, scalability, and high readiness to meet evolving regulatory requirements.
Central to the effectiveness of VNPT eKYC is its advanced AI models, which enable the verification of facial biometric data with an impressive accuracy rate of up to 99.99%. This high level of accuracy not only enhances the security of authentication processes but also contributes to building trust and confidence among users and regulatory authorities.
As Vietnam’s digital economy continues to grow and evolve, the role of advanced authentication and verification solutions like VNPT eKYC becomes increasingly indispensable. Beyond facilitating seamless and secure electronic transactions, these solutions contribute to enhancing the overall digital infrastructure and ecosystem of the country, paving the way for further innovation and economic growth.
Looking ahead, VNPT remains committed to advancing its AI platform and expanding its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its clients and the regulatory landscape. With a strong focus on innovation, reliability, and security, VNPT eKYC is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of electronic identification and verification in Vietnam’s dynamic digital economy.
VNPT’s achievement of logging over 1 billion authentication requests with its AI platform, VNPT eKYC, marks a significant milestone in Vietnam’s journey towards digital transformation.
Amid a swiftly changing global landscape, Vietnam emerges as a frontrunner in a digital revolution, strategically positioned to harness technology’s transformative power for economic progress and societal development.
It is embracing its digital transformation journey, highlighting collaborative efforts to drive the nation’s digital transformation. The nation’s digital technology industry aims to propel Vietnam towards high-income status by 2045 through technology mastery, innovation, and indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
Moreover, the nation is working to harmonise its regulations, streamline laws, and promote consistency in its legal framework to foster a more favourable and appealing cyber environment.
As the country continues to embrace technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges, VNPT eKYC stands as a testament to the potential of domestic innovation in driving progress and excellence in the digital era.
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In a significant scientific breakthrough in a space sector, Dr Sarah Kessans has developed hardware designed to operate autonomously in orbit, transforming the study of protein crystallisation in microgravity. This technology provides scientists on Earth with unprecedented insights into protein behaviour, with far-reaching implications for developing more effective medicines and vaccines, among other applications.
Minister for Space Dr Megan Collins lauds Dr Kessans’ research as an inspiring example of how space technology can drive innovation on Earth. This achievement follows the recent successful launch of MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to track and monitor global emissions from space, highlighting the significant potential of space technology in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges while bolstering our globally competitive space sector.
The MethaneSAT satellite will be equipped with a highly sensitive spectrometre that can detect concentrations as low as two parts per billion, and it will have high-spatial resolution coupled with a broad, 200-kilometre view path, allowing it to quantify even small emission sources over large areas.
Dr Kessans’ research culminated in successfully launching her hardware on a rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, USA. This mission also included protein experiments from leading New Zealand universities, including Canterbury, Otago, Victoria, and Waikato, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the country’s academic institutions in advancing space science and technology.
The launch of Dr Kessans’ project results from a strategic agreement between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the US commercial space company Axiom Space. This partnership aims to facilitate New Zealand researchers’ advancement in space science and technology, fostering innovation and driving collaboration between academia, government, and private enterprise.
Dr Kessans’ project has also received government funding for further development through the MBIE-administered Endeavour Fund, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge research and innovation in the space sector. This collaborative effort between academia, government, and private enterprise is a testament to New Zealand’s growing presence in the global space economy, positioning the country as a key player in space research and technology development.
Previously, New Zealand had collaborated with several countries, including Australia, to advance space research, as reported by OpenGov. The collaboration between SmartSat and the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) is an important development. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities aims to accelerate the growth and technological advancement of the Australian and New Zealand space industries, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of space exploration and innovation in the Australasian region.
This partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to fostering innovation, driving research and development (R&D), and nurturing a skilled workforce capable of propelling technological breakthroughs in the space sector. The MoU, ceremoniously signed at the NZSA headquarters in Wellington, signifies a strategic alignment between SmartSat and NZSA to leverage their combined resources and expertise.
At the core of this collaboration, it is designated to support joint research initiatives in three key technological domains: Earth Observation, Space Situational Awareness, and Optical Communications. These areas represent the forefront of space exploration, offering immense potential to revolutionise humanity’s perception and interaction with the cosmos.
Minister Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Minister for Space, praised the new agreement as a testament to the enduring collaboration between Australia and New Zealand in space exploration. In a statement on her official website, she reiterated her commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, recognising the transformative potential of space technology in addressing global challenges.
Minister Collins reaffirmed the government’s dedication to developing the country’s space sector, promoting innovation, and strengthening partnerships with the New Zealand research community, international space agencies, and commercial collaborators. These collaborative approaches underscore New Zealand’s commitment to advancing space science and technology to benefit society and the economy, paving the way for future breakthroughs in the field.