Singapore to invest S$800 million in transport research under RIE2030

Singapore is doubling down on its commitment to global transport leadership with an S$800 million investment in research and development over the next five years. The funding, announced under the RIE2030 program, aims to solidify the city-state's position as a vital international hub.

The investment will focus on two key areas: autonomy and digital twins for enhanced connectivity. A portion of the funds will also support sector-specific research in aviation, maritime, and land transport. This strategic push acknowledges that future connectivity relies less on physical infrastructure and more on technological efficiency.

"If Singapore is merely a place through which flows happen to pass, then one day these flows will simply pass us by," warned Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow. He emphasized that the country must be a global thought leader, attracting traffic not just through proprietary technologies but through superior efficiency and reliability.

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If Singapore is merely a place through which flows happen to pass, then one day these flows will simply pass us by.

The autonomy workstream seeks to enable safer, large-scale, and less manpower-intensive transport operations across land, sea, and air. This will be achieved by integrating autonomous platforms, AI, and robotics. Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng highlighted that greater use of these technologies will allow for higher volumes to be handled more efficiently, freeing up human workers for tasks requiring judgment and expertise. Singapore's supportive regulatory environment and high cargo volumes make it an ideal "living lab" for testing and deploying these solutions at scale, with the potential for international adoption once proven.

The digital twins initiative will improve cargo and passenger movement by integrating transport data across all networks and using AI-enabled simulations for planning and operations. Applications include optimizing airport operations through better weather forecasting and implementing intelligent land traffic management systems. This comprehensive approach underscores Singapore's ambition to remain at the forefront of global transport innovation.

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With our high volumes of cargo and supportive regulatory environment, Singapore can serve as a real‑world ‘living lab’ to test and deploy these solutions at scale. Once proven here, they can be adopted internationally.