The inaugural DLD Conference held in Singapore

The first edition of the DLD Singapore Conference was held on 1 October at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa. DLD stands for 'Digital, Life, Design', and explores how the digital age fundamentally changes our life, society and business. Founded in 2005, DLD started as in intimate gathering of friends. Since then it has developed into an interdisciplinary, internationally connected platform, and a hub to launch new concepts, connect disparate ideas or inspire through outstanding role models.

The DLD Singapore Conference helps to connect the most relevant entrepreneurs, disruptors, researchers, politicians and creative minds from Europe, the U.S.A and China with their counterparts in Singapore's exceptional tech, business media, science, design, and art ecosystem.

Ms. Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, BMW Group, delivered the keynote speech for the event. During her speech, she talked about the growing role that the Asia Pacific region is playing in terms of developing market strategy for global brands.

She highlighted the unique consumer behaviour in the Asia Pacific region, with high service expectations, the interconnected digital space, as well as the desire to be the first as far as new technology is concerned. 

During DLD Singapore, a wide number of topics were touched on. These include 'Expanding To Asia Pacific', 'The Changing VC Landscape', 'Disrupting Industries With Digitalization And Blockchain', 'Blockchain Hotbeds Berlin/Singapore', 'AR At Scale Today', 'Winning In The Indonesian Consumer Market', 'The Potential Of Additive Manufacturing', 'Smart Cities', 'Cashless Cities' and 'Fashion Is Booming In South East Asia'. 

During these various panels, speakers from a vast number of brands and companies offered their insights into the important role that technology and digitalisation arre playing in changing the world businesses operate, as well as in redefining the ways that we interact with the world.

The BMW Group has consistently been one of the key partners for DLD. During the DLD Singapore Conference, we spoke to Ms. Wortmann about the development of electromobilty in Singapore, and the evolving technological thrust of the BMW brand.

One of the key characteristics of the Asia Pacific region, and particularly Singapore, is the young under-30 population that is notably tech-driven. As a result, this drives business to have to develop an provide digital services and solutions, Ms. Wortmann highlights. 

As far as the development of electro-mobility solutions here in Singapore, Ms. Wortmann is optimistic.

While noting her surprise that Singapore still lacks the necessary charging infrastructure even though the country is ideal and primed for it, Ms. Wortmann says, "What I do see is that the intention and understanding is there. We have to closely colloborate and constantly be in talks with the Government, and that's what we are doing. It's important to create a common understanding of both the chances, and the challenges, at hand."

However, she believes that things are moving forward. "I find that increasingly, there is a greater openness and understanding that from a sustainability point of view, things have to develop and move on. That we cannot just carry on doing what we are doing now. There are major concerns about the latest developments, and there is a growing sense of urgency in recognising that change needs to happen," adds Ms. Wortmann.

The BMW Group is slated to have 25 electrified BMWs by the year 2025, and continues to make further progress in the field of autonomous driving as well. BMW also has intensive partnerships here in Singapore, working with NTU to develop autonomous technology. Adds Ms. Wortmann, "This is definitely the most complex technology currently being developed in the car business, but it will certainly also be the most ground-breaking one. In this field, Singapore is certainly a trailblazer."