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Singapore’s Digital Development Journey
We began our Smart Nation journey in 2014 with Smart Nation 1.0, where we set out to harness digital technologies to transform our economy and society. We focused on building strong foundations – a Digital Society with high adoption and literacy, a vibrant Digital Economy that drives innovation, robust Digital Security, and a Digital Government that serves our citizens seamlessly. These efforts gave us the infrastructure, skills, and systems needed to thrive in the digital age.
In 2024, we launched Smart Nation 2.0. With our foundations in place, we shifted our focus to three priorities: Trust, Growth, and Community. Trust means keeping our systems secure and ensuring technology is used responsibly. Growth is about using digitalisation to create new opportunities for our people and businesses. Community focuses on making digital tools inclusive and meaningful for all, so that no one is left behind. In short, we moved from building the basics to making sure digitalisation delivers real benefits for every Singaporean.
Our International Approach: Discourse, Collaboration & Capacity Building
However, we cannot operate alone. The development and risks of technology transcend borders, and all countries are grappling with the pace of technological change. Issues such as cybersecurity threats, cross-border data flows, and online safety are transboundary in nature and require collective responses.
That is why we prioritise discourse, collaboration and capacity building. Through discourse, we engage in international conversations – in ASEAN, the UN, and with like-minded partners – to build common understanding and share experiences. Through collaboration, we build trusted, interoperable frameworks and co-develop resources such as guides and playbooks. And through capacity building, we work with international organisations and partner countries to provide training and practical tools. Together, these efforts contribute to a more resilient, inclusive, and broadly shared digital future.
Technology for Global Good
Regardless, gaps still exist around the world. Digitalisation holds immense promise, but countries around the world start from different starting points and face unequal access to resources and expertise. Global and regional efforts such as the UN’s Global Digital Compact and ASEAN Digital Master Plan aim to bridge this digital divide. As part of Singapore’s broader contribution to the UN’s Global Digital Compact, we have developed and launched the Singapore Digital Gateway (SGDG) to make our proven knowledge, practical tools, and tested approaches more widely available.
SGDG is a web-based knowledge and resource hub that consolidates our digital initiatives and digital public goods. It provides a single access point for international partners, multilateral organisations, and policymakers to learn from and collaborate with Singapore on digital transformation.
Through SGDG, we share the building blocks of Singapore’s digital journey – from our national strategies on Smart Nation and Digital Government, to governance frameworks such as our Model AI Governance Framework. Alongside these, SGDG also offers practical toolkits, playbooks, and case studies that provide governments with concrete guidance to adapt and apply in their local contexts. The open-source digital enablers and technical solutions that we have developed and deployed in Singapore are tried-and-tested tools that can be adapted, helping partners accelerate the implementation of their own digital systems more confidently.
SGDG also extends downstream into capacity-building programmes. Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and other partnerships, we share knowledge directly with other countries’ officials, providing training and practical digital resources. By making both our frameworks and tools available, and backing them with hands-on capacity building, we aim to contribute to raising the global digital baseline.
In this way, SGDG is more than a repository – it is our way of turning digital ambition into action. SGDG reflects our commitment to harnessing technology for global good in support of a more inclusive, trusted, and transformative digital future.
Singapore's Achievements
1st
in Asia for AI readiness (Oxford Insights, 2023).
4th
globally for AI patents per capita (WIPO, 2023).
1st
in Asia for Smart City (IMD Smart Cities Index, 2024).
3rd
among 192 nations for digital government (UN e-Government Survey, 2024).
Partnerships
The SGDG curates proven digital public resources—spanning key digital domains—to advance global digital transformation. By working with international organisations, foundations, and bilateral partners, SGDG contributes practical experience to collective efforts, helping accelerate trusted, scalable, and sustainable digital solutions worldwide.
