Twelve start-ups from Pier71's Smart port challenge awarded S$600,000 to bring innovative solutions to Maritime market
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), announced that 12 startups from Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019 have each been awarded $50,000 in grant funding from MPA. The funding will enable the startups to conduct prototype development and test-bed their near market-ready solutions.
Over the next 12 months, the startups will work on pilot projects in collaboration with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners, who will provide subject matter expertise, test data, and a platform to test-bed their solutions. Their grant applications were assessed based on the viability of their solutions in addressing maritime challenges.
Chief Executive of MPA Ms. Quah Ley Hoon said, "Although the global COVID-19 situation has caused widespread disruption, we will push ahead with innovation in the maritime sector. Singapore continues to support the use of emerging technologies to transform the maritime industry, uplift the way companies do their business and strengthen our resilience as a maritime hub."
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality (VAR), blockchain, robotics, and wearables are among the focus areas. These startups are:
ABEJA, ASA Development, C-LOG, Cerekon, Draven, Kanda, KoiReader Technologies, Marified, Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvity), Reters, Performance Roters, and Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE).
Eight out of thirteen of the previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five nearing completion. Ship Supplies Direct, a startup focusing on improving marine logistics and supply chain, has reported up to 30% reduction in delivery costs and up to three hours waiting time per delivery through their pilot project with PSA International.
Aaras Medical, a startup with experience in the healthcare industry, also completed a three-month onboard trial with OMC Shipping. Their vital signs monitoring solution was used to monitor and manage crew health remotely and achieved a high adherence rate among crew.
Mr. Ren Fong, Regional IT Manager of Teekay, said, "The use of Kanda's VR solution to simulate safety procedures known as Lock Out Tag Out will allow our crew to undergo training on a virtual tanker, which is essentially a digital twin of the one they work on, without endangering their lives or damaging any equipment. We're also working with Cerekon to explore a remote support system that will enable our onboard engineers to use voice-activated head-mounted wearables to safely and more efficiently conduct equipment maintenance."
Professor Freddy Boey, NUS Deputy President (Innovation and Enterprise), said, "The innovation opportunities created through the Smart Port Challenge are bringing solutions to real problems faced by the maritime industry. By leveraging the extensive pool of talent from the university, from NUS Enterprise, as well as industry partnerships through MPA, PIER71 is playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between innovation and market needs."
Founded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), through its entrepreneurial arm NUS Enterprise, PIER71 (Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined at BLOCK71) aims to grow Singapore's maritime innovation ecosystem is being significantly boosted by PIER71. The initiative fosters innovation in the maritime and maritime-related industries by attracting talents, creating opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, attracting investments into startups, and accelerating ventures.
PIER71 designs and delivers programmes to uncover opportunities within the industry and supports entrepreneurs from ideation to acceleration of their ventures. It provides access to various markets, demand drivers, technology solution providers, investors, and more. PIER71 also represents a budding and increasingly vibrant ecosystem of stakeholders who are keen to digitalise and create the next wave of maritime innovation.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre, and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative.
MPA partners with the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security, and environmental protection in port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore's flagship university, offering a global approach to education, research, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. NUS comprises 17 faculties across three campuses in Singapore and 12 NUS Overseas Colleges across the world. Nearly 40,000 students from 100 countries enrich the university’s vibrant and diverse campus community.
NUS adopts a multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research, and entrepreneurship. This enables close collaboration with industry, governments, and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers at NUS are housed in 29 university-level research institutes, centres of excellence, and corporate labs. They focus on themes including energy, environmental and urban sustainability, disease prevention and treatment, active ageing, advanced materials, and financial system resilience. A current focus is on leveraging data science, operations research, and cybersecurity to support Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative.
NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, plays a pivotal role in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship at NUS and beyond. It actively promotes entrepreneurship and cultivates global mindsets and talents through experiential entrepreneurial education, active industry partnerships, holistic entrepreneurship support, and catalytic entrepreneurship outreach.
Its initiatives and global connections support various entrepreneurial journeys and foster ecosystem building in new markets. These efforts augment and complement the university’s academic programmes and act as a unique bridge to industry well beyond Singapore’s shores.
This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 42 No.3 Issue last June 30, 2020.
