IDA launches tech lab in Jurong

Singapore has opened a lab for citizens to experiment with technologies. People can try out arduinos, raspberry pis and a 3D printer for free at the lab from Wednesdays to Sundays.

The space will also host technology-related workshops, competitions and talks. “In our Smart Nation journey, we want to encourage everyone in the community to adopt and cultivate a mindset of continuous experimentation,” said Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive, IDA.

The lab is housed in the Jurong Regional Library for citizens to get easy access, he added. The library is part of the Jurong Lake District, a residential and business centre in Singapore’s west, where the government is testing new ways to improve public services.

IDA will run workshops for students, families and working adults to familiarise them with the gadgets at the lab. This is the third facility opened as part of the IDA Labs initiative. Launched in 2014, it aims to give citizens, businesses and government agencies space to test new ideas and develop prototypes.

The first one at IDA’s office is aimed at public servants, while the second one at the National Design Centre is for technologists, journalists and designers.