2021 Smart & Sustainable Cities Virtual Market Entry Programme: Week 1 & 2 Summary
In November 2021, Nordic Innovation House Singapore (NIH-SG) continues to build more opportunities for Nordic technology startups, scale-ups and growth companies operating under the Smart Cities theme. Together with our core partners, Innovation Norway, Embassy of Finland, Business Sweden, Business Iceland, and the Embassy of Denmark – the Smart & Sustainable Cities Virtual Market Entry Programme 2021 will provide 11 selected Nordic companies with opportunities to expand their foothold in Singapore and Southeast Asia. We also partnered with built environment key players, tech connectors and knowledge partners in Singapore and Southeast Asia to conduct a series of group showcases and knowledge sharing sessions. Enabling the Nordic companies to pitch their innovative solutions to address problem areas, gain key insights on the smart city landscape, foster co-creation and co-development opportunities with these partners in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
In conclusion, we are pleased to connect our 11 selected Nordic smart and sustainable cities companies with almost 127 smart cities-related institutions, government agencies, professionals, academics, investors and innovators.
The 11 Nordic companies are Aneo Software, ARTASFin, Entos, Haltian, Helvar, Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Meshworks Wireless, Sensative, SmartWatcher, Spacehub and Xortec. For more info about each Nordic company, click here: https://bit.ly/nihsg-smartcities-selected-nordic-companies-profile-cards-21
Week 1: 15 November - 19 November 2021
15 Nov: JTC Corporation
JTC Team:
• JTC & Punggol Digital District – Nee Yihan, Senior Project Manager, Smart District Division
• Jurong Innovation District (JID) & Woodlands North Coast (WNC) – Poon Ek Whye, Project Manager
• One-North – Zhang Qian, Project Manager
JTC Corporation – https://www.jtc.gov.sg/
A government agency under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, JTC is paving the way forward for Singapore’s industrial landscape by championing clean, green and smart estates. It is developing infrastructure, systems and initiatives that bridge cutting-edge technology and human skill to fuel growth.
JTC’s innovative spaces such as Launchpad for start-ups, plus estates the likes of Seletar Aerospace Park and Punggol Digital District — Singapore’s very first smart business district — also boost collaborative ecosystems where synergistic partnerships can thrive. JTC is also bringing businesses and communities together through green spaces, cultivating an environment that is not only sustainable but nurtures ideas shaping the future.
JTC Projects
Punggol Digital District (PDD) – will house an ecosystem of key growth sectors in the digital economy (Cybersecurity, AI & Robotics, Blockchain & Fintech, Smart Living). It aims to be the showcase for Singapore’s Smart Nation Initiative eg. in offering new operating and service delivery concepts. The co-location of the Singapore Institute of Technology’s (SIT) new campus with JTC’s business park buildings will facilitate greater industry-academia collaboration, through the cross-fertilisation of ideas and knowledge among students and industry professionals. New technological or business ideas conceived in SIT could be prototyped, tested and adopted by businesses in PDD, contributing to a higher rate of commercialisation success.
Jurong Innovation District (JID) – An advanced manufacturing (AM) hub and home a vibrant ecosystem of R&D and Capability Developers, Technology Providers and Advanced Manufacturers, Jurong Innovation District (JID) powers innovation and drive key economic growth. Integrated with three MRT stations along the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL), the 620ha JID will be seamlessly connected to key business districts and transport nodes like the Jurong Lake District and Tuas Port.
Woodlands North Coast (WNC) – The Northern Gateway of Singapore
• Next-generation industrial spaces with flexible zoning to support clean and light manufacturing as companies shift towards service-oriented manufacturing
• Car-lit, pedestrian-friendly & campus-like environment
• Close proximity to Republic Polytechnic offers easy access to training and collaboration opportunities
• The estate will be home to the upcoming RTS and new Woodlands North MRT station. This enhanced connectivity will offer companies quick access to markets, supplier, and talents in both Singapore and Johor Bahru (Malaysia).
One-North – As Singapore rises to become the powerhouse in the global knowledge economy, renowned enterprises are converging on one address to set up their knowledge-intensive operations: one-north
16 NOV: SURBANA JURONG
Surbana Jurong Team:
• Eugene Seah, Managing Director, Smart City Solutions, Senior Director (Special Projects)
• Ervine Tan, Head, Strategic Account Management, Smart Cities Solutions
Surbana Jurong – https://surbanajurong.com/
Key Projects: https://surbanajurong.com/projects/
Surbana Jurong Group is a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm, with over 70 years of track record in successful project delivery. Headquartered in Singapore and 100% ownership by Temasek, the group has a global talent pool of 16,000 across Surbana Jurong and our member companies AETOS, Atelier Ten, B+H, KTP, Prostruct, RBG, SAA, Sino-Sun and SMEC, based in more than 120 offices in over 40 countries. They include architects, designers, planners, engineers and other specialists driven by progressive thinking and creative ideas to help shape a better future.
Surbana Jurong’s technical experts deliver sustainable solutions that cover the entire project life cycle from planning and design to delivery and management, as well as decommissioning and closure. We provide a full suite of multidisciplinary consultancy services across a diverse range of sectors that includes aviation, healthcare, hospitality, transport, water and environment as well as energy and resources.
17 NOV: Keppel Land
Keppel Land Team:
• Sim Puay Kiak, Head, Sustainable Office of the Future, Keppel Land
• Jermaine Liao, Strategic Initiatives & Acquisitions, Strategy and Investment Manager / Innovation Lead, Keppel Land
• Lim Wenjie, PropTech X Business Innovation, Keppel Land
Keppel Land - https://www.keppelland.com/
Projects (residential, commercial, leisure): https://www.keppelland.com/intl/en/about-us/our-projects.html
Keppel Land is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, a Singapore (SGX:BN4, the biggest shareholder Temasek with 20%) flagship multinational company, which provides solutions for sustainable urbanisation, focusing on energy & environmental, urban development, connectivity and asset management. We deliver innovative solutions that enrich people and communities.
Keppel Land delivers innovative and multi-faceted urban space solutions that enrich people and communities. Its sterling portfolio includes award-winning residential developments, investment-grade commercial properties and integrated townships. It is geographically diversified in Asia, with China, Singapore and Vietnam as its key markets, while it continues to scale up in other markets such as India, USA and Indonesia.
Keppel Bay Tower to be Singapore's first commercial building fully powered by renewable energy: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/keppel-bay-tower-to-be-singapores-first-commercial-building-fully-powered
17 NOV: MOH HOLDINGS (MOHH)
MOH Holdings Team:
• Yvonne Lim, Deputy Director, Healthcare Infrastructure Projects Division (HIPD)
• Eddie Gan, Senior Specialist, Healthcare Infrastructure Projects Division (HIPD)
• Foo Jia, Division Senior Manager, Healthcare Infrastructure Projects Division (HIPD)
• Grace Tan, Senior Specialist (Healthcare Facility Planner, Medical Planner, Architect)
MOH Holdings (MOHH) – https://www.mohh.com.sg/
MOHH is the holding company of Singapore’s public healthcare clusters – National University Health System, National Healthcare Group and Singapore Health Services. Sharing the Ministry of Health’s vision to champion a healthy nation and ensure that our people live well, live long and with peace of mind, our role is to enhance public healthcare sector performance by unlocking synergies and economies of scale.
MOHH strategies aim to drive optimal performance through sector-level initiatives and address system-level gaps. These include:
Developing and building regional and community hospitals, specialist centres, polyclinics and nursing homes to prepare for future demand on public healthcare
Providing a system for joint recruitment of healthcare professionals for Singapore’s public healthcare institutions
Developing a national IT framework that facilitates seamless delivery of care to our patients
Operationalising a talent management and HR framework for the entire public healthcare spectrum
Optimising selected finance-related functions within the MOHH Group
Providing corporate advisory and support to MOHH’s subsidiaries, and creating a corporate development system to support future organisational developments in the MOHH Group
Providing strategic and operational Board secretarial support for MOHH’s group of entities
18 NOV: ADB VENTURES & UNDP Global Centre Singapore
ADB Ventures Team:
• Jason Lusk, Partnership & Communications Manager
• Zhang Yichu, Operations Associate
ADB Ventures – https://ventures.adb.org
ADB Ventures is the venture arm of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) focused on investing in early-stage technology companies solving big development problems in emerging Asia and the Pacific. ADB Ventures’ inaugural $60 million equity fund invests up to $4 million initially in highly scalable, technology-enabled solutions that contribute a positive impact on climate change and gender equality. It aspired to crowd in more than $1 billion of risk capital to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. ADB Ventures is investing in early-stage companies in four main verticals: Cleantech & Clean Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Inclusive Fintech, Inclusive Healthcare.
ADB Ventures Labs – https://ventures.adb.org/labs/ is a platform that helps entrepreneurs connect to customers and commercial opportunities in Asia by following a three-step process.
ASSESS: Work with leading partners like Nordic Innovation House to identify a pool of high-quality technology solutions, high quality technology entrepreneurs
SOURCE: Work with leading corporates to understand their unmet innovation gates and then map the entrepreneurs that were identified to those innovation needs
MATCH: Connect the two parties together to establish pilot projects that could develop commercial relationships and a better understanding of how the companies can scale in the regions
UNDP Global Centre Team:
• Calum Handforth, Advisor, Smart Cities and Digitalisation
• Elba Fuster Figuerola, Technical Expert, Smart Cities and Digitalisation
UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development– https://sgtechcentre.undp.org/
A joint initiative by the Government of Singapore and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims at identifying and co-creating technological solutions for sustainable development. The Centre curates partnerships, identifies solutions and connects partners and innovations with UNDP’s global network of Country Offices and development partners.
UNDP SMART CITIES TOOLKIT
Download: https://www.undp.org/publications/handbook-smart-urban-innovations
UNDP developed in 2020 - 2021 a toolkit for understanding smart cities and their development. The handbook for cities in developing countries provides a holistic framework to understand the smart city approaches: ‘Smart Cities’ are much more than digital solutions and cutting-edge technologies. A smart city is citizen-centred - responding to the needs, realities, and aspirations of its citizens; using technology and innovation to improve their lives and livelihoods. The UNDP Handbook on Smart Urban Innovations explores how any city can be a smart city. Cities on this smart city journey can learn from and leverage a global toolkit of smart urban innovations and applied insights to tackle key city challenges or address citizen priorities. The Handbook is a tool to support policymakers, civil society organizations, and urban innovators in shaping livable, inclusive, and sustainable cities.
UNDP introduces on page 25 of the Handbook a Smart Innovations Wheel framework (picture on the right). “Starting at the centre of the circle and moving towards its outer edge, the framework encompasses four dimensions that we find in all Smart Urban Innovations and presents a set of possibilities for each.”.
18 NOV: IPI & ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE
IPI Team: Lynne Loh, Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships
IPI - Innovation Partner for Impact: https://www.ipi-singapore.org/
Established in April 2011, IPI is a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore to enable enterprises to grow their businesses through technology and innovation. Focusing on industry needs, IPI works with enterprises to source for technologies locally and overseas, from both public and private sectors; and facilitate partnerships to bring new products & services to the market. Areas of Focus: Infocomm & Electronics, Personal & Healthcare, Food, Manufacturing, Energy & Environment, Materials & Chemicals
Innovation Marketplace offers a rich resource of curated technology opportunities (Tech Offers, Tech Needs, Innovation Challenges and Tech Experts), enabling entrepreneurs and innovators to stay informed of the latest innovative developments and connect with each other to explore collaboration opportunities for business growth.
TechInnovation: https://www.techinnovation.com.sg/
A premier technology-industry brokerage event organised by IPI. It brings together international and Singapore technology providers and seekers to explore technology and business collaboration opportunities through open innovation. Since 2012, it has grown to become a leading conference and exhibition in Singapore that focuses on the matching of industry’s needs to enabling technologies.
• Crowdsourcing: Seek collaborations and discover technologies through an open innovation platform.
• Crowdpitching: Exhibit and pitch technologies for commercialisation or co-development to technology seekers.
• Best Practices: Learn from thought leaders and be inspired by successful enterprises in their innovation journeys
• 1-to-1 Meetings: Connect with potential collaborators through pre-matched business meetings.
Enterprise Singapore Team:
Zachary Chu, Senior Development Partner | Americas and Western Europe
Enterprise Singapore: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/
The government agency championing enterprise development. We work with committed companies to build capabilities, innovate and internationalise. We also support the growth of Singapore as a hub for global trading and startups. As the national standards and accreditation body, we continue to build trust in Singapore’s products and services through quality and standards.
The Open Innovation Network (OIN) was set up by Enterprise Singapore and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in 2019 to provide a single gateway to the open innovation ecosystem in Singapore. Here, you will find a directory of challenges proposed by companies or agencies inviting solutions from other organisations or individuals. Innovators, startups or enterprises can use the OIN to search for relevant challenges to join, and seek out co-development and test-bedding opportunities with local and global companies. At OIN, you can launch challenges to invite participants from Singapore and beyond to contribute innovative solutions to your business or organisation. We encourage the discovery of new ideas and solutions, and link up partners in the open innovation ecosystem.
Week 2: 22 November - 26 November 2021
22 NOV: Experiences and Q&A with nordic trade promotion offices and nordic embassies in Singapore (+ Service offerings and support available)
Representatives of the Embassy of Finland in Singapore, Business Sweden, and Innovation Norway share information about their respective service offerings and support available for Nordic companies who are ready to scale up in Singapore and beyond.
Embassy of Finland in Singapore: Riku Mäkelä, Counsellor, Trade and Innovation Affairs
Business Sweden: Cassandra Chua, Consultant
Innovation Norway: Per Christer, Technology Counsellor
22 NOV: Knowledge Sharing Session: South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk
Southeast Asia IPR SME Helpdesk – https://www.southeastasia-iprhelpdesk.eu/
The South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk supports European Union small and medium sized enterprises protect and enforce their Intellectual Property rights in or relating to South-East Asian countries, through the provision of free information and services.
23 NOV: Housing & Development Board (HDB)
HDB Team:
• Tan Sze Tiong, Group Director (Building & Research Institute)
• Alvin Oh, Deputy Director (Smart Urban Solutions Integration Office)
• Shuichi Jhalani, Senior Analyst (Building & Research Institute)
• Charlotte Ong, Researcher (Building & Research Institute)
Housing & Development Board (HDB) – https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/homepage
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) is Singapore's public housing authority. We plan and develop Singapore's housing estates; building homes and transforming towns to create a quality living environment for all. Today, more than 1 million flats have been completed in 26 HDB towns and estates and these house over 80% of Singapore's resident population. About 90% of these resident households own their own homes. HDB plays its part for the environment by developing estates that provide eco-friendly and smart features for greater sustainability and liveability. We constantly engage the industry, public agencies, and academic institutions in developing new technologies for the built environment and to improve the lives of our residents.
SMART HDB TOWN FRAMEWORK
https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/smart-hdb-town-page
‘Smart HDB Town Framework’, unveiled in September 2014, maps out how HDB will introduce smart initiatives across 5 key areas:
1. Smart Planning - Computer simulation and data analytics are used to plan and design optimal, cost-effective urban design technologies in HDB towns.
2. Smart Environment - A network of sensors in estates allows HDB to capture real-time environment information, such as temperature and humidity, to create a more pleasant living environment for residents.
3. Smart Estate - Smart technologies are used to collect and analyse estate data to optimise maintenance cycles and pre-empt problems, ensuring that estates are well-maintained regularly.
4. Smart Living - HDB is looking into incorporating digital infrastructure in flats, paving the way for intelligent homes. Residents will soon be able to tap on smart home apps for anything from switching on their air-conditioners to turning off the lights.
5. Smart Community - Data analytics and other tech will be used to better understand and engage residents. These also foster community bonding and empower communities to take greater ownership in co-creating their living environments.
HDB GREEN TOWN FRAMEWORK
https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/Green-Towns-Progamme
TENGAH: SINGAPORE FIRST SMART & SUSTAINABLE TOWN
https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/history/hdb-towns-your-home/tengah
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/singapore-tengah-eco-town/index.html
Tengah will be Singapore’s first smart and sustainable town, with green features and smart technologies. The development of Tengah will provide new homes and workspaces in the Western region of Singapore, and complement other developments in Tengah, Jurong Innovation District, and Jurong Lake District. Tengah’s plans will capitalise on Tengah’s unique identity and offer residents new living and recreational opportunities. The key features of Tengah will revolve around nature and the community, to create an endearing town where future residents can experience being “At Home with Nature”. Tengah is expected to house about 42,000 new homes across 5 residential districts, each designed according to their unique character. This includes: Forest Hill District, Park District, Garden District, Plantation District, Brickland District.
24 NOV: DP Architects (DPA)
DP Architects Team:
• Djoko Prihanto, Director, Urban Planning and Design, DP Architects
• Chan Huimin, Director, DP Architects
• Yong Siew Onn, Director, DP Sustainable Design
• Lakshan Weerasekera, COO, Spaceworx.io (DPA’s Partner)
DP Architects – https://www.dpa.com.sg/
Projects: https://www.dpa.com.sg/projects/
DP Architects practices as a multidisciplinary design group, One Global Studio, with 900 staff, 16 strategically linked international offices from Shanghai to London, 8 associated specialist companies, with a reach of 77 countries around the world. As the practice of architecture becomes broader and more encompassing, DP group of specialist companies provides a suite of integrated design services through our specialist consultancies:
Since its inception in 1967, DP has designed many of the country’s most important public projects and notable landmarks. Each of these has played a critical role in shaping Singapore’s civic urban landscape and downtown core, by linking spaces of the city in the formation of a continuous urban fabric. These sites serve as social and cultural anchors for Singapore and as public nodes of human density that have contributed greatly to the city’s success. DP has also been involved with urban projects of immense scale and increasing diversity of function; some of the firm’s works are the largest of their type in the world.
Expertise in Diverse Typologies
DPA has a long history in a wide variety of projects remarkable in its diversity of scale and typology. To further deepen the critical understanding and appreciation of the profession, DP has formed 10 building typology research groups to generate research and develop expertise in key design typologies – namely, Retail and Mixed Development; Residential; Healthcare; Hospitality; Civic, Community, Sports & Art; Commercial & Office; Education; Transport Infrastructure Architecture; Theme Parks; and Urban Planning.
These 10 dedicated focus groups research developments in technology, techniques, trends and user need of their identified typology and develop architectural design unique to the typology. A newly formed Design Intelligence department further contributes to the exploration and research into areas of new hybrid typologies, digital prototyping and advanced geometry. This concerted endeavour reinforces the practice’s creative process and focus on specialisation, and is further aided by a robust support network of departments such as Design, Documentation and Specification, Contracts and Practice and Code Compliance and Quality.
25 NOV: CITY DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED (CDL)
CDL Team:
• Allen Ang, Executive Vice President, Head of Green Building & Technology Application
• Xue Jia, Senior Manager, Sustainability
City Developments Limited – https://www.cdl.com.sg/
https://cdl.com.sg/newsroom/building-a-resilient-future
City Developments Limited (CDL) is a leading global real estate company with a network spanning 112 locations in 29 countries and regions. Listed on the Singapore Exchange, the Group is one of the largest companies by market capitalisation. Its income-stable and geographically diverse portfolio comprises residences, offices, hotels, serviced apartments, shopping malls and integrated developments. With a proven track record of over 55 years in real estate development, investment and management, the Group has developed over 47,000 homes and owns over 23 million square feet of gross floor area in residential, commercial and hospitality assets globally. Its diversified global land bank offers 3.5 million square feet of land area.
Website: http://www.cdlsustainability.com/
In February 2021, CDL became the first real estate developer in Singapore to join the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.
• Net zero carbon operations for building under CDL control by 2030
• All buildings to be net-zero carbon operation by 2050.
Pathways:
• Leveraging smart technologies and emerging innovations to maximise buildings’ energy performance.
• Achieving 100% renewable energy.
• Developing a low-carbon investment roadmap.
• Phasing out diesel across all operations.
• Strengthening supply chain engagement to lower the embodied carbon of its developments.
• Educating and influencing building users to drive change in mindset and action.
26 NOV: CLOSING EVENT – Minimising Carbon Footprint in the Lifecycle of Buildings
As part of the NIH-SG Smart & Sustainable Cities Virtual Market Entry Programme 2021 towards Singapore and Southeast Asia, we also hosted a virtual closing event themed ’Minimising Carbon Footprint in the Lifecycle of Buildings’. Organised by Nordic Innovation House Singapore, and Nordic partners at the Embassy of Finland in Singapore, Business Sweden, Innovation Norway, Business Iceland and the Embassy of Denmark in Singapore.
There is growing evidence that green and sustainable buildings bring multiple benefits. Green buildings are one of the most effective means to address climate change, creating sustainable and thriving communities in liveable cities. The Nordic Region’s Vision 2030 aims to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030, while Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 is a whole-of-nation movement to advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development - both visions sharing similar targets in environmental performance and ambitions for long-term net-zero emissions. Including mapping green and sustainable pathways to lower operational and embodied carbon emissions in buildings such as how a building uses energy, greenery, manages waste and water, maintains indoor air quality and many more.
In this session, join our speakers from the Nordics and Singapore to learn more about:
- Challenges & effective ways to mitigate our carbon footprints across the life cycle of buildings
- Importance of cross-border green collaborations
- Leveraging smart technologies and emerging innovations
Our 11 selected Nordic companies in this programme will showcase their innovative solutions that are ready to tackle some of the main challenges in property maintenance, built environment (eg. air, water, energy, lighting) management and monitoring, smart building automation, digital twins, IoT sensors, and many more.
Agenda
16:00 Welcome by Nordic Innovation House Singapore
16:05 Opening Remarks
• H.E. Stefan Lindström, Ambassador for Digitalization and Technology, Finland
16:10 Keynotes & Panel Discussion
• Dr Clayton Miller, Assistant Professor, Department of the Built Environment, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore
• Prof. Arild Gustavsen, Centre Director, Research Centre on Zero Emission Neighbourhoods (ZEN) in Smart Cities, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• Sigríður Ósk Bjarnadóttir, Associate Professor & Structural Engineer, University of Iceland
• Moderator: Per Christer Lund, Technology Counsellor, Innovation Norway
17:00 Nordic Showcase by 11 Selected Nordic Companies
Entos - http://www.entos.fi/
ARTASFIN - http://www.artasfin.fi/
Helvar - https://www.helvar.com
SmartWatcher - https://www.smartwatcher.fi/
Meshworks Wireless - https://www.meshworkswireless.com/
Xortec - http://xortec.fi/en/
Haltian - https://haltian.com/
Aneo Software - https://www.aneo.fi/
Spacehub - https://getspacehub.com/
Institute for Energy technology / My Digital City - https://ife.no/en/
Sensative - https://sensative.com/