[Overseas Innovation in Action] How overseas innovators leverage IPI Singapore and TechInnovation to identify use cases, validate solutions, and build partnerships with local enterprises.
While Coalot Tech had conducted trials in Hong Kong and Mainland China, entering Singapore required more than technical readiness. The company needed to identify relevant use cases, understand local operating conditions, and work with trusted partners to assess its technology in-market.
For local SMEs, accessing overseas technologies that address specific operational needs can be equally challenging without the resources or networks to source and evaluate unfamiliar solutions.
Bridging these gaps required a structured approach to connect the right partners, define practical applications, and enable real-world testing with reduced risk.
To support this, IPI Singapore curated and connected Coalot Tech with local SMEs whose operational needs aligned with its nano-coating technologies, enabling targeted use-case discovery. Beyond introductions, IPI supported technical discussions, site visits and proof-of-concept scoping to ensure solutions could be assessed under local conditions.
Through this approach, Coalot Tech’s technology was explored across three distinct pathways:
Improving energy efficiency in agriculture
IPI Singapore connected Coalot Tech with NextGen Farms under Sustenir Group. The collaboration focused on applying thermal insulation coating on greenhouse roofs to reduce heat while allowing beneficial light transmission. Proof-of-concept trials indicated potential energy cost savings of 10–20 per cent, or approximately SGD 700,000 over three years, while maintaining optimal growing conditions.Enhancing solar panel performance
IPI Singapore matched Coalot Tech with Vector Green to explore a self-cleaning nano-coating solution for solar panels. Pilot testing under Singapore’s operating conditions demonstrated over 5 per cent improvement in efficiency, alongside reduced maintenance requirements.Exploring integration within the solar ecosystem
IPI Singapore also facilitated a collaboration involving Coalot Tech, Vector Green and EtaVolt to explore how the nano-coating technology could complement broader solar lifecycle and circularity solutions within Singapore’s renewable energy ecosystem.
Through its participation in TechInnovation and continued engagement with IPI Singapore, Coalot Tech validated its nano-coating technologies across multiple applications in Singapore. The engagements enabled the company to identify relevant use cases in real-world settings, adapt its solutions to local conditions, and build partnerships to support its market entry strategy.
For local SMEs, these collaborations provided access to overseas technologies that addressed specific operational challenges, without the need to independently source or evaluate unfamiliar solutions.
As local industries continue to look outward for technologies that can improve their operations and stay competitive, such cross-border collaborations demonstrate how access to overseas innovations can support practical adoption across sectors in Singapore. In a win-win outcome, overseas technology providers benefit from trusted local partnerships that support market entry, validation and adoption, while Singapore businesses gain access to relevant global solutions. By bridging both sides, IPI Singapore enables these collaborations to move from opportunity to real-world application.
“Through TechInnovation and IPI Singapore’s network, we gained a deeper understanding of local industry needs and how our nano-coating technology fits within Singapore’s broader sustainability and energy ecosystem. These valuable insights have helped inform our market entry approach and next phase of growth.”
“Our role is to bridge global innovation with the needs of Singapore businesses. By connecting overseas technologies like Coalot Tech with the right partners and real-world use cases, we enable both parties to validate solutions, reduce market entry risks, and create meaningful, win-win collaborations.”
For overseas technology providers, entering new markets often requires more than a strong solution - it depends on access to trusted local partners, clearly defined use cases, and opportunities to test technologies under real operating conditions. At the same time, local SMEs may face challenges in identifying and adopting relevant global innovations.
This is where TechInnovation, anchored by IPI Singapore, plays a critical role. By connecting overseas innovators with a curated network of local enterprises and deployment environments, IPI enables technologies to move beyond showcase to application and adoption.
At TechInnovation 2024, Hong Kong-based startup Coalot Tech, a spin-off from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, was introduced to Singapore’s innovation ecosystem. Through IPI Singapore’s facilitation, the company connected with local partners to explore how its nano-coating technologies could be applied across agriculture and clean energy applications.