The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the industry will invest S$70 million in infocomm manpower programmes over the next three to five years, with the aim of deepening the technical capabilities and enhancing the global competitiveness of Singapore’s infocomm talent.

Mr Lee: The next generation of infocomm professionals must also be well-equipped with domain knowledge of different businesses.

"Globally, there is increasing demand for infocomm talent - people who possess both the technical skills and the business knowledge," said Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, at the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) Gala Dinner and IT Leader Awards 2008 ceremony. "The next generation of infocomm professionals has to possess more than just sound infocomm skills. They must also be well-equipped with domain knowledge of different businesses to be able to offer solutions and services primed to the needs of each specific business environment."

In line with this, the Techno-Strategist Programme will target infocomm professionals, equipping them with sector-specific domain knowledge and solutioning capabilities. The Government intends to work with industry players who already possess expertise in specific areas, such as integrated digital media, to develop and deliver specialised courses.

In the next two years, the programme will focus on grooming some 1,000 "techno-strategists" in the healthcare, finance and banking sectors. Going forward, IDA will expand the Techno-Strategist Programme to meet the infocomm manpower needs of other economic sectors such as retail and hospitality.

Besides the infocomm professionals, the manpower development programmes will also target students. University undergraduates can look forward to the Enhanced Learning in Infocomm Technology Programme or "ELITe", in the academic year 2008.

This programme will target the top 20 per cent of infocomm students at the three local universities. It is aimed at enhancing the students’ infocomm capabilities through the acquisition of practical infocomm skills and business domain knowledge. This will be achieved by involving companies who will offer industry attachment and project work opportunities to the students.

• The full text of Dr Lee Boon Yang’s speech is available here.