S$4.5 million earmarked for RFID projects

The RFID Innovation Platform was launched by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to improve RFID adoption in Singapore.

Announced by Mr S Iswaran, Minister of State for Trade and Industry at the National RFID Centre (NRC) on 1 February 2008, the platform is a multi-agency initiative to encourage organisations in the public and private sectors to conceptualise and start projects using RFID. S$4.5 million has been set aside to co-fund 30 RFID pilot projects between 2008 and 2012.

The platform hopes to grow existing and new local RFID companies, as well as attract MNCs to be based in Singapore. In his speech at the launch, Mr S Iswaran said: “I am confident that this platform will stimulate greater applications in advanced RFID technologies through collaboration between industry, A*STAR research institutes and Singapore universities.”

At the launch, Exploit Technologies and Airshow & Events signed an agreement to use RFID technology at the upcoming Singapore Airshow to improve business intelligence. This is the first time RFID technology is used at an aviation and aerospace trade show.

Boon Swan Foo, chairman of steering committee of NRC and executive chairman of Exploit Technologies said, “The RFID Innovation Platform will spur organisations, ranging from the aviation and aerospace industry to the police force and military with highly promising RFID application areas and innovative uses.”

Other sectors in Singapore who have adopted RFID include public service, tourism, healthcare, logistics and retail. In his speech, Mr S Iswaran cited how the technology is used to improve visitor experience through an RFID-enabled interactive display system at Underwater World Singapore, track patients for efficient bed management at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and enhance warehouse inventory management at Mitsubishi Electric Asia.

Through the RFID Innovation Platform, the NRC will also work with A*STAR, SPRING Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board.