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Launch of Smart Port Challenge 2018 To Catalyse

Launch of Smart Port Challenge 2018 To Catalyse 
Greater Innovation and Digitalisation In The Maritime Industry
PIER71[1] – Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ Block71 – was officially launched today by Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health. The Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2018 was held in conjunction with the launch of PIER71. Both the launch of PIER71 and SPC were organised as part of Innovfest unbound 2018[2]. In the spirit of encouraging innovation, four MOUs were also signed at the event, to provide start-ups with more support in their innovation journey.
 
Launch of PIER71 
PIER71 is an industry-wide acceleration programme that supports innovation and encourages the maritime industry to venture into new growth areas through collaboration with technology start-ups. Set up by MPA and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, PIER71 provides a platform for foreign and local companies, start-ups, venture capitalists, and mentors to exchange knowledge and form organic partnerships. It will contribute to building a vibrant maritime entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem, as envisioned by the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map, and sharpen Singapore’s competitive edge. 

PIER71’s first innovation workshop, run by MPA, was for a cohort of digital officers from 23 maritime companies[3]. The workshop, which successfully concluded on 15 May 2018, covered the development of systematic processes for identifying and quantifying innovation opportunities, and equipped digital officers with the skills to translate innovative ideas into tangible outcomes for maritime companies.

To provide start-ups with more opportunities and access to resources such as mentors and networks, NUS Enterprise also extended its support to PIER71’s start-ups by signing four new MOUs with start-up hubs INNOSPACE and Rainmaking Innovation, as well as maritime companies Wärtsilä and Wilhelmsen (See Annex A for more details on the MOUs). This is in addition to an earlier MOU with PortXL to provide start-ups with market access in Rotterdam and Singapore.

Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “The launch of PIER71, in collaboration with NUS Enterprise, is part of the MPA’s broader innovation strategy under the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map (ITM). PIER71 will catalyse collaborations between the maritime companies, technology start-ups and adjacent sectors to position Singapore’s maritime industry for the next wave of growth enabled by digital technologies. Together with the setup of MPA, PSA and Jurong Port Living Labs for the test-bedding of new technologies and new concept of operations, we hope to position Singapore as a vibrant and innovative maritime hub.”

“The PIER71 programme opens a new chapter for NUS Enterprise,” said Dr Lily Chan, CEO of NUS Enterprise. “Building on the foundation that NUS Enterprise laid in spearheading the start-up ecosystem, we are now fostering strategic partnerships to help bridge and provide platforms for our curated start-ups to engage with the flagship maritime industry and create opportunities for innovation driven growth."

Smart Port Challenge 2018
PIER71 also kicked off this year’s SPC – a six-month programme that aims to catalyse digital transformation in the maritime industry by bringing together maritime and technology players to work on identified problem statements. Like other start-up incubators and accelerators, the SPC consists of three phases: challenge statement formulation, funding support and product realisation.

Last year’s inaugural SPC saw 12 maritime companies participating. Seven start-ups – Brightree, Glee Trees, MyBot, SG Smart Tech, Simplus, Trabble and Xjera Labs – received grant support totalling $311,598 for test-bedding and developing prototypes with the Singapore Shipping Association, Jurong Port, BatamFast and Kanlian.


The number of maritime companies participating and contributing innovation opportunities in SPC 2018 has increased to 17 this year and PIER71 expects a total of about 200 participants. Besides cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 for the top three proposals, selected finalists also stand a chance to be invited to join PIER71 ACCELERATE, a customised curriculum on building viable maritime tech start-ups, and receive a further grant of up to $50,000 from MPA to develop prototypes with maritime companies. These innovation opportunities will be released on 6 June during Innovfest unbound, and the closing date for proposals is 6 August 2018. All local and foreign start-ups are encouraged to participate in SPC 2018.

The attached article is EMBARGOED TILL 6/6/2018 10:30:00 AM
Annex A

Sources:XINDE MARINE NEWS

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