At the recent 6th Singapore-Nanjing panel
meeting, Singapore and Nanjing discussed
and agreed to deeper collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI)
and sustainable urban solutions. Eight Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were
signed at the 6th Singapore-Nanjing Special Projects Cooperation Panel
(SNCP) in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.
Singapore is currently Nanjing’s fourth largest foreign
investor, with 390 projects in the city reaching S$4.02 billion in cumulative
actual investments. Singapore companies have been investing in sectors
including education, real estate and medical services in the city.
This year, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) brought 54 Singapore
business representatives from sectors including logistics, real estate, medical
services, technology, financial services and education to attend the SNCP
meeting. ESG is also the Secretariat to the SNCP.
The SNCP is a city-level platform under the
Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC) set up to bolster bilateral
cooperation in special projects in Nanjing. This year’s SNCP meeting was co-chaired
by Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon, and
Nanjing Mayor Lan Shaomin.
“As Nanjing strives to be an innovation-driven city, we see
opportunities for Singapore companies in sustainable urban solutions such as
water and energy, as well as in AI. Singapore companies can tap the growing AI
ecosystem in Nanjing to find partners and co-create solutions for Nanjing, as
well as for the rest of China. These solutions can be piloted on the
Singapore-Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island, which provides a suitable location for
test-bedding,” said SMS Koh, the Co-Chairman of SNCP.
Collaborations in AI
As reported earlier, China unveiled a three-year
national plan last year to boost the application of AI in the
automobile, robotics, healthcare and finance sectors. With a target to develop
a RMB 1-trillion AI industry by 2030, China has entered into an era of
AI-focused technology development. This is estimated to generate RMB 10
trillion from related businesses.
Given its position as the fourth Chinese cities with highest
technology readiness, Nanjing is a key city for Singapore companies to find
opportunities in AI. With the AI ecosystem in Nanjing growing quickly,
Singapore companies can look forward to forge partnerships with leading Chinese
players and co-create solutions not just for China, but also beyond.
At the meeting, Singapore’s Action Community for Entrepreneurship
(ACE) signed a MOU with Singapore-Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island Administrative
Committee and Development Company to establish the ACE Nanjing-Singapore Centre
to promote the start-up and innovation ecosystem.
Leading Chinese AI firm, iFLYTEK, will also set up its
regional headquarters at Singapore-Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island (SNEHTI),
undertaking critical functions including advanced research and development and
industrial applications.
In conjunction with the SNCP meeting, SMS Koh also attended
the inaugural Sino-Singapore Artificial Intelligence Forum with Finance
Minister Heng Swee Keat on 1 June 2018.
Partnership in
sustainable urban solutions
Two MoUs signed were agreements in water management and
clean tech solutions, which are in line with Nanjing’s 13th Five Year Plan,
which highlighted the importance of sustainable urban solutions in driving the
growth of its ecological economy.
The collaborations involve the establishment of:
(1) The Global Eco-Tech Innovation Centre which targets to
be a key clean tech transfer platform to help water companies commercialise
their advanced water solutions for the China market. The centre will be located
in the International Water Hub on the SNEHTI, which will be completed by end
2018.
(2) Clean Energy Technology Innovation Centre
Temasek Polytechnic will be involved in setting up a Clean
Energy Technology Innovation Centre to develop technologies for energy
generation and storage, as well as power and energy management. It will also
provide opportunities for Temasek Polytechnic staff and students to participate
in internships, learning trips and joint project developments in Nanjing. The
research centre will also be housed within the International Water Hub.