Sparking innovation with intellectual property
Launched at TechInnovation 2020, the IPHatch open innovation challenge connects promising start-ups with industry players to leverage intellectual property for growth and innovation.

Though much of the world has had a singular focus on the coronavirus pandemic this year, key lessons have been learnt about how to tackle other challenges, especially climate change. Sustainability and the efficient use of resources are hinged upon technology and innovation. But it is only through collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships that this can be achieved.  

Making post-pandemic cities sustainable by design
Entrepreneurs and their inventions have a role to play in shaping a more sustainable world in the wake of the pandemic, said experts at TechInnovation 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we live. Remote work is no longer an exception but the norm for most. We stay home more than ever and keep outings mostly short and close to home. While these changes may have curtailed our social lives, there has been one unexpected beneficiary: the environment.

Innovating amid disruption
In crisis there is opportunity, particularly for innovators. Check out 10 interesting Tech Offers found on IPI’s Innovation Marketplace in 2020.

2020 was a year unlike any other. But amid the disruption, opportunities abounded. Pharmaceutical and biotech firms raced to invent vaccines, with the most successful ones minting new billionaires. Elsewhere, innovators were at work in areas ranging from materials and chemicals to health and personal care, busy harnessing opportunities brought about by the pandemic.

While cities occupy just 2% of the earth’s land mass, they house more than half of the world’s population. The global urbanisation rate will increase from 54% to 66% in 2050, according to the United Nations. ASEAN is urbanising at a rapid pace and its reliance on cities as a source of growth is set to increase in the next decade. As more flock to the city’s bright lights, the burden will increase on key public services. Governments need to make their cities safer, sustainable and more efficient. Cities need to be smart.

Leveraging the network effect
By creating a virtual meeting point in the marketplace of ideas, Innoget hopes to support open innovation with a network of startups and industry players.

How IPI fosters innovation through partnerships 
IPI’s refreshed identity reflects its proactive role in empowering enterprises to thrive through innovation, according to IPI CEO Wong Lup Wai.

From access to grants, state-of-the-art technology and co-innovation opportunities, the IoT Innovation Challenge 2018 co-organised by IPI, Enterprise Singapore and the Centre of Innovation for Electronics & IoT has helped four Singapore start-ups fast-track their goals. We speak to them to find out how the competition has transformed their businesses.
 

SpaceAge Labs
Deepak Pitta
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

Every aspect of daily life inevitably leaves an impact on the environment: heating or cooling our indoor spaces, throwing out the trash or running the dishwasher all consume energy. But what if the built environment itself—with the help of smarter design—could help mitigate your negative impact on the planet? This is the dream of green buildings.