The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, announced that 12 start-ups from Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019 have each been awarded S$50,000 in grant funding from MPA.
The funding will enable the start-ups to conduct prototype development and test-bed their near market-ready solutions.
Past Challenge Winners Have Completed their Pilot Projects
Eight out of the thirteen previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five almost complete.
Ship Supplies Direct, a start-up focusing on improving marine logistics and supply chain, has reported up to 30% reduction in delivery costs and up to three hours less waiting time per delivery through their pilot project with PSA International.
Aeras Medical, a start-up 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 high adherence rate among the crew.
Singapore pushing ahead with innovation in Maritime Sector despite COVID-19 crisis
Ms. Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “Although the global COVID-19 situation has caused widespread disruption, we 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 nation.”
“These grants represent MPA’s commitment to supporting innovation as part of Singapore’s Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map, and we are heartened by the results we’ve seen to date from previous grant recipients.”
Over the next 12 months, the start-ups will be working on pilot projects in collaboration with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners, who will provide subject matter expertise, test data, as well as a platform to test-bed their solutions.
Focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality (V/AR), blockchain, robotics and wearables, these start-ups are: ABEJA, ASA Development, C-LOG, Cerekon, Dravam, Kanda, KoiReader Technologies, Marified, Megapixel, Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify), Performance Rotors and Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE).
Upon the successful completion of the projects, maritime comporates will be adopting the final products or solutions.
Professor Freddy Boey, NUS Deputy President (Innovation and Enterprise), said, “Start-ups addressing innovation opportunities created through Smart Port Challenge are bringing solutions to real problems faced by the maritime industry. By leveraging the extensive pool of talent from the university, the global network of resources 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.”
