The IMDA will establish the SME Digital Tech Hub to provide tech advisory to SMEs with more advanced digital needs, such as data analytics, cybersecurity and internet-of-things (IOT). The center is slated to be unveiled in the third quarter of this year.
Speaking at the SME Centre Conference today (April 5), Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry Sim Ann, said the Advisers at the tech hub will help find out the relevant solutions and mentor them to modify business processes to utilize technologies available to their fullest.
Besides providing advisory, the SME Digital Tech Hub will facilitate the medium for SMEsc to connect with ICT vendors and consultants, conduct workshops and seminars to help SMEs to build their digital capabilities.
The SME Digital Tech Hub complements the business advisors in SME Centres, which provides basic advice on off-the-shelf technology solutions that are pre-approved for funding support.
Sim also added that Spring Singapore is planning to launch Tech Depot, a centralised listing of ready-to-go technology packages from A*Star and pre-qualified digital solutions, in the second quarter of 2017. All these solutions specifically intend to help the firms modify and improve business processes such as supply chain management and inventory and asset tracking.
Singapore had launched a SME Centres Programme in 2013, which aimed to be the one-stop centres to provide the firms free business advice and streamlined access to government schemes. It aimed to focus on helping SMEs achieve their business objectives in the next five years through two initiatives: group-based upgrading projects and digital technology adoption. Sim, in her speech, stated,
The SME Centres will remain the first touchpoints for SMEs.
She mentioned the rise in number of firms approaching SME Centres. With 12 centres established in the nation, about 30,600 companies engaged last year.
