Smart Port Challenge garners over 200 proposals from 35 countries

Twenty start-ups have qualified for a $100,000 grant.

Smart Port Challenge (SPC), a joint initiative of The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Enterprise, received over 200 proposals from startups in 35 countries.

The start-ups responded to the 14 challenge statements on key issues facing the global maritime industry.

“PIER71TM has been evolving its programmes to stay ahead of the changing global maritime industry. By expanding our network of mentors, domain experts, and partners worldwide, we help start-ups gain better access to market validation and growth opportunities,” Chen Tsuhan, deputy president for innovation and enterprise at NUS, said.

Twenty-eight start-ups were selected to join the 12-week PIER71TM Accelerate programme which helps them test and validate business models and go-to-market strategies for their proposed solutions, guided by industry domain experts.

Twenty start-ups have secured 30 letters of intent for collaboration with Singapore-based companies, qualifying them for a $100,000 grant for pilot projects and additional funding of $250,000 for new product development.

For the first time, additional awards of $10,000 were awarded to Mapsea for Artificial Intelligence, GT Wings for Maritime Sustainability Innovation, and Planys Technologies for Smart Port.

Clearbot, Open Ocean Robotics, and GT Wings emerged as the first, second, and third-placed winners respectively, and Thiospark Energy received a Special Mention.

Three participating start-ups, Sweden-based Cetasol, Hong Kong S.A.R-based Clear Robotics, and South Korean-based Mapsea Corporation, have also established offices in Singapore as part of their regional expansion plan.