Innovation is essential for a society to stay at the forefront of global economic competitiveness. Without innovation, we will not be able to preserve our social equity or sustain our high-wage jobs.
While there is much discussion on innovation in Singapore, there is still too little public engagement and popular understanding that innovation is first and foremost about doing things differently. In short, we need a renewal of the concept of what is innovation and who can be a part of it.
Citizen Innovation seeks to inspire courage and vision to individuals to pursue new and bold ideas. We seek to cultivate members of our society at all levels to seek innovation excellence beyond the home grounds regardless of age and backgrounds. As a platform for intellectual exchange we provide channels for overseas innovation exchange, as well as host international innovation events in Singapore where locals can connect with talents from all over the world.
how Citizen Innovation is formed
Singapore has been known for their innovation. But for years, many grassroots innovators with fresh, innovative and viable ideas have been overshadowed by the education aspect in STEM culture.
As a dedicated advocate for real innovation, our Co-founder & President TAN Wei Kok has for years pressed for greater assistance to develop non academic innovation. In 2014, he set an example by being the first in the local STEM community to showcase his solution to policy makers at the UN conference and lauded by the host as a ‘Citizen Scientist’. Encouraged by positive results, he proposed to the government to address the need of support for social innovation. In our many interactions with government ministries and prominent STEM supporters such as Minister Dr Vivian, we have found all agreed on the sentiment that if ground up STEM movement to be supported and kept sustainable, there must be a focus on value creation for the economy. So Wei Kok did what he know best: promote innovation and intellect property rights (IPR) to the masses.
After 2 years of encouraging our govt to lead the way, Joleen Seto proposed an alternative bottom up approach, thus this was how Citizen Innovation was born. Between end of Sept 2017 to early Feb 2018, Citizen Innovation helped local innovators won a total of 40 international medals and recognition awards.
Innovation can go a long way.
Let’s Innovate. Commercialise. Globalize.