The Smart Nation vision

The Smart Nation initiative is a whole-of-nation effort led by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) to build a thriving digital future for all.

The inaugural Smart Nation initiative was launched in 2014, driven by a compelling vision: to build better, meaningful, and fulfilled lives for our people, enabled by technology. In his speech at the launch of Smart Nation 1.0, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said:

"Our vision is for Singapore to be a Smart Nation - A nation where people live meaningful and fulfilled lives, enabled seamlessly by technology, offering exciting opportunities for all."

Since then, Singapore has made significant progress. Digital technologies have become an integral part of our lives, influencing how we live, work, and play. Technology holds tremendous promise in helping Singapore break new ground. While we continue to harness technology as a force for good, we must also address risks such as challenges to individual wellbeing and social harmony.

In 2024, Singapore introduced the refreshed Smart Nation vision, outlining a renewed approach to build a thriving digital future for all. In his speech at the launch of Smart Nation 2.0, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong shared:

"In Smart Nation 1.0, we focussed on building up capabilities and encouraging the use of technology. For our next phase, or Smart Nation 2.0, we aim to sharpen our focus and use technology more effectively to transform our future and shape our nation together."

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong at the Smart Nation 2.0 launch event.

"Not everything we try will succeed. Some efforts may fall short of the desired results. When that happens, we must have the courage and integrity to acknowledge the failure, learn from it, and quickly pivot to a new approach. It is this spirit of rapid iteration and bold innovation that will propel us forward in our Smart Nation journey."