Singapore is going to invest $16 million (EUR 9.9 million) in cybersecurity research and development (R&D). In addition, the country is also ramping up its cyber defence and cybersecurity legislation. This report discusses these measures as well as the underlying notable increase in cyberattacks and cyber crime in Singapore during the last years. The report concludes with some insights on possible opportunities for Finnish companies providing different cybersecurity solutions.

1. OTSIKKO
ALAOTSIKKO, KUUKAUSI VUOSI
SIGNAL: SINGAPORE INVESTS MORE THAN $16
MILLION IN CYBERSECURITY R&D

2. SUMMARY
• Singapore is going to invest $16 million (EUR 9.9
million) in cybersecurity research and development
(R&D).
• In addition, the country is also ramping up its cyber
defence and cybersecurity legislation.
• This report discusses these measures as well as the
underlying notable increase in cyberattacks and cyber
crime in Singapore during the last years.
• The report concludes with some insights on possible
opportunities for Finnish companies providing
different cybersecurity solutions.
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20172

3. RISE OF CYBER CRIME AND
-ATTACKS
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 201733

4. RISE OF CYBER CRIME AND -ATTACKS
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20174
…the portion of
non-traditional
cyber crimes such
as hacking,
ransomware and
the compromise of
online accounts
had increased.
Cybersecurity and cyber defence are of high importance in
Singapore and the country has experienced a rise in cyber
crime and cyberattacks during the recent years.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has noted an increase in
the proportion of cyber crimes to overall crime cases from 7.9
per cent in 2014 to 13.7 per cent in 2016. The SPF also
observed that the portion of non-traditional cyber crimes such
as hacking, ransomware and the compromise of online
accounts had increased in relation to traditional crimes
committed via the means of a computer system. These
traditional crimes refer to e.g. online cheating through e-
commerce scams. The number of non-traditional cyber
offences grew from 280 cases in 2015 to 691 cases in 2016.

5. RISE OF CYBER CRIME AND -ATTACKS
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20175
…also experienced
major cyberattacks
over the last years.
Singapore has also experienced major cyberattacks over the
last years. An unnamed government agency became victim
of a state-sponsored cyberattack in 2016, the personal
details of 850 staff members of the Ministry of Defence were
stolen in February 2017 and in April 2017 two universities
were the subject of high-profile Advanced Persistent Threat
(APT) attacks that were aimed at stealing government and
research data.

6. THE INVESTMENT IN
CYBERSECURITY R&D
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20176

7. THE INVESTMENT IN CYBERSECURITY R&D
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20177
…seek to produce
more commercial
cybersecurity
solutions.
During the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology in
September 2017 Singapore's Finance Minister, Heng Swee
Keat, announced that Singapore will invest over SGD 16
million (EUR 9.9 million) in cybersecurity research and
development. The investment will fund two separate
programmes that seek to produce more commercial
cybersecurity solutions.
The first programme grants funding of SGD 15.6 million (EUR
9.65 million) to nine projects under a grant call by the National
Security R&D programme. All of these projects will be based
upon the co-operation between academic researchers and a
cybersecurity company. They will also pertain to the three key
cybersecurity priorities set by Singapore: national security,
critical infrastructure and SmartNation. The other programme
consists of a SGD 600.000 (EUR 372.000) investment in six
projects under a seed grant call by the Singapore
Cybersecurity Consortium.

8. THE INVESTMENT IN CYBERSECURITY R&D
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20178
The purpose of the
contract is to
tighten the defence
against
sophisticated
attacks
The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech)
has also awarded six different companies with a contract
worth about SGD 50 million (EUR 30,8 million). The purpose
of the contract is to tighten the defence against sophisticated
attacks and the awarded companies are expected to keep the
government websites running and fully available to the public
even while under attack.

9.
ENHANCEMENT OF CYBER
DEFENCE
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 20179

10. ENHANCEMENT OF CYBER DEFENCE
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 201710
Singapore Armed
Forces (SAF) are
also building a corp
of about 2.600 so
called “cyber
defenders”
In addition to the investment in cybersecurity R&D, Singapore
is also putting aside $1.5 million (EUR 0.9 million) to train the
technical officers of ASEAN member states in order to
enhance the region's preparedness to combat cyber threats.
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are also building a corp of
about 2.600 so called “cyber defenders” that will constitute of
both regulars and national servicemen. The SAF is also going
to form a command that will be in charge of the
countermeasures to cyberattacks and the running of the
military's networks. According to the country’s Defence
Minister, Ng Eng Hen, Singapore has become a target for
orchestrated cyber attacks and the SAF is adapting to a new
threat environment.

11. CYBERSECURITY BILL
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 201711

12. CYBERSECURITY BILL
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 201712
The Act would also
prevail over current
privacy and
banking legislation
that forbids data
sharing.
Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA) released a
proposal for a Cybersecurity Act on the 10th
of July 2017. One
of the Bills main objectives is to increase the powers of the
CSA. The new legislation would enable the CSA to order
investigations into suspected cyberattacks. The Act would
also prevail over current privacy and banking legislation that
forbids data sharing. This has raised concerns and stimulated
debate in Singapore regarding the relationship between
security and privacy. Some consider the Bill as a “Big Brother
Bill” that would give too much power to the CSA whereas
others question whether the authorities would acquire enough
power through the Bill in order to be able to thwart digital
threats efficiently.
The public consultation regarding the Bill was concluded in
August 2017. The aforementioned concerns about the
increased powers of the CSA were raised during the
consultation which resulted in some minor adjustments. The
Bill is currently being finalised and it will be tabled for debate
in Parliament during 2018.

13. INSIGHTS FOR FINLAND
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 201713

14. INSIGHTS FOR FINLAND
Team Finland Future Watch Report, November 201714
…possibly be
interested in
different
cybersecurity
-solutions that
Finnish companies
might would be
able to provide.
It is clear that cybersecurity and cyber defence are major
concerns in Singapore and that the country is putting a lot of
effort in the enhancement of its cybersecurity and cyber
defence. The country could possibly be interested in different
cybersecurity -solutions that Finnish companies might would
be able to provide.

15. Tekes - the Finnish Funding Agency for
Innovation
Porkkalankatu 1, Helsinki
Post address
P.O. Box 69
FI-00101 Helsinki
Sari Arho-Havrén
+852 6895 5221
sari.arhohavren@tekes.fi