IPS Update Issue May 2025

The inaugural International Conference on Societies of Opportunity (ICSO 2025) took place from 29th to 30th of April 2025. It was jointly organised by the Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). The event's guest of honour, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, delivered opening remarks discussing Singapore’s strategies for fostering shared growth and social mobility amid global shifts.

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Study on Time Use and Mental Wellbeing

Call for Applications — IPS News Fellowship 2025

Commentary — In GE2025, the political voice of Singaporeans under 45 was louder and clearer
(CNA)
By Teo Kay Key
• 6-min read

The political voice of younger Singaporeans has rung louder and clearer in GE2025. With more Gen Z and Millennial candidates stepping up and younger voters making increasingly discerning choices, Singapore’s political landscape is entering a new era. 

In this op-ed, Teo Kay Key discusses how young Singaporeans are reshaping political engagement. With greater access to information and less attachment to party loyalty, younger voters evaluated candidates based on ideas, track records and credibility. This signals the emergence of a more mature and engaged electorate, where critical thinking drives decision-making.

Commentary — The AI-fuelled child exploitation crisis is global – so must be our response
(CNA)
By Chew Han Ei, Lim Sun Sun and Carol Soon
• 6-min read

The rapid rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is fuelling a global crisis that no single country can address alone. As perpetrators use new technologies to create synthetic yet lifelike abuse imagery, the line between real and fake becomes increasingly blurred, deepening harm to victims and complicating efforts to detect and remove such content.

In this commentary, IPS’ Dr Chew Han Ei, SMU’s Prof Lim Sun Sun, and NUS’ A/P Carol Soon examine how AI is reshaping the landscape of online child exploitation.

They call for urgent and coordinated global action, including stronger legal frameworks, better victim support systems, and the responsible use of AI tools to counter these harms. 

Event Summary — 16th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series: Lecture II “Transforming Singapore’s Economy Through Research and Development” by Mr Philip Yeo
(IPS Commons)
• 6-min read

On 27th March 2025, Mr Philip Yeo, 16th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore, delivered his second lecture as part of his three-part lecture series "Neither Civil Nor Servant: Singapore's Disruptive Economic Playbook".

He traced Singapore's transformation from a "nation of technicians" to a biomedical hub, highlighting the 1985 establishment of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, strategic recruitment of global scientists, and development of Biopolis as a research centre. Mr Yeo emphasised intellectual, industrial, and human capital, particularly the latter, as crucial for growth.

The Q&A with Dr Lisa Ooi explored precision medicine opportunities, the ASEAN market, and AI's potential in biomedical science.

Mr Yeo’s third lecture will be held on 16th June 2025, more information can be found here.

Singapore Unpacked Episode 3 — Cents and Sensibility: Do Millennials and Gen Z Spend as Recklessly as We Think?

In this episode of Singapore Unpacked, host Liang Kaixin explores stereotypes about younger Singaporeans' spending habits using the IPS–CNA survey insights on millennials and Gen Z's financial behaviours. The episode discusses their use of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes, savings, and essential expenses, revealing a more cautious approach to finances due to cost-of-living concerns.

Dr Teo Kay Key from IPS Social Lab and He Ruiming, co-founder of The Woke Salaryman, join the discussion. Dr Teo analyses survey patterns in young adults' credit and savings use, while He Ruiming offers practical insights on BNPL's impact. The episode challenges the idea that young generations are reckless with money, highlighting their cautious and innovative financial strategies.

Research Article — Implementing a transmural model of early palliative care in advanced dementia: the use of a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study design

This article, featuring IPS’ Robyn Tan, presents the study protocol for an ongoing implementation study on the use of a prognostic tool to support clinicians in identifying hospital patients with advanced dementia who are at high risk of deterioration. The goal is to enable earlier and more tailored palliative care, ultimately improving the coordination and quality of end-of-life care for this often-overlooked patient group.