An event in Singapore for tech professionals will explore
ways for businesses to tap opportunities in Asia at its next edition in
November, with a focus on sustainability and climate change.
The annual Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology
(Switch) will be held together with the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) in a
hybrid format from Nov 8 to Nov 12.
The sixth edition of Switch will be expanded from a
week-long conference into a year-long movement that includes monthly
opportunities to network and make deals, said Enterprise Singapore (ESG)
yesterday.
Switch drew over 15,000 participants from 42 cities last
year.
A highlight of Switch 2021 is a new digital platform that
will allow participants to convene and access the year-long calendar of
activities.
It will kick off with SG Innovation Community Day on Aug 4,
followed by monthly seminars on areas such as biotech, education technology and
entrepreneurship in the lead-up to the Switch conference.
The theme of the main conference is Global Gateway To
Innovation In Asia, and it will spotlight ways that Singapore and its
enterprises can help small and large global businesses to ride on opportunities
in the region.
"These include sustainability and climate change, which
have become a global priority as nations and businesses race to find innovative
solutions that can mitigate their environmental impact as they grow," said
ESG.
Business and market leaders with a presence in more than 40
cities will discuss trends and expansion opportunities.
There will also be talks by industry leaders as well as
Slingshot - a deep tech start-up pitching competition with more than $1.1
million in prizes to be won.
Mr Edwin Chow, ESG's assistant chief executive for
innovation and enterprise, said pressing challenges such as the pandemic and
climate change have created opportunities for business innovation.
"As Asia becomes the global centre of technological
innovation, we believe Singapore can be the partner of choice for global
businesses to access these opportunities in the region. Switch 2021 will see
new ideas discussed and innovation partnerships formed between corporates,
start-ups and universities in the region."
SFF x Switch as a whole will involve entrepreneurs,
investors and industry professionals from the innovation and fintech
communities, added ESG.
The government agency added that both events will address how
the technology and financial sectors can be enablers and change agents for
sustainability.
Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said
open innovation provides a platform for small and medium-sized enterprises and
start-ups to innovate in response to demand, collectively develop new products
and expand into overseas markets.
Open innovation challenges allow firms to come up with
solutions to address various issues.
He was speaking to reporters over Zoom on the sidelines of a
visit to tech start-up Transforma Robotics. The company was among the winners
of an energy open innovation challenge organised in September last year by ESG
and energy companies Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Transforma works with companies in the oil and energy
sectors to trial solutions, such as a smart magnetic painting robot that can
apply paint to protect the interior of cylindrical oil tanks from corrosion.
The solution is expected to reduce reliance on manual labour
and minimise operators' exposure to hazardous conditions.
The start-up has also seized new opportunities amid the
pandemic - for example, by converting some of its spray-painting robots to ones
for disinfection.
Professor Chen I-Ming, chairman of Transforma Robotics, said
the pandemic has made people realise the importance of robotics and automation
in industries like construction.
"Robots are no longer just productivity tools," he
added, noting that they help to tackle the shortage of manpower.
"The mindset starts to change and this really drives
robotics and AI (artificial intelligence) moving forward."
Source: Enterprise Singapore
Date: 24 July 2021
Link: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/media-centre/news/2021/july/innovation-fintech-fest-returning-in-nov-with-green-focus
August 25, 2021
