Nanjing opens up more innovation opportunities to Singapore firms

Firms can leverage on the Singapore-Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island to trial sustainable urban solutions.

Singapore companies can look forward to more partnership opportunities in Nanjing, China particularly in the areas of innovation and sustainable urban management, as the city increases its focus on sustainable living as part of its 13th Five-Year Plan, an announcement by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) revealed. 

The Singapore Nanjing Cooperation Panel (SNCP) expressed its hopes to see more Singapore startups and sustainable urban solutions companies using Singapore Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island (SNEHTI) as a platform to increase their business footprint in Nanjing and China.

The SNEHTI focuses on urban infrastructure development to attract high-tech companies, talents and residents. Singapore’s investments in SNEHTI have grown in the past five years, reaching US$1.89b in 2018.

“From 30% in 2014, it now accounts for 60% of the cumulative investment into Nanjing,” ESG said, adding that the project’s next phase of development will focus on creating an innovation ecosystem centred on artificial intelligence (AI), water technology research & development (R&D) and application.

Singapore and Nanjing companies can also leverage SNEHTI as a platform to test-bed ideas and develop new solutions in sustainable urban management.

In line with this, ESG revealed that the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) is partnering the Sino-Singapore Nanjing Eco Hi-tech Island Development Co. (SNECO) to set up the ACE Singapore Nanjing International Centre on SNEHTI, which builds on a deal inked in 2018.

“The centre provides co-working spaces and business support services such as market advisory, mentorship programmes and networking opportunities to Singapore and foreign startups looking to expand into Nanjing,” ESG highlighted. The centre will open on 10 May.

With Sembcorp Development’s International Water Hub (IWH) scheduled for completion in 2019, ESG is also working with organisations, including the Singapore Water Association, Nanjing Bureau of Commerce and Jiangsu International Environmental Development Centre, in the public and private sectors to help Singapore-based water technology companies expand into Nanjing. 

Photo from SNECO.