MPA, NUS pool $50,000 each to fund 12 startups

This will enable startups to conduct prototype development and test solutions.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise awarded $50,000 each in grant funding to 12 startups from the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019, according to an announcement.

These 12 startups are ABEJA, ASA Development, C-LOG, Cerekon, Dravam, Kanda, KoiReader Technologies, Marified, Megapixel, Newton Services Research, Performance Rotors, and Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE).

The funding is said to enable the startups to conduct prototype development over the next 12 months. The startups 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.

Applications were assessed based on the viability of solutions in addressing maritime challenges, focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality (V/AR), blockchain, robotics and wearables.

Upon the completion of the projects, the maritime corporates will be adopting the final products/solutions.

So far, eight out of 13 of the previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five nearing completion.