By using tech for good as the path forward to a better future for Singapore, IBM has announced the winners of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) X IBM Lifesavers’ Innovation Challenge: Call for Code 2021 together with Accenture (NYSE: ACN) as innovation partner. Through this challenge, local developers came together to find opportunities to create applications powered by open source technology on the cloud to tackle some of the community’s biggest problems.

The top prize went to a team in  Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) for their innovative solution that aims to enable early  detection of fire during high voltage charging in electric vehicles. With the inevitable rise in the adoption of electric vehicles, the risks of fires caused by high voltage charging will equally rise. The winning team of five members, made up of Engineering, Design and Computer Engineering students proposed to use IoT, AI and Automation to develop a smart electric vehicle charger called SEV Charger.

“Being able to hear other participants and teams’ ideas really helped us to look at different perspectives where we can enhance SCDF’s services to the public,” said Tan Wai Hong from Computer Engineering at SUTD. Fellow team members include Ong Xiang Qian, Jack Ng Guang Jie and Ian Lim Li Ern.
In addition to cash prizes and IBM Cloud credits, the finalist teams are also receiving guidance from and consultation with technical experts and ecosystem partners to incubate, test and deploy their solutions. The finalists include teams from National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Technology and Design. For the first time, students from Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and University College of London have entered the finals.

Deputy Commissioner SCDF, Teong How Hwa, shared, “There are many interesting uses of technology to enhance SCDF’s services and operations. Hearing from the talented youth on how we can challenge traditions and old ideas; we are very motivated and excited to see how these solutions will come to  fruition and be applied to the real world in time to come.”

“All of the submissions in this year’s challenge clearly showed the immense potential of technologies based on hybrid cloud, AI and open source to address critical issues like climate change, sustainable development, and post COVID-19 pandemic response,” said Tan Jee Toon, IBM Ecosystem Leader, ASEAN. “We know the developer community has the skills, desire and ingenuity to tackle the most pressing issues of our communities. What we’re providing through SCDF X IBM Lifesavers’ Innovation Challenge: Call for Code 2021 is a catalyst to galvanise that community to take on specific societal challenges, as well as the open source-powered products and technologies to help bring their vision to reality. Through this powerful combination, brilliant ideas like SEV Charger can be transformed into the scalable solutions the world needs today.”

“The creativity and passion we’ve seen from the teams this year is testament to the innovative thinking today’s youth possess when it comes to tackling issues surrounding sustainability,” said Cade Tan, Applied Innovation Lead, Southeast Asia, Accenture.

“Climate change has already had a significant impact on our environment and is proving to be one of the greatest challenges of our time. Technology, and by extension technological innovation, helps deepen our understanding of these tough environmental challenges and supports us in finding solutions. Initiatives like the SCDF X IBM Lifesavers’ Innovation Challenge: Call for Code 2021 help bring together bright young minds, inspiring and empowering them to think outside the box in developing sustainable solutions that are not only inventive but also realistic and practical. With that, I look forward to seeing these projects in action and creating real impact for the community in the near future.”

The other ideas that made it to the final include translating volumes of time-sensitive data into actionable intelligence for better emergency response; using cloud for quicker assessment and response time to emergencies; monitoring paramedics’ mental health and providing early support; smart PPE with ventilation/cooling features, hydration tubes and IoT sensors to maximize comfort and efficiency as well as using AI to provide a predictive maintenance platform for emergency vehicles.