Your journey into maritime begins with Smart Port Challenge

Are you a tech start-up that is ready to bring digital transformation to the maritime industry? Do you have ideas or solutions that can address challenges in the areas of smart port, smart ship or green technology? Then read on.

Smart Port Challenge is an annual innovation competition to find the best ideas and solutions from technology start-ups to address challenges, or innovation opportunities, put forth by maritime corporates in Singapore. Started in 2017 by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Smart Port Challenge became the flagship programme under PIER71TM when it was founded in 2018. 

What Are We Looking For?

Innovative ideas that will bring digital transformation to the maritime industry

Key Industry Sectors

Port Operations Port
Shipping Shipping
Maritime Services and Supply Chain Maritime Services and Logistics

Key Focus Area

Smart Port
Smart Port
Smart Ship
Smart Ship
Smart Maritime Services and Logistics
Smart Maritime Services and Supply Chain
Green Technology
Green Technology & Decarbonisation
Crew Safety, Training and Wellbeing
Crew Safety, Training and Wellbeing
Marine Insurance
Marine Insurance
Open Category
Open Category

When Does This Take Place?

Generally begins with calls for participation in June, and concludes with a Grand Final in November.

Current Challenge

How Does It Work?

Start-ups submit their proposal based on the innovation opportunities available. These go through a shortlisting process with a panel of maritime, technology and entrepreneurial experts. Shortlisted finalists are enrolled into PIER71TM Accelerate, an exclusive six-week market validation and customer discovery programme backed by world-class entrepreneurship education from NUS Enterprise and specifically curated for the maritime industry. This culminates in a Grand Final where top teams get the opportunity to pitch in front of judges, partners, investors and other maritime veterans to secure the top prizes of the challenge.

What Do I Get Out of This?

Mentoring and coaching Mentoring and coaching
Mentoring and coaching
Access to maritime corporates, investors, venture capitalists, serial entrepreneurs, as well as other PIER71 partners Access to maritime corporates, investors, venture capitalists, serial entrepreneurs, as well as other PIER71 partners
Access to maritime corporates, investors, venture capitalists, serial entrepreneurs, as well as other PIER71 partners
Opportunity to address real challenges and identify customers Opportunity to address real challenges and identify customers
Opportunity to address real challenges and identify customers
Access to workshops and masterclasses conducted by industry veterans and domain experts Access to workshops and masterclasses conducted by industry veterans and domain experts
Access to workshops and masterclasses conducted by industry veterans and domain experts
Product and business model validation Product and business model validation
Product and business model validation
Eligibility to apply for grants (up to S$100,000) towards prototype development Eligibility to apply for grants (up to S$100,000) towards prototype development
Eligibility to apply for grants (up to S$100,000) towards prototype development
Cash prizes for top three winners Cash prizes for top three winners
Cash prizes for top three winners
Sponsored residency at PIER71’s Landing Pad Sponsored residency at PIER71’s Landing Pad
Sponsored residency at PIER71’s Landing Pad
Branding and media exposure Branding and media exposure
Branding and media exposure