SINGAPORE - The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore announced a new $15 million programme that will encourage large enterprises to mentor and co-develop products with local start-ups.
Such partnerships would help build stronger companies and talent, and would make use of data analytics to enhance transport, eldercare and other public services, IDA executive deputy chairman Steve Leonard said.
Tech corporations Motorola, StarHub, Microsoft and Razer will be involved in this programme, which is called Partnership for Capability Transformation for the Infocomm Sector (iPACT).
The large companies could work with smaller ones to "enable knowledge transfer, capability upgrading, co-development and test-bedding" of products, said IDA.
Most of this $15 million, drawn from a national productivity fund, will be spent on talent development and prototyping.
Priority would be given to projects that work towards the goal of a smart nation, such as those involving sensors or data analytics, said Mr Leonard.
Said Managing Director of Microsoft Jessica Tan: "We believe that the iPACT programme will speed up aspirations to build a smart nation, using technology to enhance transport, eldercare and other public services.
"It would motivate our local SMEs and start-ups to develop solutions that will transform Singapore's infrastructure."
IDA will also be working with the John Hopkins University to provide training in data sciences and analytics .
