RP honoured at Public Service Festival Sparks 2026 for innovation and sustainability

RP hosted the annual Public Service Festival Sparks 2026, with the event opening to energetic performances by RP's Beats Encore and Capoeira groups, alongside Yellow Ribbon Band: AmplifySG.

A highlight of the festival was the Public Service Transformation Awards ceremony, which celebrates public officers and teams driving innovation and transformation to create better experiences and a future-ready public service. Two RP staff members were among this year's recipients.

Exemplary SkillsFuture @ Public Service Award

Koay Seng Tian, Lecturer at the School of Infocomm, was recognised for his commitment to lifelong learning and practical application of AI expertise. From developing RP's AI-powered medical certificate processing system to helping industry partners improve knowledge management and logistics operations, he continues to deliver real improvements through technology while equipping students with real-world AI skills.

Mr Koay Seng Tian (left), and Ms Wong Wai Ling, Director, School of Infocomm

Exemplary Innovation Award

Dr May Sim, Specialist in Material Innovation at the School of Applied Science, was recognised for her research that turns agricultural and food processing waste into sustainable materials, reducing waste and carbon emissions while supporting Singapore's sustainability goals. Her work has made an impact across industry, education and environmental stewardship, benefiting businesses and future learners.

Dr May Sim (left), and Dr Lim Boon Whatt, Senior Director (Academic & Organisational Development) and Director, School of Applied Science

Inaugural GreenGov Excellence Award

Beyond individual achievements, RP also received the inaugural GreenGov Excellence Award, recognising the polytechnic's leadership in sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship. Under the RP Green Plan, initiatives such as campus-wide decarbonisation, circular water reuse, solar deployment, smart sustainability monitoring, waste management and recycling have delivered substantial reductions and savings, supporting the GreenGov.SG and Singapore Green Plan's ambitions.

(From left to right) Mr Laurence Tan, Director, Office of Estates; Mr Ng Tion Huat, Senior Director (Corporate Services); Mr Alex Fun, Director, Office of Organisation and Service Excellence

Congratulations to all award recipients for pushing boundaries, improving lives and driving meaningful impact for the community. Their passion, dedication and innovation reflect the very best of RP's ExCITE values: Excellence, Care, Integrity, Teamwork and Enterprising.