A*STAR announces simplified licensing initiatives and key signing with Jurong Point Shopping Centre. Three researchers were also recognised for their industry contributions at the T-UP Excellence Awards.
Singapore – At its inaugural SME Day, A*STAR inked an agreement with Jurong Point Shopping Centre to integrate an image recognition technology into the retail mall’s mobile application, a development that will benefit up to 450 mall tenants, most of which are SMEs. A*STAR’s SME Day highlights its flagship initiatives for fuelling productivity and quality growth for SMEs, and how they bridge the gap between industry and R&D. Minister S. Iswaran, Minister in Prime Minister's Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry was the Guest of Honour at the event.
A*STAR continues to play a key role in supporting SMEs’ R&D efforts. Its programmes enable greater access to business-friendly licensing schemes, ready-to-go technology platforms, and research expertise to translate R&D to industry growth. Key SME programmes are the Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade (GET-Up) and the Technology Adoption Programme (TAP)[1]. Within nine months, the fledgling TAP has already seen 300 technologyadoptions, and has since gone on to help SMEs develop technologies that will improve productivity of other SMEs.
More Business-Friendly Licensing Policies
A*STAR has also enhanced its licensing policies to be even more business-friendly. Following on from the announcement of the Headstart programme[2], A*STAR has launched a series of express licensing initiatives to simplify and accelerate technology adoption for SMEs. These include a range of technology solutions that are ready for immediate adoption, as well as simplified agreements which improve clarity and speed up the licensing process.
Collaborations to Grow Local Business
With A*STAR’s understanding of SMEs’ technological needs, A*STAR has also developed Ready-to-Go (RTG) platforms suitable for mass adoptions. For example, in partnership with the private sector, A*STAR has co-developed a new Ready-to-Go package, “FITPRISE Enterprise Management System” (EMS). The EMS technology is an online business management system set to improve business processes and workflow. To date, it has helped over 35 SMEs improve productivity. Local SME Aequitas Global was one of the businesses that capitalised on this set of tools to manage its inventory more effectively, and achieved up to 80 per cent time savings.
At the event, Jurong Point Shopping Centre and A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) signed an agreement to integrate Snap2tell Alive, an image recognition technology from I²R, into the Jurong Point Shopping mobile application.
Mr William Seet, Chief Executive of Jurong Point Shopping Centre, said, ““As Singapore’s largest suburban shopping mall, we are constantly looking for new ways to help our tenants give our customers an innovative shopping experience. Through Jurong Point Shopping Centre’s collaboration with A*STAR, we will not only provide innovative marketing channels for our tenants to grow their business, but also enhance our customers’ shopping experience further.”
T-UP Excellence Awards: Researchers Awarded for Translating R&D to Industry Growth
Through the GET-Up programme, A*STAR seconds researchers to SMEs to upgrade their R&D and growth capabilities. Three researchers were honoured with the T-UP Excellence Awards, in recognition of their exceptional R&D contributions to local businesses: Ms Joanne Teoh, Dr Keni Wu and Dr Li Qiming. The winners’ profiles and their respective industry projects are listed in Annex B.
Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, said: “A*STAR is committed to working with our local enterprises to increase their productivity through capitalising on innovation and technology. Our technology initiatives for SMEs play a key role in transforming their businesses to be more competitive. Hence, we have ramped up our efforts to complement flagship programmes like GET-Up and TAP. This demonstrates our commitment to help SMEs be change ready and navigate the business challenges they may face ahead.”
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Esmond Chong
Officer, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Tel: 6419 1155 or 9027 7857
Email: esmondc@scei.a-star.edu.sg
Lisa Chong
Manager, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Tel: 6419 6544 or 9797 5730
Email: lisa-chong@scei.a-star.edu.sg