Inclusion is the way forward to true innovation

SINGAPORE has surmounted many a problem through forward thinking and clever reinvention, earning a solid reputation as a shining beacon of innovation. Today, the nation is facing a new challenge, surmised in a simple question: "How can we keep innovating and pushing onwards towards being a truly smart nation?"

Naysayers are quick to point out that there seems to be a lack of smart nation success stories, while others feel the country is no longer a great test-bed for global innovation. As we race to be innovative, have we failed to see the forest for the trees?

With any country, emerging or otherwise, having access to the same technologies and theoretically the same capabilities to adopt and adapt accordingly, how does innovation come about?