/ Ecosystem Building, Innovation & Enterprise, News, Press Release, Uncategorized / By HomepageUncategorized10th Smart Port Challenge expands support to scale maritime start-ups JOINT MEDIA RELEASE Singapore, 22 April 2026 10th Smart Port Challenge expands support to scale maritime start-ups New programmes connect start-ups to mentors and investors to accelerate growth The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial heart of the National University of Singapore, have launched the 10th edition of the PIER71 Smart Port Challenge (SPC) at Singapore Maritime Week 2026, with expanded support to help maritime start-ups scale, secure funding, and deploy their solutions. 2. Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, Mr Murali Pillai, MPA Chief Executive, Mr Ang Wee Keong, and NUS Enterprise Vice President (Ecosystem Building), Professor Benjamin Tee officiated at the launch. The event drew over 200 international start-ups, investors and industry partners, reflecting continued global interest in Singapore as a platform for maritime innovation. Please refer to Annexe A for the launch programme. 3. Since 2018, PIER71 has supported some 170 start-ups, which have collectively raised over S$150 million in funding. One example is SPC alumnus Groundup.ai which uses artificial intelligence to predict equipment failures and optimise asset performance. The company has since scaled across Asia and the Middle East, securing S$5.4 million in Series A funding following an initial S$2.3 million seed round. New initiatives to grow innovation ecosystem 4. Building on nearly a decade of developing early-stage start-ups, this year’s SPC introduces two new initiatives – Mentors-in-Residence Plus (MIR+) and Venture2Capital – to strengthen commercialisation and growth. 5. MIR+ pairs start-ups looking to scale with experienced maritime professionals and overseas accelerator partners to support market entry and expansion. Venture2Capital strengthens access to funding by connecting start-ups with investors and providing structured training and support for fundraising. These initiatives will extend PIER71’s role beyond early-stage acceleration to support start-ups in scaling and entering new markets. 6. In addition, MPA has recently introduced an innovation track under the Maritime Cluster Fund – Business Development scheme. This aims to anchor maritime companies’ innovation, technology, and venture-building capabilities in Singapore, encouraging them to scale from Singapore while contributing to a vibrant and globally connected maritime ecosystem. Expanded global outreach, applications open for SPC 2026 7. SPC will expand its global outreach in 2026 through targeted engagement in key markets. These include China, France, India, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and the USA. These engagements will connect start-ups with investors and maritime partners, while showcasing opportunities in Singapore’s maritime ecosystem. 8. Applications for SPC 2026 are now open. The programme will introduce 19 innovation opportunities across four areas — Next-Generation Port, Smart Shipping, Maritime Green Technologies, and Digitalisation, supported by over 20 innovation partners1, with more expected to join. For the full list of innovation opportunities, please see Annexe B. 9. Shortlisted start-ups will undergo a 10-week SPC Accelerate programme, which provides tailored mentorship, workshops and opportunities for market validation. Cash prizes will be awarded to top-performing start-ups at the SPC 2026 Grand Finale on 11 November 2026, with thematic prizes sponsored by companies including ABS, OCBC, PSA Singapore & PSA Ventures, and RINA. 10. Following the programme, start-ups may apply for MPA’s Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund to support proof-of-concept, pilot projects and product development. The fund has supported 68 start-ups, with over 30 innovative technologies deployed in the maritime sector. 11. Applications for SPC 2026 are open at https://pier71.sg until 15 June 2026. 12. Mr Ang Wee Keong, MPA’s Chief Executive, said, “As SPC enters its 10th edition, the focus is not just on generating new ideas, but helping start-ups scale and deliver real impact. By strengthening connections between start-ups, industry and investors, we are supporting more solutions to move from pilots to deployment and strengthening Singapore’s position as a platform for maritime innovation.” 13. Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), said, “The key challenge in maritime innovation is not building solutions, but ensuring these can be deployed at scale. Since 2018, PIER71 has supported nearly 170 start-ups, which have collectively raised over S$150 million in funding. This is a good start, but more will be done to help these companies overcome barriers to adoption and expand into global markets. With Mentors-in-Residence Plus and Venture2Capital, we are bringing start-ups closer to industry and investors, strengthening support for their international growth.” 1 Innovation partners supporting the SPC2026 challenge statements currently include ABB, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Athena Dynamics, BW Epic Kosan, CMB.TECH, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services, Iino Kaiun Kaisha Ltd, Jurong Port, Marin-Teknik, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) Asia Oceania, RightShip, RINA, Synergy Group, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, X-press Feeders. Annexe A: Smart Port Challenge 2026 Launch Programme Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026 Time: 10.30am – 1.30pm Venue: EXPO@SMW, Expo Theatre Time Description 10.30am to 10.45am Welcome Opening remarks by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport 10.45am to 11.00am Introduction of Smart Port Challenge (SPC) Sharing on the challenge statements and thematic areas of SPC 11.00am to 11.45am PIER71 showcase of start-up solutions (Part 1) Thirteen start-ups will demonstrate solutions aligned to the SPC thematic areas, highlighting real-world applications, pilots, and pathways to adoption. 11:45am to 11:50am Technical break 11.50am to 12.30pm Panel discussion Scaling Deep Tech Innovation: From Pilots to Commercial Adoption Explore the journey from innovation to commercial adoption and how maritime technologies can scale from pilot to real-world impact. This panel brings together corporate leaders, start-ups, and innovation experts to share practical playbooks for scaling deep tech successfully and taking it global. Moderator: Mr Chua Chye Poh, CEO, ShipsFocus Panellists: 1. Ms Ann Carpenter, CEO, Braid Theory 2. Mr Erwin Verstraelen, Vice President of Innovation, Port of Antwerp-Bruges 3. Mr Yusik Kim, CEO, TAS Global Co. Ltd 4. Mr Thibaut Humbert, Head (Asia Pacific), ZEBOX 12.30pm to 1.30pm PIER71 showcase of start-up solutions (Part 2) Another 13 start-ups will demonstrate solutions aligned to the SPC thematic areas, highlighting real-world applications, pilots, and pathways to adoption. 1.30pm End of programme Annexe B: Smart Port Challenge 2026 Innovation Opportunities Digitalisation 1 How might we minimise personnel risk during onboard inspections in hazardous, confined, or structurally unsafe environments? 2 How might we enable shipping companies to meet cybersecurity regulations and standards, secure operational systems, and empower crew to better manage cybersecurity risks and incidents? 3 How might we deploy vessel digital twins to deliver predictive insights for safety, energy efficiency, and maintenance? 4 How might we use AI to automate the generation and submission of port call documentation to eliminate repetitive administrative burdens on ship officers and ship agents? Maritime Green Technologies 5 How might we develop an effective system for collecting, cleaning, and recycling ship waste or garbage (e.g. used cotton gloves, rugs, and mooring ropes)? 6 How might we help shipowners and operators quantify, verify, and manage emissions exposure in near real time to respond effectively to carbon pricing, regulatory reporting, and commercial accountability? Smart Shipping 7 How might we leverage digital tools to achieve near real-time insights, predictive optimisation, regulatory compliance, and empower ship operators to enhance energy efficiency, without requiring major operational disruptions or high capital investment? 8 How might we design flexible, scalable and engaging crew training solutions that empower seafarers with varying skills and languages to adopt energy-efficient practices and be confident with digital tools on ships? 9 How might we create a safer pilot or crew transfer solution that reduces reliance on ladders and minimises climbing-related risks? 10 How might we improve situational awareness on and around ships, to enhance safety and security of ship voyage and operations in port? 11 How might we reduce human error at sea by unlocking real-time insights into crew behaviour, competence, and potential health risk beyond periodic training or testing, and support necessary intervention? 12 How might we collect and standardise data from multiple onboard ship sensors and systems into a single usable source to enable more accurate vessel performance modelling better monitoring, documentation, and decision-making and voyage optimisation? 13 How might we monitor crew safety in real time onboard vessels to detect emergencies such as man-overboard, incapacitation, or unsafe working conditions, while ensuring that solutions remain unobtrusive and practical for everyday shipboard operations? 14 How might we prevent and manage fire safety risk of highly combustible cargo (e.g. car lithium-ion batteries) that are transported by vessels (e.g. container ships)? (i.e. technology solutions that could ensure correct declaration of the cargoes onboard vessels which would then help prevent or technology solutions which could detect such occurrences before and during ship voyage) Next Generation Ports 15 How might we make cargo hold cleaning or discharge on bulk carriers safer and more efficient? 16 How might we transition from a reactive, incident-driven port safety model to a proactive, predictive one by automatically detecting, analysing, and learning from near-miss events in real-time, thereby preventing accidents before they happen? 17 How might we leverage a fleet of autonomous ground, aerial, and sea-based systems to establish a persistent, 24/7 surveillance shield across our entire perimeter, drastically extending our security reach and response capability to both land and maritime approaches? 18 How might we design or engineer an intelligent security system that automatically correlates suspicious vehicular activity outside our perimeter (e.g. loitering, drop-offs) with potential human intrusion attempts at the fence line, enabling us to identify and neutralise coordinated threats before a breach occurs? 19 How might we ensure accurate prime mover scheduling and positioning through intelligent prediction and automation solutions to maximise container terminal yard productivity? 20 How might we mechanise or automate lashing operations for containers onboard vessel?
