A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) will allow organisations in both countries more opportunities to collaborate in science, technology and innovation. The agreement would encourage, develop and facilitate collaborative projects in fields of mutual interest. These projects could advance progress in research, innovation and technological development in sectors such as advanced engineering and manufacturing, health and other emerging technologies.
Such international collaborations in technology and research are vital to building commercially viable solutions that can save lives and livelihoods. There are three areas where the two countries could push the boundaries by combining their research and development talent and resources. First, deeptech, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) hold much potential in a wide range of areas. This includes the construction and built environment sector, which we seek to transform to become more integrated and resilient.
– S Iswaran, Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations
Cleantech is another potential area of collaboration as Singapore and India had both announced ambitious carbon mitigation plans. R&D advancements in this domain could have a profound impact on greening the power and transportation sectors, particularly aviation and maritime transport. The third area where the two countries can partner is in the field of genome and bioinformatics research.
Cross border flows of data” are crucial to the success of such initiatives, giving the example of data from IoT sensors in buildings and cities to inform better urban planning. There will be the finalisation and passing of the Personal Data Protection Bill in India, which will facilitate such cross border data flows.
The summit also saw the signing of an implementation agreement between Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and India’s DST, to bring together corporates and startups from both countries to collaborate on developing new innovative technologies and solutions. DST and ESG will open at least one call for proposal annually to invite joint proposals by Singapore and Indian companies and funding will be provided for the final approved innovation projects.
Through this collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology and Enterprise Singapore, joint research and innovation projects between more Singapore and Indian corporates and startups will be co-funded to enable them to capture new business opportunities. This is especially so in areas like the green economy, advanced manufacturing and agritech which are of mutual interest to both countries’ economic transformation and growth
As reported by OpenGov Asia, Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, agreed with the Singaporean Minister in charge of trade relations, S Iswaran to accelerate steps towards a comprehensive EU-Singapore Digital Partnership. The partnership aims to strengthen digital connectivity and interoperability of digital markets and to facilitate digital trade and investment between the EU and Singapore. It aims to address secure and sustainable digital infrastructure, trusted data flows, data innovation, the development of digital skills for workers, and the digital transformation of businesses and public services.
The partnership will accelerate steps towards a comprehensive and forward-looking Digital Partnership between the EU and Singapore. They reaffirmed their shared ambition to bring the robust and longstanding EU-Singapore relationship into the digital realm and expand bilateral digital cooperation and trade as like-minded partners.
The Digital Partnership is intended to provide an overarching framework to strengthen digital connectivity and interoperability of digital markets and policy frameworks and facilitate digital trade between the EU and Singapore. It aims to advance cooperation on the full spectrum of digital issues, including digital economy and trade, as well as key enablers for the successful digital transformation of societies and economies.
