SMW 2026: Singapore commits over $100 million for maritime R&D over next five years
- Published
by Admin
Singapore is committing more than $100 million over the next five years to fund research and development in the maritime sector under a new roadmap, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow on Tuesday (21 April).
In his opening remarks for the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026, he said Singapore launched its next roadmap for Maritime Technology and Research today, which will guide future research and development in areas such as autonomous port operations, alternative marine fuels, and smart ships.
In a separate statement, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said the previous roadmap, published in 2019, had set the direction for a more advanced, efficient and sustainable maritime sector, and paved the way for the establishment of maritime Centres of Excellence and the implementation of the Maritime Transformation Programme.
The 2026 roadmap builds on this foundation, and sharpens the focus on translating research into deployable solutions. It sets out key areas to strengthen resilience, improve productivity, and catalyse innovation across Singapore’s maritime ecosystem.
Priorities include advancing digital technologies at scale, supporting practical decarbonisation pathways, and improving integration across port and shipping operations, while addressing structural constraints such as manpower requirements, and land and sea space limitations.
The roadmap sets out four key areas for action which are autonomous port operation, safe and efficient delivery of alternative energy, smart ships, and intelligent and integrated port services.
MPA added that the investment of more than $100 million will be invested into the research and development of the four priority areas over the next five years. This will build on the more than $500 million in funds that have been allocated to pursue maritime R&D in Singapore over the past 20 years.
Note: The Singapore Maritime Technology & Research Roadmap, 2026 edition, will be available as an e-Book and can be accessed here.
Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 21 April, 2026
