The availability of a pool of high-quality infocomm manpower is central to innovation and capability building for Singapore’s infocomm industry. So far the talent pool has been expanding. In 2008, it saw a 6.6 percent increase to 139,000 from 130,400 in 2007. However, the Infocomm Development Authority of SIngapore (IDA) is taking no chances with such an important resource.

To ensure that the economic downturn does not disrupt the flow of talent into the infocomm industry, IDA has set up two initiatives to help secure a pool of qualified infocomm professionals to boost Singapore’s long-term competitiveness.

iLEAD and iTAP are expected to benefit 1,000 fresh graduates and infocomm professionals.

The Infocomm Leadership and Development Programme (iLEAD) and Infocomm Training and Attachment Programme (iTAP) will span the next two years, offering training and attachment opportunities. IDA will invest S$20 million into the two schemes, which it expects will benefit 1,000 fresh graduates and infocomm professionals.

iLEAD is a “joint project” between IDA and the infocomm sector, preparing manpower  for new growth areas through local and foreign internships and courses.

Through consultation with the local and global infocomm industry, as well as its own research, IDA has identified high-end niche areas like application development, cloud and grid computing, green IT infocomm security and networking engineering.

Attachments with local and international companies, research centres and academic institutions could last between three and 12 months, with the IDA paying a monthly grant, and co-funding return airfare and living allowances for overseas stints.

iTAP offers attachments with MNCs, local companies and start-ups. “The attachments will help fresh graduates and infocomm professionals gain employment and industry experience in this economic climate,” said RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, at the official opening of imbX 2009 on June 16.

The local attachments will be at infocomm or end-user companies. They will have a duration of between six and 24 months for fresh graduates, and six to 12 months for professionals, with monthly training grants provided, based on the trainee’s qualifications and work experience.