(I see the word PACT, starting to build a narrative I speculate)
Intel gets in on scheme to boost Singapore companies doing IoT or wearables
Initiatives such as Singapore’s Smart Nation will be driving demand and presenting opportunities for a lot of new technology ideas in the country. An always-connected country with always-connected citizens is, depending on who you ask, a technologist’s dream or a dystopian nightmare. Regardless, it’s bound to be a game changer for many technology companies.
Government agency SPRING Singapore and Intel have recognized the burgeoning opportunity for young startups and businesses in this sector. They are providing a support scheme for both startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises that are interested in developing products and services in the internet of things (IoT) and wearables sectors. The aim is to create a Singaporean ecosystem of companies involved in those technologies, managed under SPRING’s Partnerships for Capability Transformation program (PACT).
Intel’s role
“Intel provides technology assistance and business guidance to the SMEs and startups,” Hari Ramachandran, principal engineer at Intel Singapore, tells Tech in Asia. “The assistance takes on many forms, including helping companies identify the right product architecture, clearly defining intellectual property elements, and providing advice on business models.”
Intel’s assistance also extends to advising which Intel technology best fits each company’s idea, Ramachandran explains. And there’s always the possibility that participants will come up with projects that Intel will find useful in one way or another. “We help facilitate access to that technology by linking startups and SMEs with the relevant Intel business units, especially if the projects align with our business focuses,” Ramachandran adds.
SPRING and Intel also plan to support qualifying businesses with funding through SPRING’s Capability Development Grant (CDG). SPRING grants the awards, with Intel providing some assistance and recommendations. Consultation to participant enterprises will also be provided by the Center of Innovation for Electronics at Singapore’s Nanyang Polytechnic.
The initiative is looking for participants according to their relevance to the internet of things and wearables fields. “We looked for companies that fall into the following broad categories: design companies, domain experts, and manufacturing companies,” Ramachandran says. “We also look for companies who have some track record in product development or design services and are committed to driving product and service solutions in [our areas of interest].”
Who’s in?
Nine Singapore businesses and startups are currently involved, but SPRING and Intel are actively looking for more companies to be part of both the PACT program and this initiative, according to Ramachandran. In the meantime, he explained to Tech in Asia what was the draw for some of them. For example, design firm Design Exchange was chosen “given their expertise in user experience designs. With SPRING’s assistance, we helped them secure a CDG grant to enhance their design capabilities in building innovative user experiences in small form factor displays.”
Trilogy Technologies, on the other hand, was chosen thanks to its involvement in manufacturing. “It is one of the few companies left in Singapore with production lines, so that they can manage low volume manufacturing of IoT gateway solutions.” Ramachandran says.
And wireless hardware specialist RFCOM Technologies“possesses skills in developing radio frequency designs, combining wifi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and other short range wireless technologies that are important for building IoT and wearable solutions,” Ramachandran points out.
The current lineup of companies also includes wearable technology company T-Ware, IoT company NexTan, green- and healthtech specialists Newton CircusConnected Health, and energy software and hardware companies Intraix and Gridcomm.
