Singapore-Jiangsu Collaboration - Innovating Our Future Summit on 19 November 2018 in Singapore 

 

 

EVENT REPORT 

 

 

Event Overview  Singapore-Jiangsu Collaboration - Innovating Our Future is a one-day summit co-organized by                       Social Innovation Park (SIP) and Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI).   Jiangsu province is the biggest economy in East China, with GDP reaching S$1.76 trillion (RMB8.59                             trillion) at 8.4% growth in 2017, almost the size of the Australian GDP. Jiangsu is the top provincial                                   investment destination for Singapore companies in China, with Singapore’s cumulative investments                     into Jiangsu reaching over S$36.8 billion (US$27.1 billion) as of end-September 2017.                       Singapore-Jiangsu trade currently accounts for about 10% of Singapore-China trade, rising 13.2%                       year-on-year to reach S$11 billion (US$8.1 billion) in the first three quarters of 2017.  Singapore-Jiangsu Collaboration was kick-started back in 1994 by the then Prime Ministers HE Mr                           Deng Xiaoping and HE Mr Lee Kuan Yew, with the birth of the Suzhou Industrial Park. Over the last                                     24 years, Singapore-Jiangsu G2G, B2B and P2P relations expanded and deepened into various                         industry sectors and Jiangsu cities. Meanwhile, the Suzhou Industrial Park also developed into a                           modern city with a high-tech industrial park at its core, a prosperous population, and one of the most                                   liveable places in China.   As we enter a new stage of development and growth that will be accelerated by the Belt and Road                                     Initiative, and with Singapore also entering the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), more collaborative                         bridges and platforms - traditional and new - need to be built, particularly in the areas of technology                                   and innovation, so we could progress together. We are prompted to think about what the second                               phase of Singapore-Jiangsu Collaboration could look like, beyond the Suzhou Industrial Park joint                         venture. More pertinently, how do we mindfully shape the desired future of our countries, in a                               collaborative manner that brings better standards of living and better lives for our citizens?  This event brings together leaders from business, government and academia in Singapore and                         Jiangsu, especially those involved in the deep tech, to discuss the future of collaboration for economic                               transformation and inclusive growth.   We were honoured to have many distinguished guests grace our event, including our                         Guest-of-Honour, Ms Tin Pei Ling 陈陈佩玲佩玲, CEO of 通商中国 Business China and                       Member-of-Parliament, our VIP from China, Mr Wang Qin, Director-General of the Department of                         Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province, as well as distinguished Excellencies and                       Ambassadors from Finland, China, and Jordan. The event was hosted by Prof Liu Qing, President                             of JITRI, and Ms Penny Low, Founder of SIP, Senior Strategy Advisor of JITRI, and former                               Member-of-Parliament. It was attended by 70 participants from 39 organizations (please see Annex                         for list of organizations). Dr. Yeo Sze Ling, a Research Scientist at A*STAR Institute of Infocomm                               Research specializing in cryptography, also an SIP Fellow, was the MC for the day.       

Opening Session  Ms Penny Low opened the summit with Welcome Remarks, emphasizing the need for cooperation                           more than ever in this new era of growth and development, particularly with technological                           advancements. She also urged the audience to think about how, as we reap the business potential                               and benefits of deep tech, do we also ensure sustainable and inclusive development, and to use                               technology for good.   

   

The first Opening Keynote was delivered by Mr Wang Qin, on “Open Innovation with Win-Win                             Cooperation”, where he spoke about the current science and technology innovation ecosystem and                         agenda in Jiangsu, as well as successful models of cooperation with international partners. He said                             that Jiangsu will actively join the global innovation network, establish and enhance industrial                         innovation clusters, and enhance the competitiveness of Jiangsu manufacturing industry in the global                         market. He said that Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute is an important window for                           Jiangsu to connect with Singapore's innovative resources. JITRI will actively support establishment of                         R&D and innovation facilities with universities and research institutions in Singapore to form long-term                           and stable cooperative relationships and carry out various forms of innovative cooperation.  

       

The final Opening Keynote was delivered by Ms Tin Pei Ling, who took the audience through the                                 history of Singapore-Jiangsu cooperation, and achievements of that cooperation. She said that                       Singapore has been actively engaged in various models of cooperation with China. Suzhou Industrial                           Park is the first cooperation project between the governments of China and Singapore, and was a                               critical window for China to open up to international partnership by being a model of success. She                                 opined that a platform like this event will surely promote closer collaboration between Singapore and                             Jiangsu, and push it to a higher level.   

       

Expert Keynote Speeches  The Expert Keynote Speech segment was kicked off by Prof Liu Qing who introduced the audience                               to JITRI, and its development around the three major systems of industrial technology innovation                           system, industrial technology supply system and research and development industry ecosystem.                     JITRI seeks to serve as “a Bridge between Global Innovation Resources and Jiangsu”, through                           strategic partnerships with top universities and research institutes such as the National University of                           Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. The partnerships will jointly create an innovative                       ecosystem, build an industrial technology supply system, and enhance the industrial value chain  

       

Prof. Ding Han, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Institute of                               Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology of the Provincial Research Institute, spoke about                       "Connecting ‘the last mile’ of the transformation of technological achievements in universities." He                         introduced the innovative institutional mechanisms of the Institute from the aspects of its objectives,                           organizational structure, human resources and development, and shared their efforts to strengthen                       international innovation cooperation and promote the transformation of scientific and technological                     achievements.   

      

Prof. Freddy Boey, Senior Vice President, Graduate Education and Research Translation of the National University of Singapore (NUS), spoke about “Innovating the Future Together”. He introduced the research and innovation system in NUS, as well as incubation programme of deep-tech start-ups from research spin-offs. He then spoke about possible collaborations between NUS and Jiangsu, through joint manpower training, start-up incubation and co-development of IP, as well as in 5 focus technology areas.  

     

Mr Hans Duisters, Founder and CEO of the SIOUX Group in the Netherlands and President of the JITRI-SIOUX Joint Innovation Center, delivered a keynote speech on “Innovative Organization Development”. He opined that in the past, innovation was inward-looking and closed. At present, we are entering the stage of outward-looking collaborative innovation. The next decade will be about continuous exploration of institutional mechanisms and innovation models, forming an inter-organizational innovation ecosystem.  

       

Dr. Sidney Yee, CEO of the Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub and Executive Vice President of A*ccelerate, delivered a keynote speech entitled “In Minds Today, In Markets Tomorrow”. She spoke about the key mechanisms to deliver value in the innovation ecosystem, and how DxD Hub is doing it to bridge the value creation gap. The deep tech incubation platform should be based on the protection and diffusion of intellectual property rights and provide support to nurture, de-risk and collaborate.  

      

Mr. Dong Liang, CEO of Jiangsu Hi-Tech Investment Group Co., Ltd. delivered a keynote speech entitled “Innovative Cooperation – New Opportunities for Jiangsu and Singapore”. He said: Innovation has become a top priority for all advanced economies, and it is also becoming a priority for more emerging countries. Innovation and value creation will become more important. Innovation collaboration between Jiangsu and Singapore will generate a lot of new opportunities and shape a broader future.   

      

Dr. Ernest Kan, Chief Advisor of China Capital Markets of the Singapore Exchange (SGX), said in his keynote speech that the Singapore market has a high degree of internationalization, a short listing period, low financing difficulty, and a cultural background close to China. In recent years, Singapore has become a preferred destination for Chinese companies looking to internationalize. Nearly 40% of companies listed on the SGX are overseas companies, of which Chinese companies (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) account for nearly 60%. SGX will build a supportive financial ecosystem for the common development of enterprises and industries through capital means. Dr. Ernest Kan expressed his strong recognition of JITRI's philosophy of creating an innovation system, a supply system and an ecosystem.  

    

Mr. Hu Ying, CEO of Sumin Investment Holdings, introduced that Sumin Investment is an investment institution jointly established by more than 10 well-known private leading enterprises in Jiangsu, such as Shagang Group, GCL Group and Hongdou Group. It will tap on its capital, resources and market competitiveness advantages to promote the deepening of Singapore-Jiangsu industrial collaboration, focusing on new emerging areas such as new materials, environmental protection and new energy, semiconductors, medical health, smart manufacturing, financial technology and Internet of Things. He hopes to promote collaboration in scientific and technological innovation through the establishment of investment funds, industrial parks and cross-border investment platforms.  

         

Panel Discussion  The panel was made up of 1) Mr Sun Yinhao, Deputy Director, Institute of Intelligent Sensing                               Technology, JITRI; 2) Mr Jonathan Lim, Director, Global Innovation Alliance and Start-ups, Enterprise                         Singapore; 3) Mr Hans Duisters, President, JITRI-Sioux Joint Innovative Centre; 4) Dr Xing Fei, CEO,                             Raycham Laser Technology Group Co., Ltd; 5) Mr Krishna Ramachandra, Managing Director, Duane                         Morris & Selvam and Board Director, SIP; 6) Mr James Tan, Managing Partner, Quest Ventures It                               was moderated by Ms Wong Peishan, Private Equity Portfolio Manager, Shaw Kwei & Partners and                             Board Director, SIP.  Panelists expressed their opinions and shared ideas on new opportunities, challenges and models of                           collaboration between Singapore and Jiangsu. They discussed the promotion of R&D and translation                         of key technologies through market-oriented mechanisms, and how to open up a channel from                           science and technology to industry, through collaborative innovation. There was also an interactive                         exchange on how to promote inclusiveness in the advancement of technology, and using technology                           to create positive social impact.  

  

   Closing Remarks  Prof. Liu Qing closed the summit by sharing his sentiments about how international collaboration is an                               irreversible trend. It is the only way to confront and solve common challenges and create a better                                 future together. He reiterated the enormous potential and opportunities in Singapore-Jiangsu                     collaboration, particularly in innovation and technology, and urged the audience to work together to                           co-create an innovative ecosystem across national borders to achieve a better future.  

        

Evening Reception  The summit was capped off with an Evening Cocktail Reception at the exclusive One-North Gallery on                               22-level of Symbiosis Tower at Fusionopolis One, with participants networking and exchanging more                         views and intentions for collaboration, amidst a panoramic view of One-North and good food and                             drinks.