Moulding the Next Generation of Digital and Information Leaders: MDDI Family Awards 81 Scholarships to Advance Singapore’s Tech Sectors

1              81 scholarships were awarded today by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and its statutory boards and agencies – Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and NLB. The scholarship ceremony was graced by Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, MDDI.

2              The scholarships are part of the MDDI Family’s collective effort to nurture talent in the technology, media, and information sectors, preparing them to lead a range of digital development and government communications work across public and private sectors. Three types of scholarship were awarded to the recipients:

(A) Undergraduate Scholarships

3              The MDDI Family offers three categories of undergraduate scholarships to support students pursuing bachelor’s degrees relevant to the ministry, statutory boards, or agencies:

         i. Smart Nation Scholarship

4              11 recipients were awarded the Smart Nation Scholarship (SNS). The SNS seeks to develop future technology leaders who are passionate about making a difference to our national digital transformation. Jointly offered by CSA, GovTech Singapore, and IMDA, scholars can look forward to a multifaceted career, specialising in a variety of tech domains, and opportunities for job rotations across the different public agencies.

       ii. MDDI Information Service Scholarship

5              Four recipients were awarded the MDDI Information Service Scholarship and one recipient was awarded the MDDI Information Service (Translation) Scholarship. The Information Service scholarship was first introduced in 2008 to attract young talent with an interest in government communications while the Information Service (Translation) Scholarship was introduced in 2015 to attract young talent with an interest in both government communications and translation work. They will play an important role in public communications to ensure that Singaporeans are heard and connected to the Government – by engaging them on national and social issues across various channels, strengthening whole-of-government policy communications, explaining policies to the public, and managing government media relations.

      iii. NLB Scholarship

6              One recipient was awarded the NLB Scholarship. This scholarship aims to build and nurture a multi-disciplinary talent pipeline in information literacy, knowledge creation, and preservation to develop Singapore’s libraries and archives of the future. Scholarship holders play a key role in realising NLB’s goal of transforming the reading and learning experience for all Singaporeans.

(B) MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship

7              Beyond attracting and growing young talent, the MDDI Family also strives to develop the professional and specialised capabilities of in-service officers through the MDDI Postgraduate Scholarship, which was awarded to nine MDDI officers this year to support their postgraduate studies.

(C) IMDA SG Digital Scholarship

8              The IMDA SG Digital Scholarship is an industry undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship that develops global-ready tech and media leaders for Singapore’s digital economy. The scholars have the flexibility to chart their own career with the industry and take on key roles in a tech or media-related field in an organisation of their choice. This year, the Scholarship was awarded to 55 recipients who are pursuing their studies in in-demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Cybersecurity and Quantum.

9              They will join a 1,500-strong SG Digital Leadership Accelerator community, including SG Digital Leaders, past scholars who now hold senior positions as founders of high-growth tech startups, leaders in multinational companies, and innovators building world-class tech products. The SG Digital Scholars will be mentored by industry leaders, including past scholars, who are paying it forward. They will also be given exposure through internships, funding for overseas internships, exchanges and competitions, certifications, and industry networking opportunities to thrive as tech and media leaders.

Jointly issued by:

Ministry of Digital Development and Information

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

Government Technology Agency of Singapore

Infocomm Media Development Authority

NLB

For media queries, please contact:

MDDI

Loo Jiamin (Ms)

Senior Manager, Communications & Engagement Division

Contact No: 9789 6566

Email: jiamin_loo@mddi.gov.sg

CSA

Cassandra Yeo (Ms)

Assistant Manager, Communications & Engagement Office

Contact No: 8223 9034

Email: cassandra_yeo@csa.gov.sg

GovTech

Zoe Xu (Ms)

Manager, Communications and Marketing Group

Contact No: 8189 1682

Email: Zoe_xu@tech.gov.sg

IMDA

Shamana Menon (Ms)

Manager, Communications and Marketing

Contact No: 9694 2579

Email: shamana_menon@imda.gov.sg

NLB

Ong Hui Ying (Ms)

Manager, Corporate Communications Division

Contact No: 96924805

Email: ong_hui_ying@nlb.gov.sg

About Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI)

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) drives Singapore’s digital development in four key domains — the economy, government, security, and society. MDDI oversees the development of the infocomm technology, cybersecurity, and media sectors; the Government’s digitalisation initiatives; and the national library, national archives, and public libraries. The Ministry is also responsible for effective public communications, and the Government’s information and public communication policies. MDDI’s mission is to engage hearts and minds to achieve a thriving digital future for all.

About the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA)

Established in 2015, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) seeks to keep Singapore’s cyberspace safe and secure to underpin our Nation Security, power a Digital Economy and protect our Digital Way of Life. It maintains an oversight of national cybersecurity functions and works with sector leads to protect Singapore’s Critical Information Infrastructure. CSA also engages with various stakeholders to heighten cyber security awareness, build a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem supported by a robust workforce, pursue international partnerships, and drive regional cybersecurity capacity building programmes.

CSA is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is managed by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. For more news and information, please visit www.csa.gov.sg.

About the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore)

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) is the lead agency driving Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative and public sector digital transformation. As the Centre of Excellence for Infocomm Technology and Smart Systems (ICT & SS), GovTech Singapore develops the Singapore government’s capabilities in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Application Development, Smart City Technology, Digital Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity.

GovTech Singapore builds tech for public good to improve the lives of Singaporeans and the economy and supports public agencies in managing enterprise IT operations. Its other responsibilities include overseeing and safeguarding key government ICT infrastructure, as well as regulating public sector ICT procurement, data protection and cybersecurity. GovTech Singapore is a Statutory Board under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

For more information, please visit https://www.tech.gov.sg/

About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) IMDA leads Singapore’s digital transformation by developing a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society. As Architects of Singapore’s Digital Future, we foster growth in Infocomm Technology and Media sectors in concert with progressive regulations, harnessing frontier technologies, and developing local talent and digital infrastructure ecosystems to establish Singapore as a digital metropolis. For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on LinkedIn (IMDAsg), Facebook (IMDAsg) and Instagram (@imdasg).

About NLB

NLB nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries across Singapore, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore's history through its rich collections on Singapore and the region.

NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services, and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995, NLB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

For more information, please visit the NLB website, and NLB’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.