Speech by 2M Tan See Leng at Expand Space 2024

Distinguished guests,

Educators and students,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

1. It is my pleasure to join you today at the inaugural Expand Space, a global platform that is dedicated to advancing technological frontiers in the space and associated industries. This is the space where our youths can expand their imagination, and chart their paths from passion to profession.

Space Industry – opportunities for Singapore

2. Space exploration has captivated the imagination and curiosity of many generations. This has in part driven the staggering development of new space technologies over the past decades.

a. We have achieved even more advancements in recent years, with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021, followed by China’s and India’s successful landing of rovers on the moon.

b. Just a few weeks back, the Starship spacecraft by SpaceX successfully performed a booster catch on landing. This signals the possibility of reusing the boosters in rockets, paving the way for more rapid and repeated launches.

c. Thanks to these developments, we are now much better equipped to understand star and galaxy formation, and to make sense of our place in the universe.

3. Indeed, the face of space exploration is changing and expanding. Beyond just helping us understand the wider cosmos, space technologies also play an increasingly important role in our everyday lives.

a. Think satellite communications, which have transformed our daily interactions. What was previously only possible via post and snail mail can now be relayed across the globe in a split millisecond via voice, video or data.

b. Increasingly, space technology can also support sustainability endeavours, through applications like climate monitoring, as well as carbon measurement, reporting and verification.

c. And for those of us who relish in science fiction, there may even be a market for space tourism in the not so distant future.

4. Space is therefore no longer the sole preserve of rocket scientists and astronauts. It has become a fast-growing industry driven by the need for greater connectivity, and increased demand for navigation services and AI applications.

a. Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum and McKinsey¹ estimated that the global space economy will be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035, close to 3 times its value in 2023.

b. SpaceX’s recent foray into space is a further testament to the increased commercial presence and the growth opportunities in the space industry.

5. Singapore must ride on this momentum and raise our ambitions for space.

a. We may not be able to land a Singaporean on the moon, but we are keen to seek out opportunities in space.

b. This would mean cultivating a pipeline of pioneering talent and space professionals, to make their mark in the various space domains.

“Expand Space” – Developing talent pipeline to support Singapore’s space ambitions

6. Expand Space is an excellent starting point for this talent development effort. Today’s event will feature a series of showcases, interactive activities as well as panel sessions and engagements with real-world experts, that will inspire youths to experience and learn more about space and major deep tech themes like AI and robotics.

7. Expand Space is also host to several well-established space- and STEM-related youth events by Space Faculty, such as the GNSS Innovation Quest and World Robotics Olympiad (WRO), amongst others.

8. The GNSS Innovation Quest is an annual nationwide engineering competition organised by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Space Faculty. Participants would leverage SLA’s Singapore Satellite Positioning Reference Network (SiReNT), coupled with other satellite and robotics technologies, to create innovative solutions to improve the lives of Singaporeans.

9. Another signature programme featured today is the World Robotics Olympiad, or WRO – a global robotics competition dedicated to science, technology, and education with the aim to helping young people develop their creativity and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.

10. I am pleased to know that Singapore has won the bid to host the 2025 iteration of WRO. This is a vote of confidence to Singapore for our commitment to the development of talent in this field!

Investing in R&D and education to grow our space industry

11. Beyond events such as Expand Space, we have also taken decisive moves to develop our local space ecosystem.

12. More than a decade ago, back in 2013, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) established the Office for Space Technology and Industry (or OSTIn for short), to drive the development of small satellite capabilities and development of new sensor technologies for small satellite platforms.

a. Since then, OSTIn has received an expanded mandate, and it now functions as our national space office.

b. One of OSTIn’s key roles is to carve out a technology niche for Singapore in the space economy. To that end, OSTIn administers the $150 million Space Technology Development Programme, as part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise funding programme, to fund projects in niche technology research. This includes projects such as Very Low Earth Orbit satellite technologies and space-based Quantum Key Distribution solutions.

13. We also work hard to develop our pipeline of talent starting from a young age, as a complement to industry efforts such as Expand Space.

14. This is where our focus on STEM education comes in handy.

a. STEM education in Singapore has evolved beyond textbooks, to emphasise hands-on learning and real-world applications of theoretical knowledge.

15.  These efforts have started to bear fruits – with small success stories from our students.

a. In July last year, a team of students and researchers launched the Galassia-2, a 4-kg nanosatellite, to conduct remote sensing for agriculture and environmental change using a multispectral camera on board.

b. A new team of undergraduate students are now working on the next iteration of the nanosatellite. This iteration will incorporate deep tech, such as an AI-enabled camera to process data from images coming from space.

c. If successful, we would soon be able to use the satellite for dynamic response cases like piracy tracking or humanitarian missions.

16. Stories like this serve as excellent sources of inspiration for our budding space scientists who are working to push the next frontier for mankind. And for a small nation like Singapore, we will need everyone in this field – both men and women – to unlock our full potential in space developments. We want to make sure any child with an interest in space is able to access resources that will allow them to thrive and contribute to this field.

a. It is with this belief that Space Faculty is launching the STEM Foundation – a non-profit initiative that provides less privileged youths with access to funding for STEM programmes, including coding, life sciences, robotics, and yes – space technology.

b. The Foundation will benefit about 100 children as a start, and will complement existing Government programmes – such as STEM Inc and Women in Tech – to build a more inclusive workforce in the tech and space domains.

c. I am excited to be part of the launch later on, and would like to commend Space Faculty for the initiative.

Conclusion

17. Ladies and Gentlemen, in closing, to be that shining star in the galaxy, we need the support of the wider space ecosystem, including universities, the Government as well as mentorship from our startups and companies.

18. I am glad that Expand Space helps to support this vision. The events and programmes that they have rolled out can help our youths to discover and develop their passion in STEM, provide a platform to express their talents and creativity, and cultivate future-ready skills that will empower them to embark and succeed in space or other deep tech professions in future.

19. And to all our students and aspiring youths, you have worked hard to be here today, but this is only the start of your journey. I encourage you to continue pursuing these dreams with the same enthusiasm and determination you exhibited thus far. The small steps you take today will help pave the way for greater success in the future and inspire others to do the same.

20. With that, I wish all of you an inspiring afternoon of discovery at Expand Space 2024.

Thank you.

¹ “Space: The $1.8 Trillion Opportunity for Global Economic Growth” Published in April 2024.