Press Release
Day 2 of Digital Future Conference and Exhibition
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB)
On the second day of Digital Future Conference and Exhibition (DFCE), which is held in conjunction with Brunei M.Y.C.E. 2023, the conference continues with insightful discussions on the latest trends and the future of technology with industry visionaries under the following thematic sessions:
- Start from Zero: Entrepreneurs Breaking Barriers
- Early-Stage Start-Ups: How the Start-Up May Be Valued
- Future Economy: Digital Anywhere
- Harnessing AI to Sharpen Your Communication Skills
- A Core National Platform for the Development of An Innovation Ecosystem
- Disrupting The Status Quo: How Start-Ups are Reshaping Industries
2. Driving the Next Wave in AI
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- Innovation a Key Enabler for a Digital Future
- Building a Secure Smart Nation with AI
- Enabling an Innovative Ecosystem Towards a Digital Society
- Maximising Business Results with Analytics, AI and Automation
3. Accelerating Growth Through Data Driven Innovation
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- Data Harmonization
- Unlocking Innovation Through Data
- Unleashing The Power of AI with Telco Data
- Imagine Business: Forefront of the Future
Descriptions of the feature presentations and panel discussions are attached in Appendix 1.
The conference was attended by more than one hundred (100) participants, with local and international representatives from the government, statutory bodies, private sectors including the ICT industry and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL).
Exhibitors of DFCE – AITI, Anian Sdn Bhd, Aquaculture Innovation Centre, ASDS Sdn Bhd, Brunei Innovation Lab, Brusin Trading Company Sdn Bhd, Council for Research and Advancement in Technology and Science (CREATES), DST, EVYD Technology, Fortinet, GlobeOSS, IFB, imagine, Nex.Us, Progresif, Progresif Media, Rhymin and Partners, UNN, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Teknologi Brunei and Vitronic – also had the opportunity to showcase their initiatives and solutions to the public, which took advantage of the opportunities and potentials of cutting-edge technology, especially in the areas of digital services, digital solutions, smart city and more.
The two-day event concluded with closing remarks from Pengiran Sarimah Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff, Chairperson of InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB). Co-organisers of DFCE, AITI and InfoCom Federation Brunei IFB, would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all the attendees, speakers, moderators, exhibitors, and partners who contributed to the resounding success of the event.
Brunei M.Y.C.E 2023 is organised by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism through the Tourism Development Department in collaboration with local and international government agencies, statutory bodies, higher educational institutions, stakeholders and private agencies. Brunei M.Y.C.E 2023 is also fully supported by several official media partners, namely Radio Television Brunei (RTB), the Information Department (Pelita Brunei) and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.
Appendix 1
Digital Future Conference and Exhibition
Day 2 | Friday, 23 June 2023
FEATURED SPEAKER
Early-Stage Startups: How the Start-Up May Be Valued
Rick Marchese
Founder and Principal of Lares Loreno Private Capital
Rick is the Principal of Lares Loreno Private Capital, a Singapore-based merchant banking boutique, highlighted several key elements that are required to maximize innovation, among which are ‘Networked Human Capital’, ‘Supporting Infrastructure’, ‘Free-functioning End Markets’, ‘Risk-embracing Culture’ and ‘Favorable/Compliant Policies’. He also shared the purposes for innovation, be it the problem statement, size of the solution, type of technology and how much capital is needed. An example he provided was the commercialization of military technologies such as walkie-talkie being utilised in 1930s and GPS during the Cold War.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Future Economy: Digital Anywhere
Md Hadi Shafie Othman
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blanja.live
Md Hadi is the Founder and CEO of Blanja.live, where he presented his findings on the future economy where a career as a digital nomad and content creator is a possibility. He shared the general perception of a digital nomad where earnings can be upwards of US$30,000 a year and are typically in the Digital Creative or Technology sector. Looking into a case study based on a digital nomad based in Bali, he also shared on the increasing number of Live Content Creators where SMEs sell their products and services through livestream platforms. Local entrepreneurs would now be able to utilise this platform through Blanja.live initiative as shared by Md Hadi.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Harnessing AI To Sharpen Your Communication Skills
Edwin Song
Managing Director of Datality Lab
Edwin is the Managing Director of Datality Lab based in Singapore where he highlighted the transformative potential brought forward by AI in improving communications skills. He shared his company’s Moodie.ai platform, a communication training platform design to mimic human coaching through AI observations, cognitive interpretations and automated feedback.
FEATURED SPEAKER
A Core National Platform for the Development of An Innovation Ecosystem
Freddie Ting Lik Wei (General Manager of Brunei Innovation Lab)
Freddie in his capacity as the General Manager of Brunei Innovation Lab (BIL) shared that Brunei Darussalam was ranked 92nd overall amongst 132 economies on the Global Innovation Index, a drop from previous years. He shared the current innovation ecosystem in Brunei Darussalam where the Government has developed the Digital Economy Masterplan with the aim to enhance Brunei Darussalam’s socio-economic growth through digital transformation and reiterated that industry needs to play a part in developing a conducive corporate innovation ecosystem. He also shared the efforts undertaken by BIL along with its strategic partners, including participating in showcase and forum of selected tech focus areas, introduction of the Innovate Programme, Innovation Challenge, Capability Accelerator, and various industry-focused workshops, including tech ideation workshop, and tech clinic.
PANEL DISCUSSION
DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO: How Start-Ups are Reshaping Industries
Innovative ventures are not only reshaping traditional business models but also fueling economic growth, creating new jobs, and fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Panelists:
- Balasubramaniam (Director, Digital Export Division, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC))
- Simon Soo (Chief Executive Officer of Track&ROLL)
- Md Hadi Shafie Othman (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blanja.live)
Moderator:
Syua’ib Rafie (Deputy Lead for Innovation and Growth, DARe)
FEATURED SPEAKER
Innovation a Key Enabler for a Digital Future
Amit Kapoor
Domain Sales Manager & Head of CU Cloud Software & Services Enterprise Sales, Ericsson
Amit shared on the role of innovation as a key enabler for a digital future, including the opportunities to encourage innovation across industry domains such as connected industries (smart city, manufacturing, retail, financial services, etc), as well as the barriers to achieve Digital Future goals such as technological, as well as skills and knowledge gap. He called upon the need to address the technology challenges and leverage on experience such as improving visitors’ experience in stadiums during live events, as well as improving effectiveness in critical, potentially life-saving situations in public safety scenarios.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Building a Secure Smart Nation with AI
Hengky Kohan
Analytics & Engineering Leader (ASEAN)
DXC Technology
David Allott
Chief Security Officer (ASEAN)
DXC Technology
Hengky and David presented on the foundation of building a secure Smart Nation where both data and AI models are core elements with cybersecurity being crucial to protect the integrity of these models. They shared the methods on how cyber criminals are using AI to conduct their criminal activities, where a number of “AI attacks to watch in 2023” included data privacy attacks, deepfake attacks, AI-Generated phishing, evasion attacks and many more. They concluded their presentation by sharing some recommendations in line with the efforts of building a secure Smart Nation such as providing an acceptable AI usage policy for company, security awareness training and secure DevOps practices.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Enabling an Innovative Ecosystems Towards a Digital Society
Vernon Yong
Digital Exploration & Program Manager, Digital Innovation, UNN
Vernon shared that UNN has published the UNN Innovation Whitepaper last year with the intention to spark conversations within the ICT industry where the topics covered includes current innovation landscape in Brunei, UNN’s approach to innovation and identified factors contributing to innovation. This Whitepaper works as prelude to the Innovation Symposium held back in May 2023 where Vernon shared the outcomes of the Symposium which had three main themes, namely Public-Private Partnerships, ICT infrastructure, and Mindset & Talent Pool. He also reiterated UNN’s role in continuing to facilitate and enable the innovation landscape in the nation through 3 key activities, Innovation Facilitation, Modernization of ICT Services, and Collaborate, Innovate and Create.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Maximising Business Results with Analytics, AI and Automation
Delve into the AI and analytics landscape where panelists will be exploring the synergy between analytics, AI and automation and dispelling misconceptions. The experts will be sharing case studies, and best practices for seamless integration into business infrastructure.
Panelists:
- Hengky Kohan (Analytics & Engineering Leader (ASEAN), DXC Technology)
- Jinpeng (Jasper) Jiang (Vice President of Technology, EVYD Technology)
- Yip Chong (Analytics Specialist, Dynamik Technologies)
Moderator:
Zaim Ismail (Innovation Lead for Brunei Shell Marketing)
FEATURED SPEAKER
Data Harmonization
Derek Lam
Senior Director, ASEAN Technology Solutions
Oracle Corporation
Derek shared Oracle’s journey in assisting governments achieve their Smart Nation Journey, including preparing the foundation for Next-Gen Intelligent Platform such the new Distributed Cloud for Smart City, and also shared an example where the Sultanate of Oman is embarking on the Dedicated Region Cloud@Customer (DRCC) journey with Oracle. He shared that with DRCC, the Government of Oman now has access to a fully managed cloud region that brings all of Oracle’s next-generation cloud services, including Autonomous Database, to the government’s data centers.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Unlocking Innovation Through Data
In an ever-evolving digital landscape, our cybersecurity discussion focusses on the latest threats that emerge, innovative solutions that safeguard against these challenges.
Panelists:
- Adi Shamsul (Head of Innovation of BIBD)
- Kaustabh Roy (Founder & Chief Executive Officer of PGI-DATA)
- Marten Adema (Managing Director of Shell Exploration and Production Brunei)
Moderator:
Moderator: Rudy Hj Harun (Acting Director of Healthcare Technology Department, Ministry of
Health)
FEATURED SPEAKER
Unleashing The Power of AI with Telco Data
Ann Wan Kuan
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, GlobeOSS
Mr Ann shared the major challenges of modern telco in enabling the next level of telco transformation where telecommunications operators need full visibility into what the users do and what they experience. He reiterated that telco data is the new oil and also shared that GlobeOSS with IBM has helped organisations implement advances in data and Generative Data, as well as services that included Digital AI Platform, Digital Operation, Digital Experience, Digital Monetization and Digital Cybersecurity. In his concluding remarks, he highlighted that AI is here to stay and will impact the way we do business and is unavoidable. Therefore, there is the need to act with urgency, be responsible and be an AI value creator, instead of being an AI user.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Imagine Business: Forefront of the Future
Mohammad Khairulanam bin Hj Osman
Head of Enterprise Product, Imagine
Mohammad Khairulanam shared Imagine’s aspiration to be the preferred and trusted technological partner where he shared Imagine’s market share of 87%. With the roll-out of 5G services during the Digital Future Conference and Exhibition, he shared that Imagine aims to roll-out their services that would extend beyond tourism, education, port authority, logistics and healthcare. He continued by reiterating on the need to adopt and get to market quickly with collaboration being a key component in Imagine’s success.