Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance Gears Up for Sustainable Innovation Asia 2024

Sustainability-focused deep-tech venture builder, Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA) gears up for its highly anticipated annual flagship demo day event, Sustainable Innovation Asia (SIA) 2024. Set to take place on May 8th at voco Orchard, this year’s event is celebrating its third iteration of SIA, serving as a dynamic platform where deep tech meets sustainability to showcase the latest advancements of SDTA’s portfolio ventures.

The demo day will showcase SDTA24 portfolio ventures, which have completed a rigorous 9-month venture building program. The program was conducted in three phases, each structured with deliverables based on founder team formation, technology commercialisation, customer validation, product development and business building. 

These ventures will pitch to corporates, investors, and public stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem. With the aim of catalysing investments in sustainable innovations to address pressing global challenges, the event is expected to draw over 200 attendees, bringing together founders, venture capitalists, corporates, research institutions, government agencies and other key stakeholders.

“We are thrilled to bring back Sustainable Innovation Asia for another impactful year in 2024. This event serves as a dynamic platform for all key stakeholders within the deep-tech venture ecosystem to convene, exchange insights, and ignite innovative collaborations. SDTA24 represents a cohort of innovative ventures poised to make a significant impact on sustainability.

“There will be ample opportunities for founders and partners to forge meaningful connections and drive sustainable innovation forward. Building on the success of SIA, we remain committed to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem where deep-tech ventures thrive and contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts,” expressed Clara Chen, Founding Partner, SDTA.

As a sponsor of SIA2024 and a longstanding co-innovation partner of SDTA since 2022, Lenovo Singapore is dedicated to nurturing the growth and success of early-stage ventures within the SDTA ecosystem. By providing access to its smart manufacturing ecosystem and strategic insights, including the Lenovo ThinkSeries powered by Intel vPro® Platform, Lenovo can help SDTA ventures define product roadmaps, secure funding, and develop innovative solutions, preparing them for market entry.

“We are dedicated to driving innovation and nurturing the next generation of tech pioneers. Through our partnership SDTA, we are proud to offer early-stage ventures access to our smart manufacturing ecosystem, strategic insights, and mentorship. Supporting SIA 24 as a sponsor aligns our commitment to innovation and sustainability with the mission of SDTA.

“We seek to continuously provide a valuable platform for fostering collaboration, showcasing innovative solutions, and driving effective change,” stated Nigel Lee, ISO General Manager Singapore, Lenovo Singapore.

“Deep tech has the potential to address pressing global challenges like climate change. Singapore adopts a collaborative approach to identify, nurture, and scale innovative startups that are working on transformative technologies in this important area,” said Ms Emily Liew, Assistant Managing Director, Innovation and Startup Ecosystem, Enterprise Singapore.

“We look forward to deepening our partnership with ecosystem players like the SDTA, and anchor even more startup and innovation activities in Singapore.” Enterprise Singapore, the agency that champions enterprise development, works together with public and private sector partners to build new innovation capabilities, expand global networks, and catalyse new deep tech investments.

This year’s SIA Demo Day event holds particular significance as SDTA unveils its strategic partnership with Dentsu, a global advertising and consulting firm. This partnership is designed to help Dentsu’s extensive client network across the Asia-Pacific region to access the SDTA’s deep-tech sustainability innovation solutions.

Sharing more about the partnership, Dominic Powers, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, dentsu Asia Pacific stated that “At Dentsu, our vision is ‘to be at the forefront of people-centred transformations that shape society.’ That means using our superpower of understanding people better than anyone else to change behaviour for the betterment of society. To do that we must work with the most future-thinking partners to deliver the now and next for brands in crucial areas like sustainability. The SDTA will help us connect our clients to solutions that drive tangible impact not only for them, but the planet we share too.”

SDTA Establishes Strategic Base at Singapore Science Park

At SIA demo day, SDTA is proud to announce Singapore Science Park (SSP), owned and operated by CapitaLand, as its new home base. Serving as the hub for their operations, this strategic location provides unparalleled access to top-tier resources, facilities, and a thriving ecosystem of startups, researchers, and industry partners. The partnership between SDTA and CapitaLand at SSP is designed to foster extensive research & development (R&D), knowledge sharing, and entrepreneurship, setting the stage for transformative sustainable solutions.

Chew Peet Mun, Managing Director, Investment & Development, CapitaLand Development (Singapore) said, “Promoting R&D is central to the mission of SSP, and we are committed to support initiatives that help to fuel innovation and foster collaboration across industries. We are therefore pleased to welcome SDTA to SSP, which will boost the park’s R&D ecosystem system and reinforce SSP’s reputation as an important hub for innovation and a conducive environment for deep-tech companies.”

In addition to its strategic partnerships with Lenovo, Dentsu, and SSP, SDTA will be launching a brand refresh to align with its mission of amplifying its Alliance Partners’ strengths through enhancing innovation capabilities. Officially to be launched at the SIA Demo Day 2024, the new SDTA logo will be unveiled by the management.

Traditionally focused on individual founders, SDTA is now welcoming pre-investment ventures into its SDTA25 program. This initiative is part of SDTA’s broader goal to cultivate a more extensive array of sustainable solutions, contributing to Singapore’s transformation into a more climate-resilient and carbon-responsible nation. It is designed to attract a diverse group of innovators, from seasoned executives to fledgling startups, who are poised to make significant contributions to the sustainability ecosystem.

“Our refreshed approach marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards fostering deep-tech innovation and sustainability,” shared Luuk Eliens, Founding Partner, SDTA. “Through this brand refresh, we are creating a more connected multi-stakeholder ecosystem. This ecosystem will serve as a network for collaboration, enabling us to tackle wicked sustainability issues looming over our planet. Through this strategic initiative, we aim to enhance our ability to innovate, drive impactful solutions, and strike a balance between profit and planet.”

Looking ahead, SDTA is opening its call for applications for the SDTA25 program, welcoming not only individual founders but also pre-investment ventures with sustainable solutions. Corporates seeking to address sustainability needs are invited to explore partnership opportunities with SDTA to drive business growth while addressing pressing societal and environmental challenges.

Applications must be submitted by 31 July 2024 at https://www.sdta.sg/founder-application-form to be a part of the SDTA25 Cohort. To learn more about SDTA, please visit https://www.sdta.sg/