Asia’s flagship technology event Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) returned from 31 May to 3 June 2022, convening leaders and decision-makers from across the global technological ecosystem to network, debate, and exchange ideas on the latest technologies that drive digital innovation and transformation across all segments of society.

As the largest tech event that Singapore has hosted since reopening its borders, ATxSG 2022 is testament to the country’s strong recovery and position as a Global-Asia node for business and MICE. Among the 16,600 attendees were representatives from the governments of Brazil, Estonia, Indonesia and the United States as well as top executives from renowned tech companies like Amazon Web Services, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Zoom.

“Digital and tech brings many opportunities but also challenges. That impact is felt at the intersection of Tech and Governance, Tech and Businesses, and Tech and Society. This involves building a trusted digital environment, creating economic growth, seeding innovations, and tackling society’s pressing problems. It is therefore key to bring together thought leaders across these domains, to shape that shared digital future,” said Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

ATxSG 2022 was the event’s first-ever in-person edition, and was organised by the IMDA, Informa Tech and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board. IMDA hosted the apex event ATxSummit, an exclusive invite-only event featuring high-level discussions among global tech, business and government leaders, as well as the ATxAI conference focused on artificial intelligence. Both events were held at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore. Meanwhile, ATxEnterprise and ATxImpact, ATxSG’s segments for industry and start-ups respectively, were organised by Informa Tech at Singapore EXPO.

At ATxEnterprise, which comprised BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia, SatelliteAsia and TechXLR8Asia, there were discussions and displays of technological applications to a myriad of industries, from health and telco to energy and workforce management. Exhibitors also made announcements that reaffirmed Singapore and Asia’s attractiveness to global digital-first disruptors, such as an MOU signed between global infrastructure as a service (IaaS) company OneQode, and PLDT Global, the international arm of the Philippines’ largest integrated telco network, to fast-track expansion of cloud in Manila.

Tech for Good

Beyond debating the potential of digital to power global economic growth, another important tenet of the event was building an inclusive digital future. ATxInspire: Women in Tech looked at how to attract, retain and develop women tech talent. Distinguished speakers from IBM, Razer and Ping An Group as well as ministries in Japan, Mongolia and Singapore talked about the progress of women professionals in the tech industry and efforts to create a more collaborative tech ecosystem for women.

Sustainability was also a key agenda at ATxSG, with several sessions on green finance and ESG as well as companies showcasing sustainable solutions and innovation. Among these companies was Singapore start-up FloatingOn which launched modular floating units that can run on renewable energy and can be used for accommodation in land-scarce countries. “Our participation at the event was fruitful,” said Founder and CEO Audrey Leong. “[We] met many potential business partners and investors, including venture capitalists, accelerators, incubators, as well as business and government decision-makers interested in green technology solutions.”

The event itself implemented sustainable practices like switching out plastic water bottles for paper cartons, using QR codes to disseminate event programming and minimising printing of reports and event maps.

ATxSG 2022 brimmed with cutting-edge thinking, many of which were spotlighted at ATxImpact, the official start-up event at ATxSG. The largest gathering of its kind in the region, ATxImpact provided more than 100 promising regional start-ups with exclusive access to curated investors and the enterprise marketplace. Some of the featured companies include the world’s first alternative nation on Web 3.0 and a platform helping English language learners improve their proficiency using artificial intelligence tools.

The Singapore Government also leveraged ATxSG to announce initiatives that will bolster tech innovation across different industries. At ATxAI, IMDA announced the development of a $50-million Digital Trust Centre that will lead R&D and talent development efforts for trust technologies. Separately, the Monetary Authority of Singapore launched Project Guardian, a collaborative initiative with DBS, JP Morgan and Marketnode, to explore the tokenisation of financial assets and develop the future of finance infrastructure.

Such conversations and initiatives are only possible in Singapore, as the regional centre for technological innovation with a vibrant business environment, world-class infrastructure and future-ready talent.

“We wanted to be here for the restart of physical events,” noted Bastien Hyver, Business Development Manager at the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. With the Chamber’s 20-year history of helping companies exhibit at the French Pavilion at BroadcastAsia, Hyver cited the excitement to return to Singapore. “My exhibitors have been talking to me about this. Singapore is the centre point, the entry point for growing in Asia.”