The 2024 China-Singapore Green Development Enterprise Exchange Week and the inaugural Market Validation Trip Event of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) Eco-City Research and Innovation Centre (SERIC) commenced in Tianjin today.

Xu Hejun, vice chairman of ECAC (3rd from left); Teo Eng Cheong, CEO of SSTEC (3rd from right); Tan Jun Han, DCEO of SSTEC and managing director of SERIC (2nd from left); Tan Tze Koon, associate director of Venture, Innovation & Entrepreneurship of SUTD (2nd from right); Sun Yue, director of the Eco-City Education and Sports Bureau (right); and Tham Shee Yee, regional director, China, Enterprise Singapore (left) , help launch the event. [Photo provided by Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City]

SERIC is supporting five Singapore companies as they seek partnerships in China, helping them connect with resources to enhance collaboration and exchanges between China and Singapore in low carbon and smart technology.

Running until Friday in Tianjin and Beijing, the event will showcase five outstanding start-ups from SUTD. These companies will participate in site visits and roadshows to gain a thorough understanding of the Eco-City's business environment and market access policies, explore resource connections and consider future establishment in the Eco-City.

The initiative aims to further strengthen collaboration between China and Singapore in green and low-carbon technology, bringing renewed momentum to bilateral cooperation.

The event has been made possible with the help of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co (SSTEC), China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Administrative Committee (ECAC) and SUTD, SERIC and the DayDayUp International Innovation Accelerator.

An AIDX TECH presentation [Photo provided by Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City]

A key focus of SERIC is to actively nurture and incubate technological innovations and entrepreneurial projects with market potential from SUTD, while assisting enterprises from SUTD to enter the Chinese market through the Eco-City, as well as fostering industrial exchanges and collaboration.

At the launch event, five SUTD-affiliated companies – Beep, AIDX TECH, Castomize, CellWave and Sunventus – presented their projects, which cover areas such as new energy vehicle services, AI detection, medical equipment, and green building design. These projects are at various stages of funding, including seed, angel and Series A rounds, and are actively seeking partners and growth opportunities to drive rapid growth and sustained development.

During the event, the five Singapore enterprises and researchers will visit key enterprises within the Eco-City to gain a deeper understanding of the region's overall development, industrial strengths, favorable policies and support for business establishment.

They will participate in roadshows and conduct one-on-one business meetings with Tianjin-based enterprises and investment institutions. Following this, the delegation will travel to Beijing for further discussions with other investment institutions to secure additional resources.

With the support of the governments of China and Singapore, SSTEC will collaborate with SUTD and ECAC to continuously promote the development of SERIC and to attract and incubate high-quality Singaporean projects in low carbon and smart technology, nurture innovative talent and skilled professionals, and accelerate the development of a low-carbon circular economy within the Eco-City.