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| More games and mobile media, anyone? |
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| Dr Balakrishnan visiting a booth at the IDM Jamboree held in January. |
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Grooming and developing
Singapore’s very own interactive
digital media sector is the goal of the
new Interactive and Digital Media
(IDM) Research and Development
(R&D) programme, which saw four
initiatives being rolled out recently.
About 700 industry players had a sneak preview of the initiatives
and potential services which consumers and the IDM sector can look
forward to at the inaugural IDM Jamboree, an industry networking
event held on 10 January 2007 at the Science Centre.
The event, hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore
(MDA), is in line with the National Research Foundation’s plans to
develop a strategic IDM research programme and set up a multi-agency
IDM R&D Programme Office within MDA to spearhead the growth of
Singapore’s IDM sector. To this end, S$500 million has been allocated
for use over the next five years.
The guest of honour, Minister for Community Development, Youth and
Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the
Arts Dr Vivian Balakrishnan unveiled the four initiatives:
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driving demand for IDM services |
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growing a network of local and international research organisations
to augment the capabilities of the local IDM sector |
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encouraging the public to generate innovative ideas and projects |
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establishing Singapore as an international test-bedding centre for
IDM-enabling infrastructure and applications |
R&D will complement these initiatives in areas such as:
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Animation, Games and Effects: There are plans to strengthen
investments in technology R&D, tools, platform development and
to explore new genres. |
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Media Intermediary Services: Investments will be made to
enhance technical capabilities in the organisation, distribution and
the security of digital media. |
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“On-the-Move” media services: Investment in R&D is aimed at
identifying new ways of teaching and interacting with people who
are always on the move. |
Dr Balakrishnan also spoke on how everyone — industry players,
institutes of higher learning, consumers and the public sector — can
work together to reap the benefits of an IDM environment.
CEO of MDA Dr Christopher Chia said the newly unveiled initiatives and
core research areas will complement the efforts of multiple agencies.
“MDA will continue to actively engage the community and work closely
with our industry partners to ensure that the consumers will enjoy
more tangible benefits with the roll-out of these initiatives,” he added.
On the industry’s support, Mr Michael Yap, MDA’s Deputy CEO and
Executive Director of the IDM R&D Programme Office, said: “What we
have put in place are broad-based initiatives that address all the key
players and key stakeholders of the R&D arena. IDM is evolving and is
shaped by all of us. We can only have a vibrant IDM industry if we are
able to draw your contribution and participation.”
He encouraged more industry players to participate in
this national effort, and welcomed those with an interesting
idea or proposal to contact his office at idm_office@mda.gov.sg
for further discussion.
To date, the IDM R&D Programme Office has already secured 19 projects
with the private sector, including companies like PGK Media and XID
Technologies. So far, feedback has been positive.
Mr Giulio Dorrucci, Chairman and CEO of PGK Media, said: “The office
provided us with total integrated project support to create the right
business ecosystem needed for the successful deployment and
implementation of a project of such an extensive nature.”
“It was very refreshingly simple and easy and incredibly fast seeking
approvals from the IDM R&D Programme Office,” said Mr Myles Kendrick,
XID’s co-founder and Vice-President of Marketing. “No bureaucracy, nor
was there a lot of red tape or lots of forms to fill. I think it highlights
Singapore’s goals and aims for the IDM sector.” |
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by Media Development Authority
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