Brokering Innovation Networks: Healthcare lessons from Singapore

I got goosebumps as I read this GovInsider article on the Alice Lee Centre for (Healthcare) Innovation and Excellence in Singapore, led by Shin Yuh Ang.

The ALICE centre is fostering a space where both industry and healthcare professionals can co-create solutions together in a meaningful way.

This article made me happy for 3 reasons:

1) Exactly 30 years ago, in September 1995, I consulted the National Computer Board (NCB) in Singapore on how to apply Business Process Reengineering (BPR) techniques to improve the performance and lower the cost of public services in Singapore.

Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is a management strategy for completely rethinking and radically redesigning core business processes to achieve significant improvements in cost, quality, service, and speed.

I was motivated to consult NCB in Singapore because I firmly believed the public sector can operate efficiently to better serve citizens at lower cost.

In 1995, Singapore was the only government in the world (except Andhra Pradesh in India led by IT-savvy chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu) that was leveraging latest tech and BPR for “continuous improvement” of public services.

30 years later, I am glad to see Singapore, with an aging population that requires more care, still maintaining its focus on “doing better with less”

2) In this article, Ang Shin Yuh describes the ALICE centre’s role as an innovation match-maker between the universe of solutions (private sector, academia, startups) and the universe of needs (doctors, patients)

In 2004, I published a Forrester report where I explained how public and private organizations can set up a dedicated team that acts as a BROKER who can help build and facilitate innovation networks.

Innovation Networks are fluid and dynamic ecosystems that seamlessly integrate internal and external ideas, talents, and capital to co-develop impactful solutions.

Watch this video of my talk on Innovation Networks and its 4 key roles including the Broker.

I am glad to see ALICE playing this vital role of Broker to build healthcare innovation networks in Singapore.

3) Ang Shin Yuh explains why her center is keen to embrace frugal innovation to develop simple solutions that deliver better care at lower cost.

As Singapore population ages rapidly, the island-state needs to adopt frugal innovation techniques to improve the quality of life of its aging citizens while keeping public spending under control.

Or else, Singapore will face the same public deficit problem as European nations like France with an aging population and a generous welfare system.