Underpinning Singapore’s global maritime leadership position is the country’s vibrant and growing R&D eco-system in which the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) and industry players play an important role. This includes the public and industry research and innovation centres that have been set up in the IHLs and by companies respectively.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) has set up the Centre for Maritime Studies, Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering, Tropical Marine Sciences Institute and Centre for Maritime Law. At Nanyang Technological University, the Centre for Maritime Energy Research, which is a part of Energy Research Institute @ NTU, was created and the Maritime Energy Test Bed Facility was launched. Similarly, Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic have maritime research facilities such as the Singapore Maritime Academy Research and Training Centre (SMART) and Marine and Offshore Technology Centre of Innovation respectively.
As for the maritime industry, ship classification societies, shipyards and terminal operators have also been playing a key role in maritime research and development work in Singapore. This includes ship classification societies setting up research centres in Singapore, such as American Bureau of Shipping’s Singapore Innovation and Research Centre, Bureau Veritas’ Deepwater Technology Research Centre, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai’s Global Research and Innovation Centre, and Det Norsk Veritas’ Clean Technology Centre and ECO Research Centre, to pursue maritime-related R&D and collaborations.
Homegrown Keppel Offshore and Marine (KOM) formalized its intent to collaborate with the research community through the establishment of its KOM Technology Centre and Keppel-NUS Corporate Laboratory. At Sembcorp Marine, the Sembcorp Marine Laboratory @NTU as well as Sembcorp Marine Technology Pte Ltd was set up. The global container terminal operator, PSA International has joined hands with MPA on port technology R&D and test bedding of port automation technologies, while Jurong Port has started a research and innovation centre.
In addition to being of one of the world’s busiest ports, Singapore Maritime cluster also boosts local and international shipping and maritime service providers supporting the local R&D ecosystem through regular participation of R&D activities and solution development. Past participants include Neptune Orient Lines, Pacific International Lines, Hong Lam Marine, PSA Marine, Tian San Shipping and others.
