Red Hat has recognised DBS Bank and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for their innovative use of open source technologies to drive digital transformation and strengthen operational impact. The recognition was announced as part of the Red Hat APAC Innovation Awards 2025 for Singapore.
Celebrating open source innovation
The Red Hat APAC Innovation Awards celebrate organisations across Asia Pacific that are redefining how technology supports business and societal progress. The 2025 edition recognises 30 winners whose inventive application of Red Hat solutions has delivered measurable results across industries. The awards’ theme, “Unlock what’s next,” highlights the role of open source in enabling scalability, agility, and sustainable innovation amid growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to research by International Data Corporation (IDC), commissioned by Red Hat and Intel, AI is projected to generate US$19.9 trillion in global economic value by 2030, accounting for 3.5% of global GDP. The findings underscore how businesses integrating AI into their core operations will gain competitive advantage, with open source models playing a critical role in enabling adaptable, secure, and human-centric AI systems.
DBS Bank leads with secure digital asset innovation
DBS Bank, Singapore’s largest bank and a major financial services group in Asia, won under the AI and Emerging Tech category for re-platforming its digital assets custodian operations using Red Hat OpenShift. The initiative leveraged Red Hat’s emerging confidential containers, making DBS the first in the world to deploy such technology in production.
This move has enabled the bank to strengthen its digital asset infrastructure with greater scalability, enhanced security, and reduced operational risks. By adopting advanced open source tools, DBS has built a foundation for faster innovation and more resilient financial services.
Ang Li Khim, Group Head of Institutional Banking Group Technology at DBS Bank, said, “Our collaboration with Red Hat on the production deployment of confidential containers on our digital assets infrastructure has enabled us to innovate at greater speed and scale, providing secure and resilient services to our customers. This further underscores our belief that open technologies will be key to driving the next wave of financial innovation.”
DIS accelerates digital transformation in defence
The DIS, the SAF’s fourth service, was also honoured in the AI and Emerging Tech category. The organisation plays a key role in defending Singapore’s digital domain and enabling the SAF to operate as a networked force.
Recognising the strategic importance of cloud and AI, the DIS established the SAF C4 and Digitalisation Command (SAFC4DC) to integrate and accelerate digital transformation efforts across the SAF. Working closely with the Defence Technology Community and partners such as Red Hat, the DIS focuses on deploying AI and cloud capabilities that can function securely in constrained operational environments.
Through these collaborations, the DIS aims to enhance situational awareness, decision-making, and overall defence readiness. ME7 Guo Jinghua, Commander of the SAF C4 and Digitalisation Command, said, “The digitalisation of the SAF is mission-critical for the SAF to realise our vision of SAF 2040. Cloud, software and AI have become crucial warfighting capabilities for the SAF, equal to the advanced platforms the SAF deploys in the land, air and maritime domains. We will deploy and integrate leading commercial capabilities into our environments to scale defence AI capabilities for the SAF’s operational edge.”
Empowering transformation through open source
Marjet Andriesse, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific, Japan and China at Red Hat, said, “The pace of change in Asia Pacific shows no signs of slowing, especially as AI becomes a core driver of business transformation. Despite these demands, our customers have delivered remarkable results, showing that innovation thrives when paired with open source.”
The Red Hat APAC Innovation Awards 2025 reinforce the growing influence of open source in shaping AI-driven business models and secure digital ecosystems. With leaders like DBS and DIS embracing these technologies, Red Hat continues to highlight how collaboration, transparency, and shared innovation can unlock the next wave of progress across sectors.
