IPI Sets a Strong Foundation for Singapore-Norway Technology Partnerships

As part of enabling enterprises to grow their business through innovation, IPI has built links to a global network of technology partners over the years. In October, IPI had the opportunity to further reinforce its ties with partners from Norway through several touchpoints including the Nordic Edge Expo, Norway-Singapore Research and Enterprise Seminar and culminated with a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IPI and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Nordic Edge Expo
Dr Sze Tiam Lin, Director of IPI was invited to share on Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative at Nordic Edge on 6 October 2016 in Stavanger, Norway. During his presentation, he highlighted the need to drive open innovation and attract technologies and solutions from the rest of the world. Nordic Edge is one of Europe’s important arenas for knowledge exchange and inspiration to creators of smarter businesses, smarter homes and smarter cities.

IPI and the NTNU sign MoU to promote transnational technology transfer opportunities
A MoU between IPI and the NTNU was signed on 11 October 2016 in Oslo, Norway. The renewal MoU will see both parties deepen their cooperation in leveraging each other's networks to promote R&D collaboration, technology transfer and commercialisation between Norwegian and Singapore companies. The signing was witnessed by Singapore’s President Tony Tan and Norway's King Harald V, at the opening of the Norway-Singapore Research and Enterprise Seminar, held at the Research Council of Norway.

NTNU and IPI first signed a three-year MoU in 2013 to promote transnational technology transfer opportunities between NTNU and Singapore companies. The partnership gives IPI access to NTNU’s innovative research outcomes and spin-offs; and also provides NTNU and its spin-offs access to IPI’s extensive network of Singapore industries that could commercialise the university’s portfolio of technologies. NTNU is one of the foremost technology universities in the world with particular strengths in the offshore & maritime, information & communications technology and healthcare sectors. It has been actively participating in IPI’s premier technology brokerage event TechInnovation since 2014.

Norway-Singapore Research and Enterprise Seminar
On the same day, Professor Lam Khin Yong, Executive Director of IPI participated at the panel discussion during the Norway-Singapore Research and Enterprise seminar. Professor Lam gave insight into the challenges faced by local SMEs which translate into potential areas for mutual collaboration. He emphasised that Singapore and IPI will be a good facilitator and gateway for Norwegian SMEs and spinoffs seeking partners in Singapore and the region and welcomes the deepening innovation collaborations with the technology seekers and providers in Norway.

The seminar takes stock of the current state and identifies future opportunities in research, innovation and business cooperation between Singapore and Norway. The panellists included Professor Eng Chye Tan, Deputy President and Provost NUS; Professor Bertil Andersson, President NTU; Professor Alfred Huan, Executive Director of A*STAR; Dr Henrik Madsen, Chairman of board RCN; and Professor Torger Reve from the Norwegian Business School.