The 7th Innovation and Enterprise Office (IEO) Forum conducted in-person was abuzz with a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie when it took place on 15 October 2020 after a hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and co-chair of the IEO Forum for 2020, Hau Koh Foo, welcomed 40 representatives from the IEO community and guest speakers from key innovation drivers in Singapore to the typically biannual event. Supported by IPI, the IEO Forum was first introduced in 2017 and has since become an important platform for IEOs to share the latest initiatives and developments aimed at building the Singapore innovation ecosystem through academia-industry technology partnership.
Attendees learnt about the Innovation Advisors Programme from IPI as well as various engagement models and co-innovation opportunities presented by the Singapore Membrane Consortium and NUHS Centre for Innovation in Healthcare. The programme also included an update on the upcoming Singapore Week of Innovation and TeCHnology (SWITCH) and TechInnovation that will take place virtually this year from 7 to 11 December.
“It has been a challenging year to say the least and the turnout has been very encouraging. The active participation and the enthusiasm displayed by the IEOs speaks volumes about their commitment and fervour to nurturing a vibrant national innovation ecosystem,” said Dr Sze Tiam Lin, Head of Intermediary, IPI.
The next IEO Forums in 2021 will be hosted by A*STAR Enterprise and Republic Polytechnic.
