Home Team Science and Technology Agency

Statutory board in Singapore

Chew Hock Yong, Chairman^[1]
Chan Tsan, Chief Executive^[1]
Ng Yeow Boon, Deputy Chief Executive (Development)
Chen Yeang Tat, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations)
Sean Tan, Assistant Chief Executive (Programmes)

Parent agencyMinistry of Home AffairsWebsitehttps://www.htx.gov.sg/

The Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore to develop science and technology capabilities for Home Team operations.

History

The Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) was first announced on 19 February 2019 during the Budget, which was to be set up by the end of 2019. That will allow the Ministry of Home Affairs to better secure Singapore with its science and technology capabilities.^[2] The initials of the agency are known as HTX; with "X" representing its role as a "force multiplier".^[3]

The HTX was formed on 1 December 2019^[1] and launched the following day by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,^[4] with HTX showcasing its new technologies.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Overview

The agency's mission is to "amplify, augment, and accelerate the Home Team’s advantage to secure Singapore’s future as the safest place on planet earth".^[8] It would focus on areas such as surveillance, forensics, chemicals, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives threats, as well as robotics and unmanned systems.^[3]^[9]

Latest developments

In November 2023 the Home Team Science and HTX announced that they are working on a barrier free gantry for travelers without the need to stop for immigration control using AI technology. The new development is expected to reduce the waiting time from about two minutes to ten seconds per passenger.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Iau, Jean (20 November 2019). "Chairman, chief executive of new Home Team Science and Technology Agency named". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^ Lee, Jamie (18 February 2019). "Singapore Budget 2019: MHA to set up science and technology agency by year-end". The Business Times. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b Lim, Min Zhang (6 August 2019). "Parliament: HTX - a new Home Team agency tasked to develop cutting-edge technology". The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
^ "PM Lee Hsien Loong at the Official Launch of Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX)". PMO. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (2 December 2019). "PM Lee launches new Home Team science and tech agency". CNA. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
^ Lim, Min Zhang (2 December 2019). "Counter-drone vehicle, life-detection robots among new projects at Home Team Science and Technology Agency". The Straits Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
^ Lim, Min Zhang (2 December 2019). "Top engineering talent needed for Home Team Science and Technology Agency to succeed: PM Lee". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^ "Why We Exist". HTX. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
^ "Home Team's new science and tech agency to focus on robots, surveillance capability: Josephine Teo". Channel NewsAsia. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
^ Sun, David (2023-11-16). "Singapore developing gantry for travellers to clear immigration as they walk through". Asia News Network. Retrieved 2023-11-23.