MEDIA RELEASE
Singapore, 29 September 2023
NUS and CSA to establish S$20 million CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre to propel Singapore as the premier global cybersecurity innovation hub for economic growth
- New CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre to develop Talent, Innovation and Growth in cybersecurity
- NUS collaborates with its first partner, ISTARI, the global cybersecurity platform established by Temasek, to support the Centre’s ambition
Singapore, 29 September 2023 — To address the growing demand for robust cybersecurity solutions, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is partnering with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) to establish a new S$20 million NUS-CSA CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Centre. This initiative aims to establish Singapore as the premier global hub for cybersecurity innovation, driving economic growth. The partnership was inked at the Cybersecurity Industry Innovation Day on 29 September 2023.
In today's interconnected digital world, the need for sophisticated and trusted cybersecurity solutions has reached unprecedented levels. With Southeast Asia’s digital economy projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030 and Internet users on the rise1, a strong cybersecurity industry is essential. Beyond safeguarding Singapore’s digital future and cybersecurity resilience, especially amid recent scams and cybercrimes2, the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre bolsters Singapore’s reputation as a trusted digital hub and aspires to help advance cybersecurity as an emerging economic driver for Singapore.
NUS-CSA CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre
The CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre will address dependencies between cybersecurity talent, innovation, and growth for the industry, by serving as a convening platform to integrate and create relevant programmes for industry and talent development in Singapore, and a global node for international cooperation on innovation. It will help build a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem by bringing together local and international cybersecurity stakeholders, including industry, academia, cybersecurity professionals and government stakeholders to leverage the opportunities posed by digitalisation.
The CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre will also build upon NUS Enterprise’s entrepreneurial academic programmes and extensive global BLOCK71 network, providing cybersecurity talents and companies with access to resources and opportunities for growth. BLOCK71, a technology-focused ecosystem builder and global business connector under NUS Enterprise, has played an instrumental role, particularly through ICE71, in the early development of the region’s cybersecurity innovation ecosystem since 2018. Notably, ICE71 operated the first cybersecurity-focused accelerator in Singapore.
Commenting on the partnership with CSA and establishment of the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre, Professor Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS, said, “Singapore's standing as a digital innovation hub underscores the importance of cybersecurity, not only for national security but increasingly as a key driver for economic growth. To build a cyber-resilient nation, we need to develop a robust cybersecurity ecosystem fuelled by innovation and entrepreneurship. Our collaboration with CSA to set up the NUS-CSA CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre leverages the University’s strengths, including ready innovation platforms, entrepreneurial academic programmes, a global ecosystem network and multi-disciplinary resources. We aim to promote growth in the cybersecurity sector and enhance cybersecurity capabilities across industry sectors, enabling them to be future-ready.”
Aligned with this vision, the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre’s strategic initiatives are structured around three core pillars, each designed to complement and synergise with the others through collaborations with cybersecurity stakeholders including academia, industry, government and international organisations:
1. Talent
This foundational pillar focuses on building a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals and expanding cybersecurity capabilities across industry sectors. NUS will take on the role of an integrated programme manager, working closely with CSA to jointly plan and better synergise CSA’s Talent & Skills Development programmes, including SG Cyber Youth, as well as identify and collaborate with potential partners to co-deliver impactful programmes supported by CSA’s Talent Development Fund. This will help ensure that the talent programmes remain relevant to the current cybersecurity landscape and industry needs.
SG Cyber Youth will leverage the success of NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC), an entrepreneurial education programme that has more than 4,000 NOC alumni and led to the founding of more than 1,100 start-ups, with unicorns such as Carousell and PatSnap. Through the NOC programme, NUS will place students in prominent entrepreneurial and cybersecurity hubs worldwide, offering them valuable exposure to global innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities.
2. Innovation
The Innovation pillar involves co-innovation with industry, bridging the path from innovation to commercialisation, and nurturing promising cybersecurity companies for Singapore and the region. For example, CSA collaborates with NUS to co-organise the Cybersecurity Industry Call for Innovation (CyberCall), an annual cybersecurity innovation challenge that invites companies to participate and co-develop innovative solutions targeting critical cybersecurity challenges faced in Singapore. Through working with partners who are key demand drivers for cybersecurity solutions, this initiative aims to strengthen partner organisations’ cyber resilience, while providing opportunities for cybersecurity companies to address market gaps and accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge solutions in Singapore.
Drawing on NUS’ experience as the region’s first cybersecurity-focused innovation ecosystem builder through ICE71, the University will also launch the CyberBoost programme. The cybersecurity-focused programme is tailored to provide comprehensive support for the growth of promising cybersecurity companies. To cater to the diverse needs of companies at various stages of development, CyberBoost includes two variants: one designed for early-stage companies looking to test, validate and build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP); and the other for companies ready to scale their cybersecurity solutions in Singapore and beyond.
3. Growth
The Growth pillar aims to enable cybersecurity companies anchored in Singapore to scale regionally and globally, thus growing their businesses. An enhanced CyberGrowth programme will facilitate the international expansion of local cybersecurity companies through various initiatives such as development of playbooks, equipping companies with valuable insights into the cybersecurity landscape and business opportunities, organising cyber-focused business missions and more.
Mr David Koh, Commissioner of Cybersecurity and Chief Executive of CSA, said, “Workforce and ecosystem development are the foundations of Singapore’s 2021 Cybersecurity Strategy. The CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre will play an important role to bring together ecosystem stakeholders to develop innovative solutions and grow talent. This effort complements our other effort in CyberSG R&D Programme office at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore). We are excited to work with NUS and NTU in these complementary efforts for the cybersecurity team.”
NUS partners with ISTARI to support the Centre’s ambition
Collaboration with diverse partners is essential for the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre's success. NUS is committed to forging close collaborations with CSA and cybersecurity stakeholders from academia, industry, government and international organisations.
To kickstart these collaborative efforts, NUS has signed a second Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ISTARI, the global cybersecurity platform established by Temasek. This strategic partnership is geared towards advancing the CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre’s objectives and encompasses three key areas:
1. Internships: ISTARI will provide internship opportunities and collaborate with cybersecurity companies within its ecosystem to provide additional internship opportunities to students participating in the NOC programme.
2. Mentorships: Leveraging its extensive network, ISTARI will facilitate mentorship opportunities for NOC students, connecting them with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors within its ecosystem.
3. Joint events: NUS and ISTARI will jointly organise events such as the upcoming ISTARI Charter 2024, an APAC cyber congress that brings together government agencies, business leaders, investors, academia and the start-up ecosystem to discuss the strategic challenges facing the APAC region and cybersecurity implications. The primary goal is to foster collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing cyber resilience in the region.
Rashmy Chatterjee, Chief Executive Officer of ISTARI, said, “Our founding promise at ISTARI is the idea of collective power. Together, as an ecosystem, we can be stronger. That's why it is an honour and privilege to partner with NUS, one of the world's leading universities, to ensure we develop the next generation of talent in Singapore. As a collaboration, we can collectively help make Singapore the premier global cybersecurity hub for innovation and talent."
Notes to Editor:
- BLOCK71 is an initiative by NUS Enterprise, in strategic partnerships with established corporates and government agencies, globally. It is a vital initiative for Singapore’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, serving as a launchpad for Singapore start-ups to expand their horizons and succeed on the global stage. As a tech ecosystem and global connector, BLOCK71 has presence in nine cities around the world in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the United States. BLOCK71 provides start-ups with access to technology, talent, new markets, grant and funding opportunities, workspace and helps them build business networks. The total valuation of BLOCK71 start-ups stands at S$7.05 billion, equating to almost a quarter of the total valuation generated by Singapore start-ups in 2020. To date, 1,200 start-ups have incubated in BLOCK71 across nine cities.
- Innovation Cybersecurity Ecosystem at BLOCK71 (ICE71) is the region’s first cybersecurity entrepreneur hub. Based in Singapore, ICE71 is a partnership between Singtel Innov8, the venture capital arm of the Singtel Group, and NUS. ICE71 aims to strengthen the region’s growing cybersecurity ecosystem by attracting and developing competencies and deep technologies to help mitigate the rapidly increasing cybersecurity risks in the region.
[1] Southeast Asia’s online economy is still on track to reach US$1 trillion by 2030 as online shopping becomes the norm, according to the report. The region also continues to see growth in the number of Internet users — with 20 million new users added in 2022, raising the total number of users to 460 million. (Source: CNBC)
[2] The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is experiencing a huge increase in cyberattacks compared to its global counterparts, with the average annual cost of cybercrime expected to soar from US$8.4 trillion in 2022 to more than US$23 trillion in 2027. (Source: World Economic Forum)
For media enquiries, please contact:
| Chan Yiu Lin
Greener Grass Communications (For NUS Enterprise) Mobile: +65 9765 5897 Email: yiulin@greenergrass.com.sg |
|
| Joanne Ong
Manager, Marketing & Communications, NUS Enterprise National University of Singapore Tel: +65 9247 3946 Email: joanne.ong@nus.edu.sg |
Jennifer Toh
Deputy Director, Marketing & Communications, NUS Enterprise National University of Singapore Tel: +65 9877 6027 Email: jentoh@nus.edu.sg |
About National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 16 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established more than 20 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world.
Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, research centres of excellence, corporate labs and more than 30 university-level research institutes focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity.
For more information on NUS, please visit nus.edu.sg.
About NUS Enterprise
NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, plays a pivotal role in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship at NUS and beyond. It actively promotes entrepreneurship and cultivates global mindsets and talents through the synergies of experiential entrepreneurial education, active industry partnerships, holistic entrepreneurship support and catalytic entrepreneurship outreach. Its initiatives and global connections support a range of entrepreneurial journeys and foster ecosystem building in new markets. These initiatives augment and complement the University’s academic programmes and act as a unique bridge to industry well beyond Singapore’s shores.
For more information, please visit enterprise.nus.edu.sg.