Flying High through Digitalisation and Innovation

19 Feb 2018

The future of the aerospace industry will be propelled by innovation and technology, and the ability to harness the full potential of both drivers will be key in shaping an organisation’s growth trajectory. Against that backdrop, Deputy Chief Executive (Strategic Development) Pang Chung Khiang shared DSTA’s digitalisation journey at the A*STAR Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum held on 5 February 2018.

Held in conjunction with the Singapore Airshow 2018, the forum brought together over 400 thought leaders from leading aerospace companies worldwide to discuss the direction of the industry and the technologies that are important to its future. Representatives from organisations such as Airbus, Bombardier, Hexcel and Rolls-Royce also shared their organisations' strategies and efforts in enhancing competitiveness through innovation.

Aligned with the forum’s theme ‘The Impact of Technology and Innovation on the Aerospace Industry’, Chung Khiang highlighted that for a large interconnected aerospace ecosystem, key technologies such as advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence; augmented reality and visual analytics; and additive manufacturing hold immense potential in helping firms fulfil objectives such as improving efficiency, productivity and enhancing the user experience across both military and commercial aerospace domains.

With the promise that technology brings, however, new challenges arise. One main area of concern is cybersecurity. “The aerospace ecosystem will need to look at cybersecurity and data integrity, be attentive to the proliferation of drones, and also look at regulations and governance for answers beyond technology,” Chung Khiang said.

Going forward, partnerships between the public and private sectors can accelerate the development of solutions, and DSTA has set up a Digital Hub to promote collaboration, innovation and prototyping.

Apart from organisational restructuring to give focus on developing data-driven capabilities, efforts are also being invested to train up staff and align them towards a digital culture, with an aim to promote innovation and experimentation in DSTA.