Accenture Launches Singapore Innovation Hub to Help Reimagine Cities of Tomorrow

SINGAPORE; Nov. 10, 2021 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today unveiled the Singapore Innovation Hub – Future of Cities, aimed at bringing together organizations across all industries to develop smart urban solutions that address economic and environmental challenges.

The facility will provide clients with access to Accenture’s deep industry knowledge, leading technology capabilities, and business acumen as they explore and reimagine future cities from a multi-stakeholder perspective. With the support of ecosystem partners, clients can now experience first-hand relevant technology solutions that come to life through immersive demonstrations to help address urban challenges that hinder the progress of sustainable smart cities, such as increasing energy consumption, growing traffic volume, and increased public safety threats. For example, by using digital twins and artificial intelligence (AI) models to simulate a range of environments and scenarios, urban planners can assess and optimize the effectiveness of building designs and evacuation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) even before a critical incident occurs.

In the initial phase, the Singapore Innovation Hub will focus on pillars such as adaptive cities planning, mobility, safety and security, and sustainability. Ng Wee Wei, country managing director, Accenture in Singapore, said: “The impetus is now here for countries to take transformative actions towards creating cities that are more sustainable and resilient. At the same time, the intersection of digitalization and energy transition is providing an opportunity for cities to reimagine how services can be delivered and paving the way for game-changing innovations that will revolutionize citizen engagement.”

According to Accenture and MIT Technology Review’s latest report 21st Century Cities: Asia Pacific’s Urban Transformation, cities across the region are exploring innovative and creative responses to social, economic, and ecological challenges. For instance, the report shared how Singapore, through coordinated planning and policy innovation, has successfully transformed itself to a global metropolis with among the best livability metrics in the world.

Yet, despite positive initiatives and projects, there are gaps between the idea of more sustainable, inclusive cities and reality on the ground. The report found that in most cities, the first wave of the “smart city” agenda was technology-centric, focused on what new innovations could do for cities. This has often led to disappointing or even regressive outcomes, such as deepening inequality, as those with less digital access are left further behind. The focus should now be on understanding cities as a composite of lived experiences across different communities and interest groups.

Ms. Ng added: “Smart city strategies must be anchored in the collective experience you want to deliver to the people who will participate in it. Our Singapore Innovation Hub is built with that purpose – a collaborative space enabling residents, communities, industry, academia, and governments to participate and immerse themselves in digital possibilities and bring about innovative urban solutions that are inclusive and accessible for everyone. Through the Singapore Innovation Hub, we also hope to nurture future-ready talent and cultivate the sustainability mindset which are the heart of a true smart city success.”

The launch of the Singapore Innovation Hub was officiated by the Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health, Dr. Janil Puthucheary earlier today. Guests were given a tour of the facility with high-touch/high-tech demos of the technology solutions. Guests joining on the virtual platform are also offered a 360-degree immersive experience of the launch event.

“It is clear from our conversations with clients that there is a new era of compressed transformation and an acceleration of industry convergence with a focus on environmental, social and governance standards. From acquisitions in Malaysia to expand our Interactive and AI capabilities to the set-up of the Innovation Center for Cloud in Indonesia, Advanced Technology Center in Thailand and now the Singapore Innovation Hub and AI Innovation Studio, we are putting innovation at the core of our business model and leading with applied innovation to solve our clients’ biggest challenges,” said Divyesh Vithlani, Southeast Asia market unit lead, Accenture.

The Singapore Innovation Hub builds on Accenture’s extensive innovation footprint, and further demonstrates the company’s continued investment in Singapore and the region. It will leverage on Accenture’s innovation hubs across the world and broader ecosystem of partners to enhance existing assets – including the AI Innovation Studio in Singapore that serves as a center of AI thought-leadership and innovation, where businesses can collaborate to accelerate data-driven projects supported by AI.

For more information on the Singapore Innovation Hub, please visit here.



About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 624,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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Contact:
Yasmin Quek
Accenture Southeast Asia
yasmin.quek@accenture.com