SMW 2025: MPA and NUS Enterprise renew partnership on PIER71™ collaboration

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), on Thursday (27 March) have renewed their partnership for another three years to further develop Singapore into a leading maritime technology startup hub through the PIER71™ (Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71) programme.

Under the renewed partnership, MPA and NUS Enterprise will introduce new initiatives to strengthen the PIER71™ brand and programmes, attract more innovative startups from around the world, support their growth in Singapore, and help them expand to the region and beyond. 

These include:

• Expanding the global outreach of PIER71™ by collaborating with major maritime innovation clusters and adjacent industries to attract high-quality startups to Singapore and support local startups in expanding overseas. This will be done through collaborations with partners such as NUS Enterprise as well as through MPA’s regional offices and representatives.
• Organising technology and networking events to facilitate collaborations and profile Singapore’s vibrant MarineTech ecosystem.
• Enhancing business support services provided by PIER71™ Landing Pad, a co-working and networking space at JTC Launchpad @ one-north, which offers specialised guidance to help MarineTech startups address operational and growth challenges while they establish their office in Singapore.
• Catalysing venture capital investment and deals to support MarineTech startups in Singapore.

Since its launch in 2018, PIER71™ has nurtured over 140 MarineTech startups. These startups have raised over SGD 100 million in investments since the initiative was launched on 2018, with 14 startups raising close to SGD 28.9 million in 2024. MPA has awarded grant funding to 61 startup projects, with over 27 technologies developed through these projects being deployed in the maritime industry to date.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 27 March, 2025