Singapores first-ever “internet-ready human” live chip-implant performance sets stage for new era of disruptive technology

SINGAPORE - 28 March 2017 - IoT Asia is the regions leading and award-winning trade platform for Asia in addressing challenges and identifying real opportunities within the regional Internet of Things (IoT) landscape. The 2017 edition of IoT Asia will be officially opened by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapores Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-in-Charge of the countrys Smart Nation initiative, on 29 March 2017.

The pace of planned IoT development and adoption continues unabated as Asia-Pacific companies are expected to pump in US$58 billion of research and development (R&D) and spending by the year 2020[1] into a myriad of solutions across various industries to realise the full potential of IoT. At the same time, Asian governments have embarked on digital and IoT-related transformation roadmaps for their respective economies to be future-ready such as Singapores Committee on the Future Economy (CFE), ASEANs ICT Masterplan (AIM) 2020, Malaysias National IoT Strategic Roadmap and Chinas 10-year "Made in China 2025" IoT roadmap. As a result, IoT Asia has become the pre-eminent platform for governments, businesses and entrepreneurs to exchange views, glean fresh insights, and learn from leading and start-up players on how best to make IoT pragmatic and profitable.

IoT Asia 2017 will welcome more than 4,500 thought leaders, industry experts, decision-makers, leading technology companies and small media enterprises (SMEs) from over 40 countries from the EU, US, China, India, and ASEAN over the two-day event.

IoT ASIA - A CHOICE PLATFORM FOR THE IoT ECOSYSTEM

From established technology leaders such as Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Asavie, Avnet, Bosch Software Innovations, Crown Coffee, Dell EMC, Fujitsu Asia, The Open Connectivity Foundation, Sigfox and TZ Limited to emerging players in the start-up space, the participant mix in this years event is a reflection of the diverse and inclusive nature of todays IoT ecosystem.

This years event theme, Making $ense in Our Connected World, aims to address the practical aspect of IoT principally in how businesses, governments and communities can reap the benefits of IoT and how to unlock new business opportunities, as well as monetise IoT applications notwithstanding the current cautious business outlook. The IoT Asia 2017 conference will see three distinct tracks on technology, solutions and organisations featuring more than 90 leading industry experts from 11 countries such as Wouter Van Wersch (President and Chief Executive Officer, General Electric ASEAN), Rob van Kranenburg (Founder, The IoT Council, Belgium) and Charles Reed Anderson, (Conference Chair of IoT Asia 2017 and Founder of Charles Reed Anderson & Associates).

On the exhibition front, a wide-ranging suite of technologies and solutions will be featured via two new zones (Cybersecurity and Robotics), along with Smart Cities, Wearables, Industrial IoT (IIoT), Design Applications, Enablers, and IoT Data Analytics. There will also be a dedicated Start-Up Exchange area, Institution Zone, and a PechaKucha session for visitors to learn more about the IoT ecosystem. Visitors to the tradeshow can interact with more than 100 exhibitors from 16 countries, with this year spanning a bigger 5,000sqm exhibition. The exhibition will spotlight three country pavilions: Singapore, France and the UK.

Back for the second consecutive year, TechSpace at IoT Asia will be hosting seminars driven by communities such as DevSecOps and IoTSG throughout the two-day event. Visitors can expect to hear from and engage in discourse with technology experts and enthusiasts.

THE HUMAN IoT - LIVE CHIP IMPLANT DEMONSTRATION

The closing keynote on 30 March will feature Hannes Sjoblad, Chief Disruption Officer of Epicentre Stockholm and world-renowned biohacker activist, who will perform the first-ever "live implant party" in Singapore. A specially-trained body piercing artist will assist in inserting a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip into a volunteer, creating a live "internet-ready human being".

Highlighting the crucial role that IoT Asia plays in future economies, Mr Aloysius Arlando, Chief Executive Officer of SingEx Holdings, said, "IoT Asia serves to bring researchers, innovators and practitioners together to collaborate on making IoT pervasive and pragmatic for businesses, societies and economies. SingEx is honoured to be a broker of networks for this cutting-edge and transformative movement. In our recently conducted survey, almost 90% of companies highlighted positive IoT intervention or investment by their local governments, and almost all companies plan to increase their spending and involvement in IoT. This overwhelmingly underscores that corporations, governments and markets, are bracing themselves for the digital revolution."

Mr Oliver Tian, President, Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA) said, "With SG$2.4 billion already allocated for the digitalisation drive in Singapore, there is huge potential for organisations to transform and future-proof their businesses in times of changing market demands through seizing opportunities offered by technology. As Singapore journeys towards becoming a Digital Harbour, IoT application is a critical catalyst for businesses to boost the nations competitiveness. It is now an opportune time for industry players, both private and public, to come together to accelerate IoT adoption and tap on the economic opportunities offered by the digital economy amidst todays ever-changing climate.

Jointly organised by SIAA and SingEx Exhibitions, IoT Asia 2017 will be held from 29 - 30 March 2017 at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre.

About SingEx Exhibitions

SingEx Exhibitions is a subsidiary of SingEx Holdings, and is wholly owned by Singapores investment company, Temasek Holdings. The company harnesses insights and its strategic networks to organise and manage a series of trade exhibitions and conferences in various industries, including automotive, environment, e-commerce and logistics, technology, healthcare and lifestyle. These events aim to connect businesses in Asia and globally, and facilitate business matching with opportunities and knowledge sharing.

For more information, please visit www.singex.com.

About Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA)

Incorporated since 1982, SIAA is a professional association for companies and professionals in the Automation, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Robotics sectors. SIAA plays a crucial role in galvanising the Automation, IoT and Robotics (AIR) business community, through its extensive line-up of highly-valued programs and events. As SIAA spearheads the automation related initiatives, it also aims to foster industry collaboration and advancement through staging of flagship industry platforms.

SIAAs member charter is to serve as the voice of members and provide members with opportunities to increase their market presence as well as to internationalize their businesses. Our task is to open doors to business opportunities in Singapore and around the region. Through our various activities, initiatives and alliances, we promote our members to local and foreign network of alliance.

Forming alliances with various organizations locally, regionally and on the international front is also top priority for SIAA to reach out to like-minded groups who through the strategic alliances are able to come together for greater synergy in collaborations to continue to serve our respective communities more meaningfully.

Please visit www.siaa.org