Round up of Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) 2023 that concluded with a record-breaking attendance of over 15,000 global participants, unveiling new strides in sustainability, open innovation, and market access
SWITCH 2023 which was organized by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) concluded on 2nd November 2023 after a power-packed three-day conference held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The event saw a remarkable turnout, with over 15,000 participants from the global technology and innovation community. Notable speakers, including Garry Tan, President & CEO of Y Combinator, and Shailendra Singh, Managing Director of Peak XV Partners, shared valuable insights on cultivating a vibrant startup ecosystem.
In addition to the main conference, a new outdoor extension, SWITCH @ one-north, provided a hands-on and interactive experience of Singapore’s innovation ecosystem. The event showcased startups, entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and thought leaders from around the world, highlighting Singapore’s pivotal role in the global innovation landscape.
Three New Global Alliances Nodes
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced the launch of three new Global Innovation Alliance nodes in Mumbai, Sydney, and Melbourne, expanding the network to 21 cities globally. This move aims to connect Singapore startups with overseas innovation ecosystems and in-market investors, facilitating their rapid expansion.
New open innovation challenges were introduced to stimulate co-innovation between startups, small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs), and industry players. These challenges address specific sustainability issues and facilitate access to overseas industry demand. Over S$3 million has been allocated to support sustainability solutions through EnterpriseSG’s Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge (SOIC).
Furthermore, EnterpriseSG has partnered with local polytechnics to enhance innovation support for SMEs within the food manufacturing and built environment industries through Centres of Innovation (COIs). This initiative aims to drive business growth by enabling enterprises to develop, test, and commercialize innovative solutions.
SLINGSHOT 2023, the marquee deep tech startup competition, concluded with cleantech startup Thermalytica Inc. emerging as the Grand Winner. The competition attracted close to 4,700 applicants from 150 markets, underscoring its global reach and impact on the startup ecosystem.
SWITCH Note 2024: Next year SWITCH 2024 is slated to take place from 28th to 30th October 2024, promising even more exciting innovation and technology content centered around current and emerging trends and global issues.
