In September 2023, Singapore launched an initiative aimed at fostering talent, innovation, and growth in the cybersecurity industry. Led by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), the program has evolved into an international cybersecurity innovation hub, attracting startups from around the world.
The CyberSG Talent, Innovation, and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre, located within Singapore’s tech startup hub Block71, officially opened last July. The Readable visited the center during Singapore International Cyber Week, held from October 14 to 17, and observed how Singapore is advancing its vision to become a global hub for cybersecurity innovation.
“As a non-commercial entity, the center is designed to enhance collaboration between the private and public sectors. It’s a unique space where innovation and regulation coexist,” said Christopher Chen, Executive Director of the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre. According to Chen, 14 headcounts aimed at accelerating cybersecurity innovation were fully operational at the time of the interview.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) states that the center plays a key role in developing a comprehensive approach to the cybersecurity ecosystem by consolidating existing talent and innovation initiatives. As a national hub, it integrates and creates relevant programs for industry and talent development, fostering synergies between cybersecurity talent, innovation, and growth sectors.
The center is structured around three core pillars: talent, innovation, and growth. Key programs within the talent pillar include SG Cyber Associates, SG Cyber Youth, SG Cyber Professionals, and the SG Cyber Talent Development Fund. For instance, SG Cyber Associates offers foundational and specialized cybersecurity training for non-cybersecurity professionals. Furthermore, as part of this program, the center has partnered with the Institute of Engineers Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic to develop a tailored course on internet-of-things (IoT) security fundamentals.
CyberBoost, a program under the innovation pillar, provides tailored support for cybersecurity companies throughout their venture creation journeys. It helps them develop, validate, and scale their solutions both in Singapore and internationally. Participating companies benefit from curated training sessions, workshops, and access to selectively appointed mentors.
The growth pillar’s core program, CyberGrowth, is dedicated to supporting the export of cybersecurity solutions and services.
“We are cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Brian Koh, Director of Ecosystem Development at NUS Enterprise. “By facilitating talent, deep tech ventures, and startups through Block71, we are contributing to the birth of global companies and entrepreneurs starting from Singapore.”
Singapore’s strong focus on cybersecurity stems from its belief that cybersecurity is a crucial enabler of societal progress.
“Cybersecurity is essential for realizing the benefits of digital development and emerging technologies,” said David Koh, the first commissioner of cybersecurity in Singapore and the inaugural chief executive of the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), during a foreign media briefing on October 17. “Cybersecurity is like the brakes on a car. If you want to drive fast, you need good brakes,” stressed the executive.
Related article: Conversation with David Koh: Cybersecurity as a key enabler for social advancement
Singapore―SICW 2024―David Koh is the first commissioner of cybersecurity in Singapore and the first chief executive (CE) of the Cyber Security Agency (CSA). Since the establishment of CSA in 2015, he has led the agency as CE while also serving as the chief digital security and technology officer at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
On the morning of Oct. 17, Koh sat down with journalists who had flown in to cover the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW), a conference that has become, in less than a decade, the Asia-Pacific region’s most established cybersecurity event. Over coffee and a sandwich, the chief executive answered questions from the press and discussed some of the week’s key announcements.
Regarding the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme (CLS), where CSA signed mutual agreements with South Korea and Germany a day before the foreign media meeting, Koh explained that the initiative is a coordinated effort to shift the industry’s long-standing view of cybersecurity from one of concern over cost to one that prioritizes competitive advantage. READ MORE
