Two statutory boards, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and four technology vendors, Cisco, IBM Singapore (IBM), Singapore Technologies Electronics (ST Electronics) and 3M Technologies (3M) make up the six organisations that signed the MOC.

According to Yam Ah Mee, chief executive officer, LTA, the MOC's signing marks a step forward for the LTA, in its bid to become a "people-centered land transport system".

"Under this partnership, research and development will be undertaken to further optimise current technology and explore future ones that will help in realising our vision of a people-centered land transport system," said Yam. "On a broader scale, this partnership plays a critical role in building Singapore's research capability in land transport as these applications can provide global solutions for many city authorities around the world."

The new research collaboration is being funded by a sum of S$50 million (US$33 million) set aside by the LTA, for joint research with industry partners and academic institutions. The LTA estimates about S$12 million has already been disbursed, towards the development of some 50 applications."

Four areas of interest