Third smart port challenge launched

It will explore solutions utilising AI, cloud, mobile computing and blockchain for the maritime industry.

Signapore has launched the third Smart Port Challenge (SPC), an annual six-month programme that aims to address pain points in the maritime industry through the use of emerging technologies. 

“The maritime industry is intensifying its digital transformation,” Dr. Lam Pin Min, senior minister of state for transport and health, said. “The search is on for solutions which tap on technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud and mobile computing and blockchain to drive greater efficiency, safety and sustainability.”

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The SPC is one of the industry-wide initiatives under the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71), by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

To continue growing the maritime innovation ecosystem and anchor their innovation and enterprise activities, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will partner with Enterprise Singapore to attract more start-ups to participate in the SPC.

The MPA will also partner with corporate innovation and venture development firm Rainmaking Innovation in an impact programme focused on decarbonisation of the maritime supply chain that is slated to launch in H2 2019. Meanwhile, PIER71 will work with like-minded incubators such as Rainmaking Innovation, Katapult Ocean, Symphony Creative Solutions and Wärtsilä to create opportunities for startups to scale and expand. 

Beyond SPC, PIER71 will continue to support start-ups by assigning them industry mentors, and work with the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) to help start-ups discover and access R&D capabilities and resources. Additionally, PIER71 will launch its co-working space in July at BLOCK71 in Ayer Rajah.